Maybe the 2011 Twins were snake bit by injury, and maybe even while they were healthy the star players underperformed.  But even if the Twins had stayed healthy and performed up to their lofty preseason expectations, did anyone really think that a playoff rotation that included Francisco Liriano, Carl Pavano, Nick Blackburn, and Scott Baker or Brian Duensing really compete against the power hitting line ups that the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox (if they don’t choke against the Orioles) are throwing out there?  Pitch to contact isn’t going to work even with the best defense (Tsuyoshi Nishioka not withstanding) when the other team has home run power in six of its nine line up spots.

Because the Twins have enjoyed so much regular season success their Minor League Affiliates are a little thin on star power.  Sure, there are plenty of middle of the rotation starters and lots of young outfielders with “potential,” but there are no Bryce Harper type guys out there.  No future Johan Santana types either, and the Twins’ best pitching prospect, Kyle Gibson, just had Tommy John surgery and is AT LEAST a year away from pitching for the Twins.  (more…)

I should not go to Las Vegas.  The past week is proof of that.  Last week I took a look at the current roster, future call ups and the guys that were coming back from injury and I said that Joe Mauer at 1B was going to be a myth for the rest of the 2011 season.  How wrong I was.  Since that time Mauer has played at first base at least three times.  Such much for that.  Then yesterday I suggested that despite facing AL Cy Young candidate, Justin Verlander, that the Twins had a chance to beat the Detroit Tigers.  Turns out, that Verlander guy is as good as advertised and the Twins floundered against his mid-upper 90s fastballs.  So I am not going to Vegas, and I am going to steer away from making some predictions for a while, let my luck build up.

The good news is that the Twins have an opportunity to face three Detroit pitchers who are not Justin Verlander over the weekend (Max Scherzer, Brad Penny, and Rick Porcello, each of whom is very beatable).  The Twins can win the next three games and head to Texas directly in the rear view mirror of the Detroit Tigers and the Cleveland Indians.

And here are the links:

Each week over at Seedlings to Stars their staff of writers will be recapping all of the players that made their Major League Debuts.  This week, the Twins’ own Scott Diamond made his debut and StS has the coverage.

Seedlings to Stars had another Minnesota Twins related feature this week, this time it was Nathaniel Stoltz providing some insight into one of the Twins next bright stars, Liam Hendricks.  (The article has a weird two page format, but just click through for the good stuff on page 2)

Meanwhile, elsewhere on the internet, it turns out that planking is dead.  Now, I cannot be sure that planking was ever alive, ever something that we should have paid attention to, but this new craze that is taking it’s place is even cooler. @HippestHipster would be proud.

Mike Moustakas is not a super hero yet, and he doesn’t have his own set of rules like teammate Eric Hosmer, but he’s going to get there.  And when he does, look out world.  For now though, he’s suffering through some growing pains.  Twins fans everywhere only hope he never grows into his big league shoes.

How long has Frank McCourt been in the news?  Too damn long.  How soon until MLB takes over the Dodgers and McCourt is bounced from MLB?  Not soon enough.  Just go AWAY!

You know how Twins fans like to joke about how dumb White Sox fans are?  NotGraphs is on your team, here is some video evidence to back up those claims.   (more…)

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