Is The "Twins Way" The Definition Of Insanity?

"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

- Albert Einstein

Technically, Einstein's definition of the word insanity isn't actually correct, however, it does make one think about various situations from time to time.  Whether it be for personal or professional reasons, many people actually ask themselves that question when they are not getting the results they're looking for.

Twins fans have been banging their heads against the wall throughout the first week of the 2012 season.  Some have been optimistic about what lies ahead, while others are looking at this first week as a harbinger of things to come.  But, are the Twins becoming the collective poster child for Einstein's famous definition?  The evidence points to a resounding "yes."

The "Twins Way" is something all Twins fans have learned to accept over the last ten years.  It started with the "Get To Know 'Em Boys" in the early 2000's and continued with the "Piranhas" a few years later.  Those collections of players had distinctive identities.  Fundamental play, timely hitting, and consistent hustle were traits those teams shared; traits this 2012 bunch appears (at least early on) to be lacking.  So given what transpired last year, and what has been seen early this season, it truly appears this team might be headed down the same path it took in 2011 unless something changes.

That "something" isn't one thing in particular.  In the offseason, everyone considers themselves a better General Manager than whomever is holding that title for the Twins, in this case, Terry Ryan.  I, myself, am guilty of it, as many of you are.  I still contend there was more that could've been done this past offseason with regard to bringing in players to plug a few key holes.  Quite frankly, in my opinion, just because the Twins didn't spend their money wisely last year doesn't mean they shouldn't continue to spend money on talent; they just need to be wiser about how they spend it and who they spend it on.  Regardless, the roster, at the moment, is what it is, and we know who the key players are.  Unfortunately, the biggest issue this year appears to be depth within the pitching department, and that's something the team will have to continue battling through.

The "something" I referred to centers around the offense, and isn't just one thing, but perhaps a series of things.  Things meant to potentially alter the insanity that currently is the 2012 Minnesota Twins.

• Switch Up The Batting Order

This is by no means an exact science, but perhaps changing up some of the roles in the lineup might do a few people some good.  For starters, it's very evident by the fan reactions of late that the honeymoon period for Joe Mauer being the "Hometown Hero" may have run its course.  Fans are expecting much, much more for Joe than they're seeing.  Is it possible the responsibility to the team coupled with the expectations of the fans has become a bigger burden on Joe than he's able to take on right now batting third.  Although Jamey Carroll has had a few good at-bats thus far, drawing six walks from the two hole, is it possible he might be better suited as the eighth place hitter?  Might someone like Danny Valenica see better pitches hitting before Justin Morneau?  The answer to all of these questions is...who knows.  The point is, at what point does Ron Gardenhire decide to try something a little different in order to potentially get a different result?

My thought here is a simple one.  When healthy, Denard Span has been one of the best lead-off hitters the Twins have had in recent memory, so he stays put at the top of the order.  Move Carroll out of the second spot, and shift Mauer up.  Now, Joe's responsibility has shifted from driving in runs to getting on base, thus allowing him to swing a little more freely.  Over his career, speaking strictly percentage-wise, his numbers are better batting second than they are third.

So, with Joe now out of the third spot in the order, who slides in?  This may get a few laughs, but I'm being completely serious when I say...Danny Valencia.  Valencia has the ability to drive the ball and hit for a bit of power at times.  Better yet, he's a right-handed bat separating Mauer and Morneau, which could prove to be potentially beneficial in later inning situations.  Plus, anyone who has supervised or managed employees knows that sometimes, you have to empower unrealized talent in order for that talent to realize it in themselves.  Give Valencia an opportunity to take the next step in his maturation process as a hitter and as a player.

Similar to Span at the top of the order, no changes need to be made to the four and five spots.  If Josh Willingham continues to pound the ball as he has during the first week, Morneau will no doubt begin to see a few better pitches, and will begin to start hitting them hard again.  After Willingham, I would move Chris Parmelee into the sixth spot in the order and drop Ryan Doumit to seventh, rounding out the bottom of the order with Carroll and Alexi Casilla.  Here's what the lineup card would ultimately look like:

1.  Denard Span, CF (L)

2.  Joe Mauer, C (L)

3.  Danny Valencia, 3B (R)

4.  Justin Morneau, DH (L)

5.  Josh Willingham, LF (R)

6.  Chris Parmelee, 1B (L)

7.  Ryan Doumit, RF (S)

8.  Jamey Carroll, SS (R)

9.  Alexi Casilla, 2B (S)

• Consistency Is Bliss

This one won't take long to explain.  Through eight games of the 2012 season, Gardenhire has trotted out six different lineups.  Knock on wood, but there are no injuries of any kind to any position players that we're aware of, yet the same lineup has not been brought out to home plate in two consecutive games thus far.  Quite honestly, this high school mentality of "everyone needs to play" is a bit absurd at this level of ball.  All nine guys I listed above in the ideal lineup should be coming to the ballpark each and every day EXPECTING to be in the starting lineup, regardless of who's on the mound for the opposition.  Now, I understand getting guys a day off here and there, but there needs to be some consistency if this thing is ever going to gel.

• Make It Happen On The Bases

In their first eight games of this season, the Twins have stranded a total of 60 runners on base.  If we're being realistic, it would've been more had the Twins been able to muster more than two hits in the finale against the Orioles.  Ultimately, the offense is relying more on trying to advance runners by just moving station to station.  In the past three seasons, the team has ranked no better than ninth in the American League in Stolen Bases, and no better than 18th in all of baseball.  With their speed, there is really no reason both Denard Span and Alexi Casilla shouldn't steal at least 30 bases a season.  Putting those runners in motion may bring a great deal of risk into the equation, but could also yield a hefty reward to a struggling offense.  Think of it this way; the Twins are tied for the Major League lead having grounded into 11 double plays this season.  They also lead baseball in the groundout to flyout ratio.  If you decide no to straight steal them, utilizing the hit and run could get opposing fielders out of position and open a few holes in the infield.  This was the type of hustle exhibited by the original Piranhas, and is something that could prove to be just what the doctor order this season.

Again, these suggestions are probably a little drastic, and maybe even unrealistic.  However, there might be something even more unrealistic than my thoughts...

...The idea that Twins fans will continue to support this team if something...anything...doesn't change.

"The Miz's" 2012 Minnesota Twins Predictions

There's really only one direction to go after a dismal 2011, right?

Coming off the franchise's worst season since 1982 (102 losses), there is a lot that Twins fans could feel optimistic about going into 2012.  For starters, could it possibly get any worse than last year?  Significant injuries to significant players, shaky defense from a typically solid fielding ball club, and sub-par pitching from...well, let's face it...a barely par staff, all led to a barely watchable season of baseball for fans of our local nine.  One would hope, however, that the injuries, poor fielding, and inept pitching could not repeat themselves in 2012.

With Terry Ryan back in the saddle, Twins fans should at least be comforted with one thought: At least we'll be competitive, as most Terry Ryan-fielded teams are.  The Twins may not win the division, but at least fans won't flock in droves to Stub-Hub to unload their tickets, as appeared to be the case in August and September of 2011.

Knowing that a major part of the Twins' success centers around health, getting through Spring Training appears to have been a major success, with the exception of Scott Baker.  Baker has been hampered by elbow problems again this spring, which will keep him out of the rotation for a few weeks, especially given his setback on Thursday evening.  Regardless, injuries occur, and are not often something that can be planned around.  So, given that fact, for the sake of these predictions, we're going to assume 100% health, or at least what we know now going into the Season Opener against Baltimore on Friday.

1.)  The Twins will raise their team run total from 619 runs in 2011 to 725 in 2012.

  With the re-additions of Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau into the lineup, coupled with the integration of Chris Parmelee as a full-time first baseman, the Twins will have a solid core of potentially high average hitters.  Having two veterans in Denard Span and Jamey Carroll setting the table at the top of the lineup, the team should be able to sustain quite a few more longer-than-normal innings on the offensive end, which will lead to more run-scoring throughout the season.  Because of the uncertainty with the pitching staff, however, this won't necessarily translate into more wins for the team.  The offense won't be as anemic as 2011, which will no doubt help their cause, but don't be surprised to see the Twins lose a few more 8-7 and 10-9 games this year.

2.)  Chris Parmelee will win American League Rookie of the Year.

  This would be considered my "bold" prediction of the 2012 season.  To be honest, I haven't been this excited for a Twins rookie in quite a long time.  During the final few weeks of 2011, Parmelee showed he could no doubt hang with the big boys, if given the opportunity to play.  Unfortunately, with Justin Morneau occupying first base, that didn't appear to be something that would happen any time soon.  With Ron Gardenhire's decision to move Morneau permanently into the DH spot in 2012 (or at least for the foreseeable future), the path was paved for Parmelee to take the reigns at first base.  For a young hitter, he has tremendous vision at the plate, can work the count deep, and can also deposit the ball over the fence.  Look for this kid to garner a lot of attention from fans, and the baseball media alike, as the season progresses.

3.)  Glen Perkins will become the team's closer by the end of May.

  I really want this to be more of a reflection on Perkins' talent as a relief pitcher than a shot at Matt Capps, but unfortunately, that will be hard to justify.  Capps will be the team's closer entering the regular season, and all signs should point to him rebounding from a difficult season in 2011, which saw him booed mercilessly by Twins fans.  The fact of the matter is, regardless of how great a guy he is, or what he brings to the clubhouse, Capps' style of pitching will become more of a liability than an asset.  With a mediocre fastball, and really no "go to" pitch to get hitters out, Capps has decided to bring a split-finger fastball into his repertoire.  If, and when, this new pitch begins to falter, Capps will find himself going back to what he's been accustomed to, which is the fastball.  As that happens, hitters will be ready, and Twins fans will find themselves pulling their hair out a couple of times in April and May.  Perkins will be given the opportunity, and will run with it.  By season's end, look for Perkins to have more saves than Capps.

4.)  Francisco Liriano will set a career high with 18 wins.

  We all know he has the talent.  We all know he has the right stuff.  It's just time for Frankie to believe it himself, and go out there with confidence.  If his spring was any indication, it seems like he may just have figured it out.  In 27 spring innings, Liriano had a 2.33 ERA, allowed only 27 hits, surrendered only 5 walks, and struck out 33.  Obviously, the hitters one faces during a spring game are potentially much different than one might face in the regular season, so the hits and strikeouts could be a bit deceiving.  The walks, however, are something that can be looked at with great excitement.  What Liriano appears to have figured out is that the devastating slider he has (and yes, it is nasty) does not need to be thrown three or four times an at-bat.  He's begun to realize that locating the fastball and getting ahead of hitters will allow him the ability to drop that slider in when it's actually needed.  That type of control is exactly what he needs to be successful.  As always with Liriano, only time will tell, but from the signs we're all seeing, this season looks like a promising one.

5.)  The Twins will be relevant in the American League Central race through August.

  OK, so, this one's a little vague.  Having lost 99 games in 2011, many people around baseball, as well as many fans of the Twins locally, have already written the 2012 team off as being too similar to their 2011 predecessor.  As I stated early on in this post, assuming they're not struck down by the injury bug once again, this team, although appearing similar, is actually different.  The lineup, in my opinion, actually got stronger.  With the additions of new left fielder Josh Willingham, and back-up catcher/right fielder Ryan Doumit, Parmelee at first base, and a healthy Mauer and Morneau, this Twins lineup should  a.) hit for a higher average, b.) hit more home runs, and thus c.) drive in more runs than the 2011 club.  Defensively, the Twins brought in Jamey Carroll to solidify the middle infield with Alexi Casilla.  Again, injuries were a huge driving force behind the poor fielding seen during 2011, with many players playing positions they may not have been accustomed to.  Lastly, if the pitching staff can keep the team in ballgames, (which obviously sounds very cliche, but true), the team will have a chance to win quite a few more games than last season.  My second "bold" prediction is that your Minnesota Twins will actually improve their win total to 86 games (up from 63 in 2011).  Unfortunately, 86 wins won't be enough to overtake Detroit in the division this season, although it will be much closer than people think.  The Twins will, however, finish second in the AL Central, just ahead of the Cleveland Indians.

All told, the 2012 Minnesota Twins should be much more interesting to watch, be a much more exciting team to cheer for, and frankly, be more of a contending team than many are expecting.

Friday starts it off.  As of now, it's a clean slate.  0-0.  My prediction: 86-76, second in the American League Central.

It's Time To Change It Up A Bit, Ron!

If you've been reading "The Sporting Mind" since I started blogging back in May, you know that I tend to not hold anything back with regard to the Twins.  There isn't a team I root for more in sports than the Twins.  I consider myself a die-hard fan.  The great thing about being a fan is that you're entitled to opinions.

Opinions can be about anything, really.  They can be about individual players or they can be about individual plays.  They can be about aspects of the team, or just aspects of the game itself.  Regardless of what the opinion is, we as fans are entitled to those opinions.  They may not be right, they may not be wrong, but what they are is our voice.

As with anyone who follows a team, you have players you really like and some you just don't.  If you've been reading this blog for a while now, you know that I was never a huge Delmon Young fan, and I'm definitely not pro-Tsuyoshi Nishioka.  I've been very hard on the likes of Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau, but have been very complimentary toward both Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel.  That being said, just because I might take issue with players like Mauer and Morneau doesn't mean I don't think either are good ball players, so let me be perfectly clear on that.

Now that I've gotten that out of the way...

As I watch the Twins' season quickly unravel, I start to wonder what the game plan actually is for these next six weeks.  The team has been so ravaged by injuries that it's been difficult to get a good grasp on what they actually have going forward.  Assuming the news on Monday that the Twins had placed both Kubel and Jim Thome on waivers means that neither will be back with the team next year, and assuming the Twins might not get anyone Major League ready in return should both be dealt, what do they have in store for DH and right field?  With Nick Blackburn hitting the disabled list on Monday as well, who might they give an opportunity to replace him in the rotation?  And, with the inconsistent play up the middle, might there be other options to fiddle with to try and put the pieces together to make a run next season?

It would be very difficult to get answers to all of these questions in just a few weeks.  Realistically, the team has no chance to climb back into the divisional race, which should provide Ron Gardenhire a unique opportunity to experiment a bit with what he does have.  As with any company, sometimes it's not so much about the personnel one has, but more about how that personnel is used and where that personnel is placed in order to get the most success from that individual.

So far this season, we've seen Cuddyer playing right field, first base, second base, and even pitch.  We've seen Mauer take his first ground balls at first base, as well as his first fly balls in right field.  Alexi Casilla made the move from short stop to second base, and Nishioka the reverse.  These are the types of alternatives Gardenhire needs to continue exploring.  Would Mauer potentially be able to play third base in the event he doesn't catch and Morneau is in the lineup at first?  Does Danny Valencia have the necessary range to be a short stop?  Might be worth a look.

Another thought would be to juggle the lineup a bit.  Looking through all of baseball, it's clear that the major run producers throughout the league find themselves hitting third, fourth, or fifth in their team's lineup.  Typically, these spots in the order are reserved for the big guns, the guys that hit the ball out of the park and drive in runs.  With the Twins, however, this isn't always the case.  Without taking away too much from Joe Mauer, it's evident that he is one of the best contact hitters in all of baseball.  Unfortunately for Twins fans, it appears both Mauer and the team are content with a high average, but little "production".  This isn't the type of hitter that belongs in the number three spot in the batting order.  Again, that's not to say he isn't a great hitter, just not a great hitter for that spot in the order.

Looking at Mauer's numbers this season, and understanding that he was hurt early on, it is a concern going forward, at least for this Twins fan.  If you compare the number of extra-base hits Mauer has and the frequency in which he has them to other hitters batting third in their respective lineups, you would see that he falls way behind the average.  Joe slugs something other than a single once in every 17.86 at-bats.  The top 20 run-producers (RBI's) in the American League average an extra-base hit once every 8.63 at-bats.  Seven (7) of those top 20 hit from the third spot in their lineup.  Those same 20 guys also average an RBI every 5.50 at-bats.  Mauer's average?  One RBI every 10.42 at-bats.  A high batting average is great, but it doesn't always translate to runs if the majority of those hits are singles.

Taking those numbers into account, it might be worth an extended five-week look for Gardenhire to see what either Cuddyer (an RBI every 6.9 at-bats) or Kubel (one in every 6.62 at-bats) could do in that number three spot in the order, and perhaps move Mauer down to either the fifth or sixth spot in the batting order.  If Denard Span is able to come back this year, and the Twins decide to play both Span and Ben Revere in the outfield, and bat the two of them first and second in the order, having either Cuddyer or Kubel hitting third might be a better thing, given their ability to hit more extra-base hits than Mauer.  If Span and/or Revere get on base with a single, it's difficult for them to score on a Mauer single, which has been the tendency for Joe this season, which explains his minimal 25 RBI output thus far.

So, let me hear from a few of you out there.  What are some other "experiments" you believe the Twins should try over the next few weeks to try and prepare themselves for an offseason of change?

Twins Trade Deadline Opinion - Good Or Bad?

Hey folks.  It's been a couple of weeks since I've blogged, and after some time away, it's time to get back at it.

To start back in...I wanted to talk a bit about the MLB trade deadline that came and went Sunday afternoon.  More specifically, I'd like to discuss the activity (or lack of) of our Minnesota Twins.

As the 4pm eastern deadline neared, the Twins were rumored to be completing a trade which would have brought in Washington Nationals closer Drew Storen in exchange for starting center fielder and fan favorite, Denard Span.  When the deadline passed, Span remained a Twin, much to the satisfaction of almost all Twins fans, including myself.  Yes, the Twins have been in major need of a boost to the bullpen, but that bolstering should not have come at the expense of Span.  Afterall, what would the Twins have done with a third closer, with both Joe Nathan and Matt Capps already sitting out in the bullpen?

So, what was it that upset people more?  Was it the fact that the Twins were considering a trade of one of their brighter, young stars?  Was it the idea that they were try to acquire another closer from the Nationals, a year after sending top catching prospect Wilson Ramos to the Nats to get Matt Capps to close games for the remainder of the season?  Or, was it the simple reality that the team didn't pull off any kind of deal to either try and win this year, or to better themselves for the future?  My opinion?  It was all three.

Going in to July, I was of the mindset that the Twins had a couple of players who should've been shopped to teams, either those contending or those willing to take some expensive contracts off our hands, in order to either make a run at the Central Division title this year, or to prepare for another run next year.  Those couple of players were Kevin Slowey, Justin Morneau, Delmon Young, and Francisco Liriano.  Slowey has clearly fallen out of favor with the club.  Morneau has not played in a playoff game since 2006, with the Twins making two playoff runs each of the last two seasons without him.  Young continues to under-achieve, despite a 2010 season to which he finally played to his potential, but otherwise proves to be mediocre at best.  And Liriano, who appears to do nothing but flip a coin to decide whether he will pitch a good game or not, and lately, that coin has fallen on "not".  Yet, during the days leading up to the deadline, the names Denard Span, Michael Cuddyer, and Jason Kubel continued to be mentioned.

The Twins, in their current form, have the potential to compete for the division title, and even win it.  Where the Twins have fallen flat over the last two post seasons has been in the starting pitching department.  This season seems to be following suit.  Brian Duensing and Scott Baker have been the two steady hands in the rotation throughout July, although Duensing has struggled a bit since the All-Star break.  The other three starters, Carl Pavano (6.87), Nick Blackburn (7.45), and Liriano (4.01), have combined for a 6.08 ERA in the month of July.  It's no coincidence then that the overall team ERA has spiked from 3.08 in June to a pathetic 4.59 in July.  When the Twins cut their Central Division deficit from 16.5 games out of first place to six games out in the month of June, it was because of their starting pitching.  Now that they've faltered a bit in July, it's because of their starting pitching.  Yet, the only deal at the trade deadline that was close to being made was for a closer, not a starter?  Why doesn't that make any sense?

As strange as this may sound, the Twins will encounter a big problem later this month.  With Span returning from the disabled list Tuesday night in Anaheim, and Justin Morneau returning some time in the next couple of weeks, the team will have to start trying to figure out a way to get everyone the at-bats they need in order put the best lineup on the field.  The problem results from an overabundance of outfielders.

With Span back, they will have six (Span, Cuddyer, Kubel, Young, Ben Revere, and Jason Repko).  Given the injury situation, this hasn't been much of a problem over the last couple of months.  With Morneau out, Cuddyer has seen more time at first base than he has in the outfield.  With Span shelved, Revere has been able to prove himself as a very viable major league player.  Kubel being down allowed a few opportunities for Repko to see some action.  Until Morneau's return, Cuddyer will continue to spell him at first, which takes him out of the equation until then.  Given the production from Span and Kubel (pre-DL), Cuddyer's all-star year, and Revere's emergence, the logical choice to move should've been the under-performing Delmon Young.  With his salary only a shade over $5 million, the price tag would seem to have been affordable for many teams looking to add an outfield bat for a stretch run.  Unfortunately, there aren't many teams interested in a below-average fielding .264 hitter with only 2 home runs and a measly 27 RBI's this season, regardless of him costing them only a portion of his $5 million contract.

If they were going to make a move, the Twins needed to improve their pitching situation, both from a starting standpoint as well as a bullpen one.  It's understandable that in order to get something, you'd need to give something.  Packaging some combination of Slowey, Morneau, Young, and Liriano should've been enough to land both frontline and relief help to make a push towards the post season.  Unfortunately, the Twins didn't seem to pursue a trade, rather, let a team like the Nationals pursue them.  As fans, we're lucky the deal with Span never culminated.  We're unlucky, however, that our team's front office seems unwilling to seek improvement.

Buyers Or Sellers? What Will The Twins Be?

The time is nearing again.  Every year around this time in Major League Baseball, teams start deciding if they are going to be contenders that year, or if they want to start building for the next.  Some teams have pipe dreams of being successful this year, others know they will be and just need to bolster a few spots on their roster in order to solidify themselves.  And yet there are still other teams that are right on the edge of both.  The Twins are one of those teams.  Their track record says they're just a player or two away.  Their 2011 start thus far says they may need to unload.  My take is this:  There's room for both competing and unloading.  They just need to be careful doing it.

With the recent spurt of great play, winning seven of their last eight games, the Twins are showing that they're not quite ready to go away this year.  They have an incredible mountain to climb, given their slow start, but have proven to have a team pedigree that can get the job done when it matters.  That is, until the postseason.  In reality, the Twins have their best mid-season acquisitions already in line, with the returns of Joe Mauer, Jason Kubel, Jim Thome, and Tsuyoshi Nishioka from the disabled list.  With those main core players back, the Twins have the foundation to be the contender they usually are.  This puts them in that category of just needing a player or two to solidify.  Where it gets tricky is finding those players, and realizing that some of the players you have may need to be sent elsewhere to accommodate improvement.

As I look up and down the roster, the Twins have valuable commodities that other teams may want.  Many would think these players would only be dealt if the team decides it's long out of the division race and they want to start building for the next couple of years.  In reality, although some of these players have been integral parts of the competitive teams the Twins have put forth over the last couple of years, their stock may be on the down slope.  And, in the tweeting words of LeBron James before Game 5 of the NBA Finals, "It's now or never."

1.  Delmon Young - It's safe to say that I am not a Delmon Young supporter, as it seems these are growing fewer and fewer by the day.  When the Twins acquired Young, his stock was up, coming off his best season with the Tampa Bay Rays.  But, four years later, his improvement seems to have leveled off.  His 2010 season was fantastic, by his standards.  When the Twins needed clutch hits last year, many came off Delmon's bat.  His upside a couple of seasons ago was that he was young and unpolished.  Unfortunately, he's now aged a couple of years, and has shown signs that the unpolished nature of his game isn't going away.  Would he still be valuable to a team in need of an outfield bat?  Sure.  His career .288 average would say that he's capable of putting the bat on the ball in getting it in play.  His lack of heart and hustle, however, have made him an expendable piece, in my eyes.

2.  Justin Morneau - Although Morneau has been a staple in the middle of the Twins order for the last few years, his post-concussion self seems to be a shell of what he used to be.  If that's the case, do the Twins try and get some value for him now, or hold on to him until it's too late.  When you look at his career stats, he appears to be a stud.  When you compare him to other top first basemen in baseball, however, he appears to be nothing more than a suitable fixture at the position.  This season, his average is way down, his power is way down, and his ability to hit in clutch situations is non-existent.  All of this could be attributed to the injury bug as well, given the concussion mid-way through last season, and the minor ailments along the way (flu bug, neck, etc.).  But is it possible that we're now seeing the real Justin Morneau, and that what we've seen before the concussion was the anomaly?  The question is, can the Twins afford to wait it out to truly know for sure?  Given the possible replacements to fill his spot at first base, both internally within the organization and throughout Major League Baseball, they might be wise to wait on this one.

3.  Francisco Liriano - Since Liriano's no-hitter at the beginning of May, he is 1-2 with a 3.33 ERA in four starts.  Considering he went into that game against the White Sox with a 9.13 ERA, it's safe to say he's been improving.  In 21 innings pitched since the no-no, he has allowed only 15 hits, and has struck out 21.  What has hurt Liriano this season, as well as seasons past, is his inconsistent control.  His walk to strikeout ratio is almost flat (35/41).  Even during the no-hitter, Liriano walked six White Sox, and was still able to overcome and pull off this historic feat.  There is no doubting Liriano's ability, even after the arm injury a couple of seasons ago.  He still has an incredible slider when he's on, and can still bring his fastball upwards of 95 miles per hour.  Liriano may benefit from a change of scenery, but can the Twins afford to give up a starting pitcher?  If they can continue to get starts like they have in Liriano's absence this past week from Anthony Swarzak, it's possible that the Twins could spin Liriano for a couple of stronger bullpen arms.  Or, do they roll the dice on him this season, and hope that his last four starts are a sign of things to come?

4.  Kevin Slowey - With starting pitching in baseball being at a premium, no matter the team, there will be takers for Kevin Slowey.  Of the players the Twins are most likely shopping around, Slowey is probably the most likely to be moved this season.  Although many thought Slowey deserved a spot in the 2011 starting rotation, perhaps ahead of Nick Blackburn or Scott Baker, the team moved him into the long-relief role in the bullpen, asking him to take that role and be the best at it.  In doing so, Slowey's attitude began to deteriorate, and before long, he was seen by the team as a problem.  Slowey has decent stuff, and should the Twins decide to deal Liriano, it would seem likely that a healthy Kevin Slowey would be the replacement in the rotation.  His attitude and demeanor have soured the Twins on his ability, and that has unfortunately put Slowey at the top of the Twins' trading block.  Look for Slowey to be dealt, regardless of whether the Twins are competing for the division come July or not.

5.  Denard Span - This is probably my absolute least favorite option for a trade.  I am a huge Denard Span supporter.  I think what he's done for the Twins at the top of the order over the last two season has been outstanding.  He's not going to hit for power like some center fielders do, but he's always hustling.  There isn't a team in baseball that wouldn't appreciate a player like that on their roster.  What's hurting Span is the emergence of Ben Revere as the Twins top outfield prospect.  With all the injuries this season, especially that of Jason Kubel, Revere has had an opportunity to show what he can do at the Major League level.  What the Twins are seeing is a potential Denard Span clone.  An all-out hustling outfielder who can hit for contact, get on base, and put opposing teams on their toes.  The biggest problem with this is that it makes Span expendable, at least in the eyes of some.  For me, Span offers much more than just great defense, speed on the bases, and a .300-hitting lead-off hitter.  Span's clubhouse presence appears to be a good one.  He's always smiling, and always going 100% every day.  That type of behavior seems to sometimes be a premium in baseball.  Even if Revere is similar in nature, giving up on a guy like Span would be a mistake, regardless of what you could get in return.  However, that being said, and with that type of player being coveted by many teams, his value could potentially be too high to pass up, and could possibly bring more talent to the team through a trade.  Personally, Span is one of my favorite players to watch on this team, so I'm hoping they find other ways (i.e. trading Delmon Young) to get Revere into the lineup full time.