Hindsight

I wish I were disappointed at the news that the Twins traded outfielder Carlos Gomez to the Brewers for shortstop JJ Hardy. Instead, I immediately thought, "This might mean they'll keep Delmon Young." That's a fitting follow-up to, "At least they got more for Garza than Johan."

Many Twins followers had wanted the outfielder to spend the season in AAA. I do not recall arguing a strong position for or against the option, but in hindsight, it clearly was the right thing to do. A dime-a-dozen Jason Tyner type could have done as much for the Twins in 2009 as Gomez and regular at bats and focused coaching in Rochester may have helped to transform Gomez from the bad halves of Pedro Cerrano and Willie Mays Hays to their respective good sides. The move ultimately doesn't mean a whole lot, and still fails to address the top priority for the Twins this offseason.

The article in the Star and Tribune includes a disappointing, albeit unsurprising, description of offseason plans for the Twins. "Smith didn’t rule out pursuing a second or third baseman but noted manager Ron Gardenhire’s preference to have Nick Punto in the lineup." I'm going to take the positive interpretation of this. Smith has realized that if Punto is on the roster, Gardy will play him. If Smith realizes this, that means he knows how simple it is to solve the Punto problem. Get rid of him. Even if this befuddles Gardy so badly when he's filling out the lineup card that they end up with Matt Tolbert in centerfield, no DH, and Kevin Slowey batting fifth, it's worth it.

When I broke the news of the trade to my 86-year-old neighbor, he said it best. "They already have a shortstop who can hit .225." At least this one won't try to score from second on a grounder to short.

OLERUD BREAKS FOR THIRD!!!

For those who are following on television instead of the radio, here's what you just missed:

"... PUNTO'S GOING TO TRY TO SCORE!!! JETER! AND BACK TO THIRD... OHHHHHHHHHHH, NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Argh.

Game Two

It took 163 regular season games and 2 playoff games, but I finally figured out the 2009 Minnesota Twins. They can, but they don't. In Friday evening's loss to the Yankees, they proved that they can beat the Yankees, but ultimately lost the game. A serviceable, middle-of-the-rotation pitcher can pitch deep into the ballgame allowing only one run. A lousy utility infielder starting at second by default can get a clutch hit in the 8th inning to take a two-run lead. One of 2008's worst relief pitchers can toss an uneventful bottom of the 8th. And I don't care who is coming to bat in the 9th, one of the game's most respected closers can retire three hitters without surrendering 2 runs. If the three most improbable of these actually happened, then the Twins can win that game and beat the Yankees in a 5-game series.

Instead, they dug themselves a 2-game hole. And unfortunately, the regular season taught them that it's perfectly acceptable to do this. It doesn't matter if you squander a 12-run lead in Oakland because you can always beat the Tigers in a tie-breaker. The Yankees in the playoffs are better than the Tigers in the regular season. I still have faith in the Metrodome to keep things interesting, but realistically Friday was the chance. Then again, in a series with Blackburn pitching well in the Bronx, Punto getting clutch hits, and Guerrier mowing down Yankees does conventional wisdom really apply?

Brett Favre

Did the lowly Twins just upstage Brett Favre throwing three touchdowns for the Vikings against the Packers? I don't care how pathetic the AL Central has been, a great baseball game is a great baseball game. They've played 163 games now, and I still have no clue what to think of these Twins. On Sunday, it took four pitchers to get through the 6th inning with a 7-run lead against the Royals. Yet, they keep winning ballgames and have a solid nucleus with serviceable role players. Whether this game marked the end of a great comeback or a monumental collapse in a pennant race will be decided by the next three to five games. They are as close to embarrassing themselves in a three game sweep as they are to winning the World Series. There is just one thing I know: The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome is not going to let anybody tell it when it will host it's last Major League Baseball game.

Sacrifice Fly

He can't even hit it far enough to score Casilla. And Alexi "runs around the bases pretty well." He wouldn't even need to hit it that far if his inept play hadn't cost the team victories earlier in the season.

Oh boy.

Oh, boy.

Deluded Optimism

2009 has been the year of deluded optimism for the Twins. Could there be a more fitting finish then heading into the final weekend with just a half game margin for error? They could still win the division. For all the reasons to doubt the Twins, there is just as much reason to doubt the Tigers. How would you feel if the Twins took a two-game lead into a final weekend series at home against the White Sox? Throughout most of this season, the Twins have looked like a team with no business in the playoffs, but the Tigers have refused to put us out of our misery. Even Punto tried to do his part by bunting into a double play in the series opener. Did anybody else wonder why Casilla, Punto, and Tolbert all had the chance to grab a bat in the top of the 9th of a tie game against the team with a 2-game lead in the division with 7 games to play? Carl Pavano was available to pinch hit.