What's wrong with the Twins?

The easy answer is everything. It's been Murphy's law so far this year for the Twins as just about everything has gone wrong so far. Alas it is only April 21st, meaning we are just 3 weeks into a 25 week season. Small as that may be, the Twins are not showing many signs of breaking out of their slump.

Statistically speaking, the Twins have no place to go but up. Looking at their team numbers, here are their AL and MLB rankings:

THINGS THEIR DOING REALLY BAD IN:
Home Runs - 6, Last in MLB
RBI - 49, Last in MLB
Runs - 54, Last in MLB
OBP - .284, Last in MLB
Slugging - .314, Last in MLB
K's (Pitching) - 99, Last in MLB
Total Bases - 193, Last in AL, 29th MLB
Walks (batting) - 44, 13th AL, 29th MLB
Home Runs allowed - 22, 13th AL, 28th MLB
Batting AVG - .231, 12th AL, 26th MLB
ERA - 4.76, 12th AL, 26th MLB
Walks (P) - 61, 12th AL, 24th MLB
Runs Allowed - 88, 11th AL, 22nd MLB
Doubles - 29, 11th AL, 18th MLB
Stolen Bases - 7, 10th AL, 22nd MLB
Hits Allowed - 156, 10th AL, 19th MLB
Hits - 142, 9th AL, 22nd MLB
Triples - 2, 8th AL, 19th MLB

THINGS THEIR DOING OK IN:
Fewest Strikeouts - 117, 6th AL, 8th MLB
Fielding - .985, 6th AL, 12th MLB
Fewest Errors - 10, 6th AL, 12th MLB

THINGS THEIR DOING GOOD IN:
Not getting caught stealing! The Twins are the only team left in MLB not to be thrown out. Granted they have just 7 steals, but are perfect nontheless!

Statistics aside, the Twins are far from healthy. In the first week, they lost Tsuyoshi Nishioka, the star Japanese import to a broken fibula. We'll be lucky to see him on the basepads before July. The DL has also being visited by Joe Mauer and Kevin Slowey. Two guy that are desperately needed for stabilization. Mauer, for obvious reasons being the Twins MVP and all-world catcher, and Slowey to help stabilize a shaky bullpen and be a possible early replacement in a an unpredictable rotation.

Speaking of that bullpen, it's been a rollercoaster ride for everyone involved. I don't think anyone believed the plan they left camp with was going to stick all season, but it didn't even last a month. Joe Nathan blew consecutive saves and has been replaced as the closer to a shaky Matt Capps. Alex Burnett replaced Slowey in the bullpen only to be replaced by Eric Hacker recently. Hacker had just 3 appearances with Pittsburgh in 2009, but was lighting up Triple A Rochester and the Twins don't have the luxury of time to wait. Jeff Manship continues punching in those frequent flyer miles from Minneapolis to Rochester, once again being sent down. In his place is the fireball righthander Jim Hoey, who clocks a high 90's fastball.

Injuries, slow starts, and even a couple bouts with the flu (Mauer and Morneau), have the Twins in an early season position of which they haven't faced in recent memory. Still, if you erase the statistics next to each players name, on paper, this line-up still puts fear into the opponent. As for on the mound and in the bullpen there is plenty of experience and proven winners to make us forget the first few weeks of the season.

What I'm saying is, don't count the Twins out just yet. They have the benefit of being in the AL Central, and like the Twins, none of those teams have emerged as elite from the rest of the group. The Twins will face the suprising AL best Cleveland Indians this weekend. A series that will give serious indications on how good or bad each of these teams are.

Until next time, remember that batted balls and objects can enter the stands during field of play.

Brock
TCW