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?

Is Thome's Accomplishment Being Under-Sold?

Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Rodriguez, Sammy Sosa...and now, Jim Thome.  Those are the only eight members of baseball's 600 home run club.  It's not necessarily the most elite record there is.  After all, there are only two members of the 4,000 hit club (Pete Rose and Ty Cobb), only two members of the 2,000 RBI club (Aaron and Ruth), and only one member of the 1,000 stolen base club (Rickey Henderson with 1,406).  But when it comes to records in baseball, there has always been something special about those involving the long-ball.

Thome hit home runs number 599 and 600 on Monday night, to very little fanfare leading up to the feat.  When Derek Jeter got hit number 3,000 a few weeks ago, MLB Network cut into their programming to show every Jeter at-bat from 2,998 through 3,000.  ESPN ran story after story about what Jeter's accomplishment would mean, given no one had ever achieved 3,000 hits with the New York Yankees.  Even HBO got into the mix, airing a special only one week after Jeter reached the milestone about his quest to get there.

Yet, it seemed only fans of the Minnesota Twins were aware of how close Thome was to joining the "Elite Eight".  Some would say that the lack of emphasis on the 600 milestone had to do with the Twins' struggles this season.  Others would say that it's because Thome is playing in Minnesota, a smaller market, and as a result, Jeter playing in New York brought more attention.  A third suggestion is that the home run has lost its luster now that we're in the post-steroid era.

Regardless of the reason for such little hype, the baseball media, and fans alike, need to understand the significance of the accomplishment because it's conceivable we may not see such an accomplishment again.

Looking through the list of eight, we know that three have been directly tied to steroid use (Bonds, Rodriguez, and Sosa).  Taking that into account, that leaves only five considered to be "genuine" members of the club.  Suddenly, the club seems more elite.  Now, looking to the future, only one active player in the top 50 has a legitimate chance to reach the 600 milestone, and that player is Albert Pujols (currently with 437 homers).  Pujols, like Thome, is widely regarded as a guy who's "done it right" throughout his career.  Given his age (31) and the average number of home runs he's hit in each of his first 11 seasons (39.7 per year), it's assumed that Pujols will reach the 600 milestone sometime around the end of the 2015 season.  He would be 35 at that time, and would have a reasonable chance to overtake Bonds as the all-time home run leader by the time he's 40.

It's possible that Thome could be the second-to-last person to ever achieve that magical milestone, yet, the accomplishment seemed to fall by the wayside.  Looking at it all, it truly seems a shame that one of the true "good guys" in the game became one of the greatest sluggers of all time, and some people are still questioning whether or not he belongs in the Hall of Fame.  I think he deserves a little more respect than that.

With talk of realignment, the possible shortening of schedules to prevent November baseball, and cleaning up the game of performance-enhancing drugs, these types of records and accomplishments shouldn't be taken for granted.  There's nothing certain about Albert Pujols reaching the 600 club, albeit likely.  There's nothing to say that a young, up-an-coming slugger might not reach that mark in 15 more seasons.  However, as with anything in life, we just don't know.

Make sure Thome is getting the credit he's due.  More so than anything, he's earned it!

Stay Positive, Just Don't Get Your Hopes Up

It's pretty hard to stay upbeat when you're 13 games under .500 and nine and half games out of first place in the division, but getting too negative and uptight isn't good for anybody.

With what we've seen over the last three weeks from the Twins, there's seemingly been very little to be positive about.  Sure, they've started to get some of their injured players back (Span, Kubel), which is a plus.  Sure, they're closer is back in the saddle again, and throwing almost like he did before having Tommy John surgery.  But, there's nothing really positive about a team that considers itself a perpetual contender, to go over three weeks without winning a series against some of the better competition in the American League.

You'd be hard-pressed to find a more up and down Twins season than this 2011 campaign.  Most of troubles have been due to numerous injuries, which have ravaged the team.  The struggles, however, can't all be blamed on the injury bug.  Even with some of their bigger stars on the shelf, the Twins had players who'd had major league experience filling in.  They may not have been the most talented players, but guys like Matt Tolbert, Trevor Plouffe, and Drew Butera have all seen fairly significant time in the big leagues.  If we're honest about it though, the utilization of those players isn't totally to blame, either.

When a team is struggling at the plate, and is having a hard time getting runs on the board, it's absolutely vital that pitching keep them afloat.  Therin lies the key to the 2011 debacle.  With inconsistency in the starting rotation, a bullpen that couldn't maintain the minimal leads the offense was giving them, and a closer in Matt Capps whose fastball rivals that of some of the kids pitching in the Little League World Series this month, it's no wonder the Twins found themselves looking up at the rest of the American League Central.

The offensive struggles have come primarily from three sources: Tsuyoshi Nishioka, Joe Mauer, and Delmon Young.  Since returning from his leg injury, Nishioka has struggled mightily at the plate, proving that the Twins may have made a mistake, not just in signing him, but in not pursuing that which they already had in J.J. Hardy.  So far, Hardy is hitting .275 with 21 HR and 40 extra-base hits.  He currently has more extra-base hits than the primary Twins middle infield (Nishioka and Casilla) combined.  Hardy is making $5.85 million this year, with Nishioka making only $3 million, however, if you count the $5.4 million bid the Twins spent to just speak to Nishi, they're into him for over $8 million this year.  Hardy seems like the better investment at this point, wouldn't you say?

Mauer and Young have vastly underperformed this year.  Mauer is riding the injury excuse, at least for another couple of weeks, but with Young, what you see is truly what you get.  Both players were handled poorly during the offseason, with the Twins needing to take more of a hands-on approach with Mauer's rehab, and also a more aggressive approach trying to find a better home for Mr. Young.  The result has been a combined 5 HR's and only 30 extra-base hits.  And remember, J.J. Hardy has 40 himself.  I'm not sayin'...I'm just sayin'.

All is not lost, however.  The Twins do have some positive things to take from this season thus far.  Michael Cuddyer has shown this team that he truly does have the heart to be the team's leader, on and off the field.  Jim Thome is on the verge of making history with his 600th home run, which couldn't happen to a better guy.  Jason Kubel has emerged as the Twins' best overall hitter, hitting for both average and power.  Danny Valencia has shown some of the pop in his bat that the Twins expected when they called him up last year, sitting second on the team with 12 HR's.  Ben Revere came up and proved himself to be a tremendous fielding outfielder, albeit with a tremendously weak throwing arm.  And Glen Perkins has seemingly found himself a suitable role as the set-up man for Joe Nathan.

All of these things are very positive, and should be looked at as such.  If the starters can improve their performances, and the veteran hitters like Mauer and Young can help to produce a few more runs, coupled with the positives mentioned...there's no reason the Twins can't still make a run for the division crown.

I just wouldn't hold my breath.

How Would Baseball Realignment Have To Work?

Often times, change is a good thing, right?  Sometimes it's a change of scenery, say, from a job.  Sometimes it can be a change in attitude.  Other times, it can be a change in technique.  Sports have gone through many different changes over the years, some of which weren't the greatest, but more often than not, those changes have worked out for the best.  Major League Baseball is discussing the possibility of a pretty drastic change that could make the game even more interesting when it's all said and done.  They've tried realignment before, and they're talking about doing it again.  This time, however, if they want it to work, they have to be careful how they actually lay it out.

What league officials are discussing is evening out the American and Nationals Leagues.  Currently, there are 14 teams in the American League, and 16 teams in the National League.  The realignment discussion would bring one National League team over to the American League to even both leagues out at 15 teams. These two 15-team leagues would either be split up into three divisions of five, or lumped together in one 15 team "division," if you will.  What this would do is create an inter-league match-up every series in order to accommodate the odd team out in each league.  The next piece of the puzzle which National League team would come over to even things out.  The preliminary talks are that it would be either the Houston Astros or the Florida Marlins, in order to create possible rivalries against the Texas Rangers and Tampa Bay Rays, respectively.

All of that seems simple, and logical enough, but there's one thing that Major League Baseball would need to consider.  It's a drastic suggestion, one that's been thrown around loosely over the years, but never really taken seriously.  This is a move that would change the way the game itself would be played.  This change would be something that would absolutely need to happen in order for baseball to make this new idea of realignment a reality.  That change is...

...Eliminating the designated hitter.

Yes, I did just say that.  In order for Major League Baseball to make realignment possible in the way they are suggesting it, the would need to sacrifice the only true thing that differentiates the leagues, that being the designated hitter in the American League.

Let me explain the logic behind my thought.

If the American and National Leagues are evened out with 15 teams apiece, and an inter-league match-up will take place every series, that could possibly mean that an American League team could be playing a series in a National League ballpark with their season on the line...and be required to send their designated hitter to the bench while the pitcher takes his swings.  Given the current situation, that doesn't seem entirely fair, that just the luck of the scheduling draw could send an American League playoff contender to a National League ballpark, to have the fate of their season rest on the below average offensive skills of their starting pitcher.

So, my suggestion seems like a logical one.  If Major League Baseball is going to even out the leagues, why don't they truly "even out the leagues."  Why not make the rules in both leagues the same, so one doesn't have an advantage over the other at any point during the season, especially down the stretch?  Why not eliminate a position that many feel took away some of the purity of the game in the first place?  Why not force those players who have become full-time DH's to play the field?  One of the main reasons why this might be tough for the league to do is because it might lessen the offense in the American League.  Balls might not fly out of the park as much if they take away that extra power-hitting spot in the batting order.  But, would it really make that much of a difference?

Right now, American League DH's (those that are listed as permanent designated hitters) account for 8.9% of the home runs in the AL.  They account for 10.3% of the total RBI's.  The National League has hit a total of 884 home runs this season.  If you average that out over 16 teams, you get an average of 55 home runs per team.  Now, if you eliminate the DH totals in the AL (76 HR's) and take one team away from the NL (55 HR on average), the leagues would be almost identical.  The American League would've hit 833 HR's while the National League would have 829.  So, my question is this: Would eliminating the DH really stifle the offense in baseball?  Probably not.

When you stop to think about it, there isn't another sport that allows it's players to only play part of the game.  Football is slightly a different case because, aside from the rare two-way player, you play only your position.  If that position is defense, then that's what you play.  You don't see basketball players playing only offense, and then be taken out as soon as the team goes on the defense end, (unless it's the end of the game.)  That being said, why should a player be allowed only to hit?  If you're playing the game, you should need to play both positions.  If you're unable to do so, then you can sit on the bench to allow another player to take that role.

So, what are the pros and cons of eliminating the DH?

Pros:

• Both leagues would be completely identical from a rules standpoint.  Uniformity would eliminate the possibility of an unfair advantage in a pennant chase.
• More parity in the game.  If a team already has a first baseman, but their DH's natural position is first base, the team probably wouldn't be able to keep both, or at least keep both happy.  So, the team would need to either move one of the players to a different position to accommodate the lineup, or would need to possibly trade one of the players to a different team.  For example, let's use the Twins.  If there were no DH, the Twins would be forced to make a decision with both Justin Morneau and Jim Thome.  Thome would need to play first base, but what would you do with Morneau.  This would possibly force the Twins to offer one of the two up in a trade, potentially bolstering a different part of their roster, while possibly sending one of the two to a team with a need at that position, say, a team like the Kansas City or Toronto in need of a first baseman of that caliber.
• Bringing the more exciting brand of baseball to all teams.  National League baseball presents more options and strategy than the American League style.  Double-switches present a wrinkle that many fans haven't had the fortune to see.

Cons:

• Potentially eliminating the careers of some lesser athletic players.  Again, using the Twins as the example, Jim Thome is in the tail end of his career.  He's closing in on 600 career home runs, but if realignment were to have taken place this year, Thome would more than likely have been forced to retire.  With his injury problems and lack of mobility, teams would probably not be willing to take the chance on putting him in the field full-time.

The way I look at it, eliminating the DH has far more of an upside than a downside.  There are some that might throw out the idea that it would possibly bring a greater chance for injury amongst pitchers.  That could be an argument, if there weren't already pitchers doing it.  Some may even argue that it could throw off milestones and records.  Let's face it, in this era of baseball, it's almost safe to say that any true records and milestones regarding pitchers, i.e. career wins, strikeouts, etc, will almost certainly never be approached and/or broken again.  Too many factors come into play now which would almost destroy any chance we'd have to see another 300-game winner, or 5,000 career strikeouts.

The biggest question is, will Major League Baseball be willing to do what it takes to actually make this move work as well as it can?  Will they actually look at the numbers and realize that there really wouldn't be much difference at all if they were to eliminate the DH and have both leagues share the same make-up?  What do you all think?  Post your suggestions on how they can make it work.  What rules would need to be changed?  What team should be moved to the AL and why?  Let's hear it!

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.