The Twins easily defeat the Pirates, as Glen Perkins comes off the disabled list and limits his damage to two runs over six innings. Joe Mauer goes 4-for-4 and increases his batting average to an incredible .429. Simply put, if Mauer were not on this team, the Twins would be sunk. They have one of the worst in-game managers in the game and the bottom of their order is downright atrocious. Without Mauer, this team wouldn't be even close to .500. Even with Mauer, this team doesn't appear to be that great, as their pitching will keep the team from really competing. Here's a team that had to wait two and a half months before doing something about Jesse Crain, who did not have one appearance out of his 23 that was not disastrous. I will say it was a tad surprising to hear that Crain was sent to Triple-A to make room for Perkins on the roster. Surprising because it's the first time in two years that the Twins have done something about their terrible bullpen for the positive. The Twins pounded out sixteen hits against the Bucs, and it would be easy to lavish praise on the team after such a convincing win. But let's be honest folks -- they played the Pirates, and if they don't sweep this series, it would be a disappointment. The Twins better win these games against Pitts
burgh and Houston if they want to have a shot at competing, especially the way that they are playing on the road. Did you see who the Pirates are trotting out on the field? This is a team that traded their best player, Nate McLouth, for prospects a few weeks back. It was so bad last night that Craig Monroe was batting fifth for the Pirates -- yes, that Craig Monroe, he of the .215 batting average who didn't do much better last season with the Twins. For how surprising (and deceiving) the Twins' .500 record is, I find it more shocking that the Pirates are a modest 30-34. They did get some great starting pitching early in the season, especially from Zach Duke and Paul Maholm, who the Twins roughed up on Tuesday. But that's leveled off, and now without McLouth, the team looks headed for ninety losses. I was there in the late '90s when the Twins were terrible, but I don't think it was ever that bad, where the Twins would be to the point of trading off their best young players two months into the season. And this will likely be the 17th -- SEVENTEENTH -- consecutive losing season for the Pirates. That, my friends, is a new definition of bad.
burgh and Houston if they want to have a shot at competing, especially the way that they are playing on the road. Did you see who the Pirates are trotting out on the field? This is a team that traded their best player, Nate McLouth, for prospects a few weeks back. It was so bad last night that Craig Monroe was batting fifth for the Pirates -- yes, that Craig Monroe, he of the .215 batting average who didn't do much better last season with the Twins. For how surprising (and deceiving) the Twins' .500 record is, I find it more shocking that the Pirates are a modest 30-34. They did get some great starting pitching early in the season, especially from Zach Duke and Paul Maholm, who the Twins roughed up on Tuesday. But that's leveled off, and now without McLouth, the team looks headed for ninety losses. I was there in the late '90s when the Twins were terrible, but I don't think it was ever that bad, where the Twins would be to the point of trading off their best young players two months into the season. And this will likely be the 17th -- SEVENTEENTH -- consecutive losing season for the Pirates. That, my friends, is a new definition of bad. The Twins did post eight runs on the board, but if not for some terrible situational hitting, the Twins could have had a lot more. They grounded into an incomprehensi
ble five double plays on Tuesday, which no doubt cost them some more runs. Two double plays, one by Justin Morneau and the other by Jason Kubel, resulted in runs scoring but also killed any potential runs from scoring as well. Kubel was thrown out at the plate on a Michael Cuddyer double in the second inning. But through it all, the Twins did score more than enough runs on plenty of base hits, sixteen in total. Even Seldom Young and Carlos Gomez had two hits. Young, FYI, struck out on Tuesday, making it eighteen out of the last twenty games with at least one strikeout. He's started 41 games this season and has struck out at least once in 33 of them. Incredible. Speaking of Young, there was the distinct possibility of broadcasters being confused with the Twins and the Pirates playing each other. Delmon Young started left field for the Twins, whereas Delwyn Young started right field for the Pirates. Their names being close is the only thing similar to the two Youngs; DelWYN Young is far from Seldom, as he's hitting a mere .365 this season, and he thereby becomes the 462nd player in baseball that's better than Seldom Delmon.
ble five double plays on Tuesday, which no doubt cost them some more runs. Two double plays, one by Justin Morneau and the other by Jason Kubel, resulted in runs scoring but also killed any potential runs from scoring as well. Kubel was thrown out at the plate on a Michael Cuddyer double in the second inning. But through it all, the Twins did score more than enough runs on plenty of base hits, sixteen in total. Even Seldom Young and Carlos Gomez had two hits. Young, FYI, struck out on Tuesday, making it eighteen out of the last twenty games with at least one strikeout. He's started 41 games this season and has struck out at least once in 33 of them. Incredible. Speaking of Young, there was the distinct possibility of broadcasters being confused with the Twins and the Pirates playing each other. Delmon Young started left field for the Twins, whereas Delwyn Young started right field for the Pirates. Their names being close is the only thing similar to the two Youngs; DelWYN Young is far from Seldom, as he's hitting a mere .365 this season, and he thereby becomes the 462nd player in baseball that's better than Seldom Delmon. 
As a side note, it appears as though my loving sobriquet for Mr. Young is not as common as another nickname for the outfielder. A loyal reader forwarded me a snippet of Young's Wikipedia page, which states that he is known in some circles as "Delmontello, due to his resemblance to a Ninja Turtle." You be the judge. Francisco Liriano pitches tonight for the Twins against Pirate righty Ian Snell.
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