The Minnesota Twins are normally a fun team to root for. They play good defense, hit in the clutch and play smart. However, this year it’s tempting to throw up your hands and exclaim in disgust. Granted, the team has key injuries and is only able to start about half of the regulars. As the Twins are composed presently, they are only a fair team that if lucky would probably be fighting for third place in the Central Division.
This means the team must scratch out wins and take them when they are offered. The other night the Twins had the Kansas City Royals on the ropes behind the pitching of Scott Baker. But they lost because of poor defense and ignorance.
By saying the team is ignorant, I don’t mean they are dumb. And they are trying hard, but they are not using baseball knowledge and background. Much like we learn from experience and education how our jobs are done, so baseball players have to do likewise. There were a couple of occasions in the Kansas City game when the runners on second should have scored on a hit, but did not because they were not prepared. They didn’t know where the outfielders were playing and consequently delayed their base running to first locate them. Both Jason Kubel and Danny Valencia should have scored easily. They did not and it cost the Twins a run both times.
I am not a fan of Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter. I don’t like his patronizing attitude of, "You guys are pretty good, but you really don’t belong on the same field as the New York Yankees." But I saw him make a wonderful play to cut down the Oakland Athletics’ Jeremy Giambi to win a playoff game. The ball had rolled free in front of home plate and Giambi was coming home with the winning run. Jeter got there, flipped the ball to the catcher, Giambi didn’t slide and he was out at the plate. Derek Jeter had no business being there from his shortstop position, but he anticipated the play, Giambi was out and the Yankees went on to the World Series.
You don’t have to be a clinical psychologist to play baseball, but you should think a play or two ahead. The Twins show no evidence of this.
The front office seems to be lacking that ability also. I could be mistaken, but when I was listening to general manager Bill Smith being interviewed, he was asked why he didn’t re-sign Nick Punto to a very reasonable salary. He replied that he felt some of the younger players deserved a chance. That is kind of like saying, “Well, we’re not going to bring back Justin Morneau, because minor league first baseman Chris Parmalee deserves a chance.”
Some of the national sportswriters are getting on Alexi Casilla saying that he is out of control and lacks the instinct necessary for shortstop. I don’t know about instinct. At one time animal behaviorists were giving instinct most of the credit for animal behavior. However, I had a Cocker Spaniel that when she heard my dad’s car on our gravel driveway headed for the stairs to greet him, paused, turned back and looked out my upstairs window to make sure it was him. Now that is using the old bean. So, I don’t think instinct is the problem for animals or people. I think the lack of baseball knowledge is to blame for Casilla’s difficulties.
In golf there is a shot called a mulligan where you are able to have another swing at the golf ball. Too bad there is not a "do over" for the Twins’ spring training. On the positive side, ignorance can be cured during the season. I hope it is in time.
