This week was to be about the Twins’ pitching but, before that, here is a little more about the position players. When you look at the starting nine it becomes clear there is a solid nucleus of three players. They could play for anybody.
I’m referring to Joe Mauer, Josh Willingham and Justin Morneau. I don’t care if the team is Detroit or San Francisco; these three would be an asset.
Our next category is made up of Twins whose play could vary all the way from poor to very good. I’m talking about newcomer Aaron Hicks, Chris Parmalee and Trevor Plouffe. They have the potential to either star or fall flat on their faces.
Then we have a category of one. Ryan Doumit, who in all likelihood will remain an adequate catcher and decent hitter.
The final category doesn’t bring much encouragement. Brian Dozier and Pedro Florimon seek to be major leaguers in the field and at the bat. I hope they succeed, but their upside is limited.
Some of the team’s success may rest on Hicks, Parmalee and Plouffe. And as they go, may go the team’s hitting. But even if they are successful beyond our wildest dreams, the Twins are not pennant contenders.
For while the position players may combine to be an average major league team, the pitching does not and hasn’t since 2010. When you look at that year’s roster you see how far the pitching staff has fallen. The starters were Pavano, Baker, and Blackburn, Slowey and Liriano back when they were throwing well. The relievers included Joe Nathan, Matt Capps, Jesse Crain, Jon Raush and Matt Guerrier. This year only relievers Glen Perkins and Jared Burton match that group.
The pitching staff disintegrated after 2010 because of free agency, injuries and ineffectiveness. The one effective starter from last year, Scott Diamond, had surgery on his elbow and the Twins are anxiously awaiting his return which is slated for April.
The opening day pitcher, Vance Worley is the only starter on the staff that has done well besides Diamond. However, he too, is recovering from arm surgery and his effectiveness is yet to be determined.
Starter Mike Pelfrey is coming off Tommy John surgery and the last year he pitched, his record was 7-13. Pelfrey may be able to scare some hitters. He’s 6'7" and licks his hands between pitches.
That’s got to be somewhat disturbing to the hitter. It’s indicative of the state of the Twins’ pitching when Pelfrey is expected to be one of the mainstays in the rotation.
Kevin Correia, probably the No. 2 starter, has the virtue of being healthy, but he has been a losing pitcher throughout his career and there is no good reason why that should change with the Twins. Nobody but Terry Ryan knows why he signed Correia to a two-year contract.
The last starter in the rotation will probably be Cole Devries or Liam Hendricks, both of whom the Twins were forced to use last year and will again this year.
Perhaps the best pitcher the Twins have available this year is Kyle Gibson, who is also recovering from Tommy John surgery. You can expect to see him in a Twins uniform soon, no matter how well he fares in Rochester. If Gardenhire and pitching coach Rick Anderson can patch together a major league staff from the present pitchers, they are miracle workers.
Starting pitching is why our Twins will finish in the basement in the Central Division. However, there is hope on the horizon. We just have to get through this year.
