It used to be a standard line in a politician’s speech that he or she would "point with pride" and "view with alarm." Sportswriters, like politicians, also point with pride and view with alarm. It’s fun to be a sportswriter, so you can point with pride to what your team has accomplished.
This column has been written for 14 years and, for almost all those years, I could point with pride at the Minnesota Twins. A fourth of the Twins’ schedule is over and I may have to start viewing with alarm.
Our Minnesota Twins are not playing well and each day a flaw pops up and is exposed. One day it’s the starting pitching. It seems that all the starters have pitched at least one game well, but have been woefully inconsistent. They are taught to "pitch to contact." That’s all fine and good if the Twins have a good defense. They don’t right now. All have "pitched to contact," to their detriment with the possible exception of Francisco Liriano. Another concern is that Scott Baker and Kevin Slowey don’t seem to have much interest in extending themselves. I know that modern day professional athletes don’t have the same motivation as those of another era. It’s also true that Baker and Slowey are probably set up for life if they have the right financial advisor. It sometimes appears their play reflects that. Both don’t seem very anxious to pitch.
Delmon Young plays left field like it’s a shooting gallery and he’s the target. His bad fielding is accepted, but his disinterest is not. The other day Delmon didn’t catch a fly ball, which is understandable, but his standing and pointing at the ball is beyond the pale. And you know, his poor play will not affect his eventual money earned. Oh, it may mean a million or so less, but that is hardly a drop in the bucket in the millions he will earn.
I don’t blame the Twins for underachieving. We all have bad days or months. I don’t see how some of the players could try any harder than they are. Justin Morneau has a bad shoulder and neck and is recovering from a concussion, but he’s out there every day. Many other Twins are trying their utmost. But if I was Bill Smith, general manager, there are a few players who would be on the trading block. The sooner the better.
Smith has come under a lot of criticism lately. But bad luck has dogged some of his moves. Who knew that Nishioka would break his leg, destroying Smith’s plans for the middle infield? He and others felt the Twins had enough talent to make up for the middle reliever losses, that the starting pitching would be poor to fair rather than average to good, that Danny Valencia would hit 100 points below last year‚s average, that Jim Thome would be out close to a month. And perhaps the most damaging of all, batting champ and MVP Joe Mauer would miss half a season.
While not excusing Smith for his lack of forethought in some instances, he and the Twins have had extremely bad luck.
Looking back at my article, I don’t know when I’ve been this critical of the Twins’ organization. But I tried to be fair and only cast blame, not because they are not playing well, but rather because of their attitudes. There is still admiration from me and many fans for the never-give-up spirit displayed by most of the Twins.
I also applaud the Twins attending Harmon Killebrew’s funeral. That was a fine gesture and through their losses on the field, and their loss of Killebrew, they have shown class. They are still my team.
