Since starting the season with a 37-20 record in April and May and looking like they would run away with the AL Central, the Minnesota Twins have gone 15-23 in June and July and now find themselves 4.5 games back of the unbelievably hot Chicago White Sox.
I think the Twins desperately need to trade for an ace in order to turn things around. Let’s see what has been going on with the Twins…
Morneau is headed to the DL
Justin Morneau hits the DL
The Twins placed Morneau on the 15-day DL today because Morneau is suffering from the side effects of a concussion he suffered last week. Morneau tried to work out yesterday and afterwards felt dizzy and woozy. Not good Jerry, not good.
Concussions are a serious issue—just ask former New York Jets WR Al Toon. There is no telling when Morneau will feel better or if he will ever feel better. I am not comparing Ryan Church to Morneau as a player, but Church’s career went down the tubes after he suffered a concussion with the New York Mets.
Morneau was hitting .345/.437/.618 with 18 home runs this season and was certainly an MVP candidate before the injury. The Twins will play it safe with Morneau, but they do need him back sooner rather than later.
Pitching is not getting it done
The biggest reason for the Twins 3-8 record in July? The Twins pitching has been terrible.
As a staff, they have a 5.81 ERA for the month of July. That is last in the American League. Matt Guerrier is certainly not helping matters as he has a 14.73 ERA in 3.2 IP in July. Ouch.
Other July pitching disasters have been Nick Blackburn (9.58 ERA), Francisco Liriano (8.31 ERA), and Kevin Slowey (7.94 ERA).
I’ll take Dan Haren for $1,000 Alex.
Kyle Gibson on fast track
The Twins’ first round pick (22nd overall) in the 2009 Draft looks to be on the fast track to the major leagues. Gibson rolled through High Single-A, going 4-1 with a 1.87 ERA in seven starts.
He was promoted to Double-A in May and has struggled somewhat, going 5-4 with a 4.15 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. He has seen his K/9 decrease from 8.3 to 7.3 going from High Single-A to Double-A, but that is to be expected in his first time around.
I am guessing Gibson starts next season in Double-A and depending how he does, he could find himself on the Twins’ roster in September of 2011.
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