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Minnesota Twins: Losses, Dozier Watch & Pen Issues

By Jordan Wickstrom

Sep 16, 2016; New York City, NY, USA; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Jose Berrios (17) pitches against the New York Mets during the first inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 16, 2016; New York City, NY, USA; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Jose Berrios (17) pitches against the New York Mets during the first inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Minnesota Twins’ road to 100 losses is almost over as the Sunday’s loss clinched their 95th this season.

After winning six division championships through the first 10 years of the new century, the Minnesota Twins have since lost 90+ games every year but one.

This season will mark their highest loss total since 1982 and will more than likely be their highest mark since moving to Minnesota.

This weekend’s series with the defending NL Champion New York Mets was just a culmination of what the team’s problems have been.

They just keep finding ways to lose games.

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Despite a very strong start by Ervin Santana on Saturday, Ryan Pressly and Brandon Kintzler each blew saves and Curtis Granderson stung Minnesota with a pair of homers.

Then on Sunday, the Twins’ offense couldn’t back up Kyle Gibson as they lost, 3-2.

All in all, it was an okay performance by the starting staff all series long with Santana being the highlight and a rough one for the offense.

Byron Buxton had some late game heroics on Saturday but Granderson made sure to scrub those from existence.

On Friday, Bartolo Colon completely shut out the offense.

Oh can Septemeber not end soon enough.

Dozier Watch

As it stands, the only thing Twins fans really have to hang onto is the potential history-making home run by Brian Dozier.

Perhaps once he hits that home run, the real conversation will be what kind of extension he’ll get.

And really, for all he’s done this season and all he means to the team, this extension seems more imperative than Joe Mauer’s a few seasons ago.

This especially rings true considering what Jim Pohlad wrote in his letter to season ticket holders.

The pressure is on for the Twins to put a competitive product on the field sooner rather than later. Games like Saturday and Sunday’s won’t help get them there.

Neither will five 90+ loss seasons in six years.

Who’s Safe in the Bullpen?

Next season’s bullpen battle will be a very interesting one to watch. Aside from a few arms, no one has really shined this season.

Pressly has been relatively trust worthy but he’s going to need some backup or risk becoming overworked and fatigued.

Kintzler and Rogers have earned looks in 2017 but really that’s it.

Ryan O’Rourke, Michael Tonkin and J.T. Chargois have all struggled. Chargois is the only real guarantee to stay with the organization due to this being his first MLB experience.

Either way, the Twins need to find a way to improve their pen. It was better than last year but was overworked due to an ineffective starting rotation.

Next: Picollo, McLeod GM Front Runners?

Whoever the next GM is will have quite the tall task to figure out the pen.

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