Twins outlook

**mj4cy** · 07-19-2010, 08:15 AM

Good news Twins fans,

The next 13 games are against Cleveland, Baltimore, KC, and Seattle. If they want to get back to the top of the division, they need to win 9 or 10 of these. Time to fatten up!

Great comeback win yesterday and huge to take 3 of 4 against the Sox!

**GeronimusClone** · 07-19-2010, 08:16 AM

The Twins have always been a second half team. I'm not worrying yet.
We took three from the division leader without our best player. We'll be OK.

**RING4CY** · 07-19-2010, 08:25 AM

The way the Twins took 3 of 4 from the White Sox has me excited again. What I think is even bigger is the gift the Twins got from the Indians sweeping the Tigers in 4. I would say, in order to call the series against the White Sox a success is to follow it up by taking at least 2 of 3, if not sweeping the Indians starting tonight.

**MNCyGuy** · 07-19-2010, 08:41 AM

Originally Posted by GeronimusClone

The Twins have always been a second half team. I'm not worrying yet.
We took three from the division leader without our best player. We'll be OK.

Very true. I had that exact conversation with my dad at the beginning of the season. It was hard to process a Twins team that played well right off the bat.

**jdoggivjc** · 07-19-2010, 09:06 AM

The Twins have swept only two series all year - the Tigers and the Rangers, both in May. While I place a greater emphasis on "winning" series, with the sheer number of series that the Twins lost in June, this has to change, especially since the next 12 are against the Indians, Orioles, Royals, and Mariners, follow that up with 4 against a struggling Rays team, another 3 against the Indians, another 3 against the White Sox, 3 against the A's, and yet another 3 against the White Sox. The Twins have the opportunity to make a very powerful statement over the next month - they need to take a grasp of their opponents' throats and squeeze...

**jdoggivjc** · 07-19-2010, 09:07 AM

Originally Posted by MNCyGuy

Very true. I had that exact conversation with my dad at the beginning of the season. It was hard to process a Twins team that played well right off the bat.

I think it's the very reason why the Twins are still in it even with a very lousy June.

**J-Diggy** · 07-19-2010, 09:07 AM

They really need to get Blackburn and/or Slowey out of the rotation. Duensing fills one of those holes but where does the other come from? Those two guys have been brutal over the past 4-6 weeks.

Yesterday did raise my hope in them. Finally showed a little heart in that comeback.

**ISU_phoria** · 07-19-2010, 09:09 AM

I'm still worried about starting pitching. Even though the Twins won yesterday, Blackburn still didn't have a very good outing. Slowey & Baker are also pitching very inconsistently lately. Until those three start to pitch better, the Twins could be in trouble. Offensively & Defensively, I think the Twins will be able to weather the storm without Morneau, but starting pitching will be the key down the stretch.

**jdoggivjc** · 07-19-2010, 09:10 AM

Originally Posted by J-Diggy

They really need to get Blackburn and/or Slowey out of the rotation. Duensing fills one of those holes but where does the other come from? Those two guys have been brutal over the past 4-6 weeks.

Yesterday did raise my hope in them. Finally showed a little heart in that comeback.

Blackburn for whatever reason always struggles heading into and going out of the All Star Break, but usually "finds himself" for a late season run and is usually a very valuable piece going into the post season.

**jdoggivjc** · 07-19-2010, 09:12 AM

Originally Posted by ISU_phoria

I'm still worried about starting pitching. Even though the Twins won yesterday, Blackburn still didn't have a very good outing. Slowey & Baker are also pitching very inconsistently lately. Until those three start to pitch better, the Twins could be in trouble. Offensively & Defensively, I think the Twins will be able to weather the storm without Morneau, but starting pitching will be the key down the stretch.

Agreed - the Twins need to make a play at Oswaldt or Lilly (I still would like to know what exactly went wrong in the Cliff Lee deal - that was supposedly "done" until the Yankees and Rangers snatched that one out of our jowls)...

**IcSyU** · 07-19-2010, 09:29 AM

Originally Posted by jdoggivjc

Agreed - the Twins need to make a play at Oswaldt or Lilly (I still would like to know what exactly went wrong in the Cliff Lee deal - that was supposedly "done" until the Yankees and Rangers snatched that one out of our jowls)...

I hope like hell the Twins make a run at Lilly before the Yankees do. Twins need an ace. Badly.

**bawbie** · 07-19-2010, 09:54 AM

Originally Posted by IcSyU

I hope like hell the Twins make a run at Lilly before the Yankees do. Twins need an ace. Badly.

Lilly is not an ace, in any definition of the term. Both Liriano and Pavano have been better this year, and that's with Lilly facing the weak NL lineups.

not that he wouldn't be an upgrade on Blackburn or Slowey.