What a pickle the Twins seem to be in

What a pickle the Twins seem to be in No betting info here just an opinion. I don't think I've seen too much of the Twins but Morneau's stats are horrible. Is he really recovering from the concussion? What is the deal with this? I don't know his contract. I'm sure it looks outrageous if he doesn't come back to form. Mauer a different story. His contract I know is outrageous. They moved to Target Field but he didn't have as good a season last year. The field wasn't to his liking and his home run power was down. Now he has what? Weakness in the legs and he's out for several weeks? . Young is out. Perhaps he'll get back into form. But the issues with Mauer and Morneau seem chronic. Anyone want to say they'll actually get back into this race in the next 60 days?

The situation with Mauer is pretty straightforward. He didn't have all of spring training to get his legs into game shape. They tried it out when the season started, but he couldn't hit because he couldn't put enough lower body into his swing. All he's doing now is a strength regimen that otherwise would have been done in the spring. When he's ready, he'll be fine.

[QUOTE=Skeeter;42732]No betting info here just an opinion. I don't think I've seen too much of the Twins but Morneau's stats are horrible. Is he really recovering from the concussion? What is the deal with this? I don't know his contract. I'm sure it looks outrageous if he doesn't come back to form. Mauer a different story. His contract I know is outrageous. They moved to Target Field but he didn't have as good a season last year. The field wasn't to his liking and his home run power was down. Now he has what? Weakness in the legs and he's out for several weeks? . Young is out. Perhaps he'll get back into form. But the issues with Mauer and Morneau seem chronic. Anyone want to say they'll actually get back into this race in the next 60 days?[/QUOTE] Mauer is vastly overpaid for being a singles hitter who takes every third day off (or better put Gardenhire makes him take every third day off). I wouldn't say his power was down rather he had a normal year of power. In 2009 he had an abnormal year from a power standpoint. If he hit like that every year, his contract would be worthwhile. Take out 2009 and I think the guy has averaged about nine homeruns a year with maybe only one year of double digit homeruns. This team can't support that contract. It prevents them from signing other players and he doesn't provide enough power to justify the contract. Add in the lack of playing time because they always have to give him a rest and it's really absurd. Morneau's concussion was the fifth of his life so who knows if he will return. I remember seeing Cory Koskie get his concussion and he never came back. The teams pitching was the downfall last year and they did nothing to upgrade that this year. While they haven't hit well (one guy playing meaningful games hitting over .300 and only two guys with OBP over .300, which is horrible) I believe the pitching will be their downfall. Pavano is old, Liriano isn't the same since the injury (nohitter aside), Blackburn isn't that good and Baker is a few outings away from falling apart. Don't see much changing for this team in the near future.

They lost a couple of key setup guys out of their bullpen also. They have been quietly shopping Liariano for over a year so maybe what they get in return for him will help.

Everything does point to a down year for the Twins, but one other thing to remember is that they open this year playing about 2/3 of their first 60 games on the road with heavy emphasis on the AL East. Even though I wouldn't rank them above average in the AL right now, there may be an opportunity to get good prices on their games starting in mid-June or so.

Thanks for the feedback. edsherpa's point about the bullpen I hadn't thought of but I was listening to the Jays game vs. the Twins on Saturday and what do you know they call in a few bullpen guys and get an 8 spot tagged on them in the 11th inning. And for irony I think Rauch pitched in that game for Toronto at some point. Sixth Sense's points were what I was leaning to a bit and I think that is what I was trying to say. It is well said there.