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Minnesota Twins Trending Down, Down, Down (Plus Seven More)

By Scott Wessels

Aug 28, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Kyle Gibson (44) is relieved by Minnesota Twins manager Paul Molitor (4) during the sixth inning in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY
Aug 28, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Kyle Gibson (44) is relieved by Minnesota Twins manager Paul Molitor (4) during the sixth inning in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY /
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Minnesota Twins Season Full of Ups, But Many More Downs

In a season framed by incredible lows (beginning and current part of schedule) and surprising highs (middle of June to middle of August) – the Minnesota Twins have left more questions unanswered for next season than they have helped answer for the front office and Paul Molitor.

Now stuck in another long losing streak, highlighted by dreadful pitching in the Toronto series – a series in which the offense gave the team eight, seven, and six runs, respectively, to work with – a more than passable effort with which to snap what is now a 10 game losing streak.

With last Monday off, the Twins went 0-6 on the week, to fall to 49-81 on the season.

They now sit only one game better of Atlanta for the worst record in all of baseball, and now have fallen six games behind Tampa Bay for the worst record in the American League.

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Now, with rosters expanding, the question is who might the front office bring up?

Likewise, who might the Twins target in next year’s draft in the one or two spot?

DOWN: Starting pitching. Outside of Ervin Santana‘s game on Saturday, Twins starters didn’t give the team a chance to compete in any game last week. All six games resulted in eight or more runs being scored by either the Tigers or the Blue Jays.

Kyle Gibson was coming off his first complete game, and in neither start last week could he pitch more than 5 1/3 innings. He too, provides more question marks going into next year as the Minnesota Twins try to decide who will be in their starting rotation.

Santana was given too long of a leash, but it was hard to blame Molitor for trying to ride the one horse who seems to give the Twins a fighting chance.

He obviously ran out of gas, but left in the seventh  up 7-3 with two outs and the bases loaded.

Ryan Pressly let all three inherited runners score before finally getting the last out of the inning. In just one inning’s worth of work, he allowed five hits and two runs (including the winning run), to ruin Minnesota’s best chance of the weekend to end the streak.

DOWN: Fielding. It’s not that they are contributing to the losses, in the six losses last week, only one run was unearned. It’s just that it’s a horrible product on the field to watch – every game had at least one error.

The Minnesota Twins now have 100 errors on the season, only Milwaukee’s 108 are worse.

There are third basemen in right field, third basemen at first base, second basemen on the left side of the infield, and outfielders out of position..

Aug 25, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins second baseman Brian Dozier (2) throws it away for an error and allows a run for the Tigers. Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 25, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins second baseman Brian Dozier (2) throws it away for an error and allows a run for the Tigers. Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports /

While the offense is near the top, it’s time to dial in the details of the defense.

Try to get players into positions where they can be comfortable. Hopefully from there we’ll see if they can run off three, four games in a row error-free.

Calling up Byron Buxton in September will help round the outfield defense into shape. Eddie Rosario is much better in left than roaming center field. Buxton also seems to calm Max Kepler down, knowing that anything hit to his right Buck will catch it.

If Trevor Plouffe isn’t dealt, keep him plugged in at third, with Jorge Polanco getting the look at shortstop for next year. Regardless of what happens to Kurt Suzuki, the Twins need to get a look at Mitch Garver – who just was recently promoted to AAA Rochester.

UP: Brian Dozier remains the one relevant Twin in the national spotlight. He clubbed his career-best 29th and 30th home runs last week while also driving in a career-high 78 runs.

One goal left is to best last year’s 81 extra base hits. With 31 doubles, five triples, and his 30 home runs – he needs 16 more in the last five weeks.

NOTES: Danny Santana sprained the AC joint in his non-throwing shoulder and was placed on the 15 day DL.  He will not need surgery, but with the rosters expanding soon, he might not see the field the rest of the season.

STRANGE, BUT TRUE, STAT OF THE WEEK: Detroit swept Minnesota  last week, and have won eight straight in Target Field. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it’s the longest winning streak for Detroit in Minnesota ever.

Next: Should Neil Allen Return in 2017?

The longest in franchise history dates back to the Senators days. Tigers won 11 straight over Washington in Washington from1949-50. The hits just keep coming.

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