Everything Looks Better in a Weak Division

I declared the Twins dead in the water a couple of weeks ago and regardless of their recent success (against two minor-league clubs, not that it matters…) I stand by that.  Twins fans seem to be talking about why they hadn’t gone out and got this player or that player and they rattle off numbers about how well those guys are hitting with their other clubs…these things are all fine, except they don’t address the issue at hand for this ballclub: pitching. 

            People have begun to realize that the Twins pitching staff is not good but when talking about ways to better the team it’s always about getting rid of Delmon Young or Nick Punto and how we missed out on a guy like Mark DeRosa.  Fine points if you’re looking for one more piece to put together a World Series run, but you’re not.  This team needs pitching and needs it bad.  Gone are the days of Twins 2-1 victories (haters, go ahead and bring up their most recent 2-1 win) and in have come a slew of 7-6 type wins.  Personally, I think this pitching staff has been overrated in past years but they have put up the numbers to back up the hype.  However, the second they lost Johan they became an average pitching staff at best with no identifiable #1 starter.   This year especially, they have shown that they have a collection of 3, 4, and 5 type starters that are being thrust into 1 and 2 roles.  Around the league there are a few 4 and 5 starters that would be the Twins #1 starter if they found themselves in the Minnesota pinstripes. 

            Hopefully the Twins address starting pitching issues as well as the bullpen in this offseason.  I say but am prepared for what seems to be the case every year where Twins fans are sold on the pitching staff continuing to improve and getting better from within.  This latter excuse for not making any moves is where the most pain is going to come.  This is at least the second consecutive year where the Twins enter the offseason desperately needing some bullpen help.  Yet, if Pat Neshek gets healthy and can pitch in 2010, the fans who have paid for the beautiful new home of the Minnesota Twins will again be sold on a cost-effective way to be just good enough to compete in a consistently overrated division.  Call me a cynic, call me an outsider, but this is just the things seem to be.  Cool, more revenue from Target Field…show me what it does for the on-field product.  Results need to be demanded and that starts in the offseason…sign a big-time ace, bolster the bullpen, and stop wasting the prime of two premier offensive players (Mauer and Morneau…but if you didn’t know that you probably didn’t find your way to this website).