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| Bartolo Colón (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
What brought this on? The Twins have mostly the same players from last year's disastrous squad, but they're hitting and fielding better. Miguel Sano is having a breakout season with 21 homers and 62 RBIs, enough to earn him a trip to Miami for the All Star Game and an appearance in Home Run Derby as the runner-up to the New York Yankees' Derek Jeter clone Aaron Judge. A Twin losing to a Yankee. Sound familiar?
The pitching, outside of starter Ervin Santana and closer Brandon Kintzler (who also joined Sano as American League All Stars), has been horrendous. Not a day goes by without some pitcher who is with the Twins one day, then gets a one-way ticket to Class AAA Rochester or on the disabled list. They even signed 44-year old journeyman Bartolo Colon, who is getting a minor league tryout.
Manager Paul Molitor, whose job seemed to be in jeopardy at the start of the season, appears to have turned things around enough to warrant a contract extension if he wants one.
Before we breathe the word "playoffs", the Twins have the little matter of trying to play better baseball at Target Field as well as on the road. This has been happening ever since the park opened in 2010, when it became the launching pad for every other team but this one. In order to advance to the post-season, they have to learn to take the advantage back.
But then again, the Twins could always go beck to being putrid. They play the league-leading Houston Astros, Yankees, Indians and Los Angeles Dodgers coming up in July. Byron Buxton could hurt himself making a "Sportscenter"-worthy catch. Sano could go into a slump. Joe Mauer could be phoning it in. And Santana could be traded for a prospect or two.
Until then, with the Twins being a competitive team for a change, just go with it.
