Glen Perkins struggling at the wrong time
By Brennen Rupp
Nobody expected Glen Perkins to go the entire 2015 season without blowing a save. The Minnesota Twins closer was a perfect 28 for 28 in save opportunities before the All-Star break.
The All-Star closer set a franchise record for consecutive saves and was Mr. Automatic during the first half of the season. In four appearances after the All-Star break, Perkins looks like he’s the pitcher in the home run contest.
The southpaw has given up six runs in four appearances and blown two saves. He gave up just two home runs during the first half of the season; in his last two appearances he’s given up three long balls.
Every closer is going to blow a couple of saves in a season, it’s inevitable, but his recent struggles bring even more attention to the fact that the Twins need to upgrade their bullpen before the trade deadline by any means possible.
Last year the Kansas City Royals rode a dominant bullpen to the World Series. The Twins need to copy that formula.
Ryan O’Rourke, J.R. Graham, Trevor May and Perkins give the Twins a solid foundation to build upon. Twins General Manager, Terry Ryan should look up and down every avenue to upgrade their bullpen.