Twins Report Card

 As we reach the quarter-pole of a Twins season that I expect to be either frustrating or forgettable, here is a list of my Five Favorite Things about the team, so far:

1. Joe Mauer lining an outside strike over the shortstop’s head. His swing is so pure I don’t want to miss an at-bat. In his first month back, he has developed into a power hitter, which is great; but I don’t want him to lose that sweet stroke to left.

2. Jose Mijares pumping his fist after getting out of the eighth. It looks like the Twins have their go-to guy to get to Nathan (that’s another story), in place of the still sorely missed Pat Neshek. Mijares can throw his first two pitches in the dirt and still strike out the batter. He keeps his emotions in check until the inning ends, when he shows how pumped up he really is.

3. Denard Span coaxing a walk. What a professional hitter, and what a great lead-off example. He can take two pitches for strikes, then start fouling off good pitches and taking close ones, until suddenly it’s ball four and the Twins’ best base-stealing threat is on board.

4. Kevin Slowey painting the corners. Without overpowering stuff or any obvious strikeout pitch, he can still fan ten batters a game by consistently hitting his spots and subtly changing speeds. Unlike practically the rest of the staff, he never changes his demeanor – a cool customer and the Radke of the coming decade.

5. The Twins TV analysts breaking down the game. Perhaps emboldened by his success as pitching coach for the Netherlands, Bert Blyleven is quick to point out flaws in a Twins pitcher’s delivery; and Ron Coomer and Roy Smalley aren’t far behind in saying what’s being done right or wrong. They may be “homers,” but it almost seems their bigger allegiance is to the game, and how it should be played.

 

To round things out, how about some lowlights:

1. A middle defense that hits at or below .200. Punto and Tolbert are major disappointments, Gomez is a work-in-progress that may never get finished, and Casilla is in the minors for a reason. In place of the piranhas, this year we have the minnows.

2. An overrated Joe Nathan. Just when SI.com proclaimed him the best closer of recent years, Nathan started the Twins on their six-game skid by pitching terribly in the series-opening loss to the Yankees. Instead of inspiring confidence that the game is over when he comes in, Nathan makes me nervous with his fidgeting, sweating and sliders in the dirt. Relievers have notoriously short life spans. I fear Joe is near the end of his, but I wonder how long it will take Gardy to admit it.

3. Solo home runs. Sure, Morneau, Mauer, Kubel and Cuddyer are showing some pop, but how many of their blasts come with no one on or the game out of reach? Other than Mauer, these are all “mistake” hitters, who can usually be handled when the game is close and the pitcher is bearing down.

4. Crain and Ayala. These guys automatically give up a run per appearance. If it’s a close game, Gardy dare not use them, which means Guerrier gets worn out by August.

5. Delmon Young. Not a bad player, just not the power hitter the Twins were expecting when they gave up Matt Garza. He’s also their worst defensive player (I’d rather have Kubel in left) and doesn’t have the scrappy personality that makes the Twins fun to root for.

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