The power hitters in the lineup have combined for one homer in 12 games.
Francisco Liriano, the team's one hope for a true frontline ace, has been categorically awful.
Tsuyoshi Nishioka, the marquee offseason addition, broke his leg and was placed on the shelf before the home opener.
Justin Morneau and Joe Nathan have returned to the field after lengthy layoffs, but haven't approached their previous levels of effectiveness. Both have struggled mightily.
And, of course, the Twins have opened the season with a 4-8 record, averaging a paltry three runs per game while failing to cross the plate more than five times in any contest.
A bleak young season took a potentially catastrophic turn last night when, in the wake of their deflating extra-inning loss to the Rays, the Twins placed Joe Mauer on the disabled list with what they are cryptically terming "bilateral leg weakness."
In describing his catcher's specific injury, Ron Gardenhire was none too specific:
"He is definitely very, very sore over the last few days -- his shoulder, his elbow -- and we think it's his legs just not strong enough underneath him and he says he feels terrible.I have no desire to be an alarmist, but let's take an honest look at the facts here:
"His knee is actually feeling OK but he's compensating for the weakness in his upper leg, this is what I was told, that's causing a lot of other problems."
* Following a spectacular 2009 campaign that earned him AL MVP honors, Mauer inked an eight-year, $184 million contract -- one of the largest in major-league history -- set to begin in 2011.
* Last year, while finishing out his prior contract, Mauer battled numerous injuries in a solid but hardly spectacular effort. The catcher acknowledged that making it through the season was a struggle, saying during TwinsFest this year: "Looking back, I was happy and proud to be out there as much as I was."
* Knee soreness that increasingly hobbled Mauer late in the season led to surgery in December. The operation was performed on the same knee that required surgery during his rookie season. In fact, it was performed by the same doctor. Afterwards, general manager Bill Smith stressed that the procedure was considered minor, stating that doctors "believe that it will be no problem for him in Spring Training and that he'll be ready well in advance of Spring Training."
* Those doctors were wrong. When Mauer reported to spring training this year, he was -- in his own words -- "a mess." He missed the first few weeks of exhibition play, debuting at catcher on March 19 and participating in only eight games. And now, with this young season underway, Mauer batted .235 with one extra-base hit, three walks and a 72-percent grounder rate in his first nine games before landing on the disabled list with a vague injury.
Frankly, I don't know how any Twins fans can look at this series of events and not feel nauseous, especially in light of the fact that recent trades of Wilson Ramos and Jose Morales have left the organization without a single passable bat at the catcher position. For an already anemic offense, the loss of Mauer is quite simply the worst thing that could have happened, and at this point we can't even begin to guess when he'll be back on the field.
When I expressed doubt about this team's outlook prior to the season, I called out a crippling lack of depth as the roster's principal pitfall. A little over two weeks into the campaign, we've got Drew Butera and Steve Holm splitting catching duties while Gardenhire writes in Michael Cuddyer at second base and ponders replacing Alexi Casilla with Luke Hughes at shortstop. Even in my darkest moments I could have hardly envisioned such a horrific scenario.
Over the past decade, Twins teams have shown an uncanny ability to come together and beat the odds under dire circumstances. I'll try and hope that this trait can reemerge in the coming weeks and months, because at this point things are about as dreary as they've ever been during this blog's six-year existence, and we're only in April.
32 comments:
There is nothing good about Mauer going on the DL...especially on a night when both Capps and Nathan managed to blow saves while W. Ramos is out in Washington hitting over .400.
It is too early to panic but it is an awful start to the season. The bright spots are few and far between...outside of Pavano, Blackburn, Span, Kubel and some clutch hitting from Valencia the team has looked awful...the pitching hasn't been anywhere near good enough...way too many walks....the fielding hasn't been sharp...baserunning has been an adventure and the hitting has been pathetic...3 HRs in 12 games...Johnny Damon has already hit 3 HRs.
The hitting should get better but the team cannot afford to lose Mauer for any significant amount of time....with Mauer's injury and Morneau's slow start the inadequacies of the rest of the lineup shine brighter.
Say what you want about Liriano and the pitching staff...what makes this team a contender is Mauer and Morneau. But with both struggling or hurt this is a very mediocre lineup.
Span can hit for average but can also go into long ruts of slapping the ball into the ground for easy outs.
Kubel, Cuddyer and Young are all slow-footed, marginal power hitters.
Thome is in the twilight of his career but is still the only Twin that seems capable/willing to hit the ball over the fence...only it is not as often these days.
Valencia has to prove that his 2010 numbers weren't a fluke.
None of the trio of Hughes, Tolbert or Casilla are good enough to play everyday.
Butera, like Casilla, is usually an automatic out...so when both are in the lineup it is like letting two pitchers hit.
The pitching rotation outside of Pavano is comprised of guys who would be 4th or 5th starters in other rotations....that includes Liriano...far too wild to be considered a 1 or 2 and right now even a 3 would be a stretch. Baker continues to frustrate. Duensing would be an excellent 4th or 5th starter but the Twins need him to be a 2 or 3. Blackburn has looked very good but he had a very good stretch last year before falling apart and getting sent to the minors. Slowey remains as fragile as Mauer and Morneau.
It is early and certainly not time to panic but they need to get healthy and stay healthy.
I appreciate the closing thought. That even through one of the bleakest stretches of Twins baseball in recent memory, we can hope for a return to form.
This is the part of the baseball season that's often the hardest: keeping the faith. Holding on to the "substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen". With the pitching staff in trouble, the bullpen in tatters, the offense in question and the defense in disarray...that's asking a lot.
But I'll hold on, because after the last 10 years my faith in the Twins has taken solid root...it might not be pretty or fun every day this summer...but it's baseball and it beats the alternative of cynicism.
Good news is the season can only get better!
Unless it gets worse. In which case I might just have to laugh at how crazy this all is.
The thing is, the Twins under Gardy play so much better in the regular season when people "count them out" or they have to cobble things together. Remember, they're in the crappy Central. No need to panic.
We all knew that due to the terrible offseason this front office gave us, we were going to go through stretches like this. Did anyone really think Mauer was going to be healthy all season (except for Bill Smith, who seemed to ignore everything everyone knows about Mauer and catchers in general and decided to roll with Drew "Do I Really Have To Go Up There Or Can You Just Mark Me Down As Out" Butera as Plan B)?
When Morneau gets hurt we'll go through some more panic. But everyone just needs to keep in mind a couple things:
1) Even at full strength the Twins are nothing special - middle of the pack in the AL. We knew this on opening day.
2) The Central will be average as always.
3) The Twins have historically dominated the Central, particularly the Sox.
So while it has been and will be excrutiating to watch this club for a while, let's just be patient. Tune in again in June or so and we'll see.
"Frankly, I don't know how any Twins fans can look at this series of events and not feel nauseous, especially in light of the fact that recent trades of Wilson Ramos and Jose Morales have left the organization without a single passable bat at the catcher position."
Yeah, but you've got to love the message the trade for capps sent. Plus we have our catcher signed till 2019, the twins wont have any need for a starting caliber catcher for a decade. And really, ramos was overvalued by twins fans and capps was probably the best we could do, so that makes the trade all right. This is all information ive picked up reading Nick's Twins Blog!
"The pitching rotation outside of Pavano is comprised of guys who would be 4th or 5th starters in other rotations....that includes Liriano...far too wild to be considered a 1 or 2 and right now even a 3 would be a stretch."
Liriano walked 2.72 guys per 9 last year, which on top of be acceptable in general was far better than just about all elite strikeout pitchers. And thats on top of being one of the better gb guys in baseball. He's easily the twins best pitcher. But I'm torn. You stated your completely bogus and unqualified comment so matter of factly that it just seems like it must be true.
I'm getting irritated by the people who continue to say, "it's too early" or "it's still early." Wake up people, things aren't going to magically get better.
I hope Mauer doesn't get better. I had a feeling that INSANSE $184MM contract was going to be the biggest blunder in franchise history.
I think I will be vindicated.
But a hometown slap hitter will be filthy rich whether he plays or not, so it is all good! YAY!
In all seriousness I am now pressing the panic button.
To be fair they couldn't keep Morales anyway because he was out of options.
Adam, "Wake up people, things aren't going to magically get better."
Remember last June/July, when the club was playing like this, they were 4 games out at the All Star break and lost their best hitter? Things magically got better and they won the division by 6 games.
Remember '09 when they were 7 games out in August? Things magically got better and they won the division.
Remember '06 when they were one of the worst teams in the league for a couple months? Things magically got better and they won the division.
They've played 12 crappy games. Settle down, dude.
12 crappy games and I'm not worried yet. Although, with the highest payroll they've ever had, it might be okay to be a crappy team. At least then the prognosticators will finally shut their traps about "the little engine that could" and focus on the big unreliable Cadillac...
The problem isn't that the Twins are 4-8. The problem is that they aren't a good team. With everyone healthy and playing to their ability, it's a solid club. But that's already out the window.
That's flat out delusional Ed. The Twins lost Morneau last year. He's a good player, sure, and he was having a great season, but he was a 1st baseman. Losing Mauer is like losing your quarterback. His loss will hurt a lot more than losing Morneau.
Adam, what's delusional, my factual recap of how the Twins go through something like this every year? Facts can't really be delusional. That's what happened.
The '09 Twins didn't even have Mauer until May 1. Things worked out fine. As much as it pains me to watch Drew Butera attempt to play professional baseball, I'd rather Mauer take a month off in April/May and be fresh in September.
This has been a very humbling month for the Twins indeed.
The injuries to Mauer and Nishi are troubling, no doubt. I'll take some hope in knowing that in 2009 Mauer didn't play until May 1st and that turned into a 5 month MVP campaign.
Let's not forget though that coming into the season the Twins had one of the toughest April schedules in the league. Before the season started I would have been very happy with a .500 record going into May. If we're able to gather some wins here and finish the month .400, we're in a great position to contend in the central if our pitching, hitting, and health comes around.
Great point by Dan. At the end of this road trip, the Twins will have played 5 games at home and 14 on the road, all against the AL East, the only division against which they were below .500 last year. What did you think their record was going to be after 3 weeks? If they can split this trip and come home 8-11, that would be OK. It isn't going to take that much from the offense. Tampa has Felipe Lopez hitting cleanup, for crying out loud.
Exchanging Mauer for Butera is a monumental downgrade to the lineup, no doubt. But Kubel, Morneau, Young, Cuddyer and Thome are all going to hit home runs this year. 15-30 each. With Mauer, this is a very good lineup. Without him it drops off a lot, but they should still have plenty of offense to win the sorts of games they've been playing so far.
Every team in baseball will have a stretch like this at some point during the season. Last season it came right before the All Star break and after the clinch. This year it's coming at the start. It's a long season. The softer part of the schedule is ahead. The competition isn't anything special. It will get better.
And I love that Ed is the glass half full guy in this discussion!
Mauer needs to move to Right Field - now. I don't believe in knee jerk reactions, and in Mauer's case I don't think this is since a lot of us have been saying this for the past 3+ years. Yes, Drew Butera is not a good option at Catcher, but he's your starter now anyway with Mauer on the DL. I'd rather have a healthier Mauer in RF and in the lineup almost every day vs. a beaten and battered Mauer playing part time at C. It's time to face reality Twins!!!
I'm so sick and tired of Mauer getting hurt. I understand he is one of the best catchers in the game, But correct me if i'm wrong don't you have to play in games to still be considered a player.
Bryce Harper was an outfielder before he put on his jock strap. Trade some fools get a good replacement catcher, and stick him in right field enough already!
Ed, your factual recap while factual, is recounting scenarios in which other players went down with injuries. If he misses a month, sure the Twins can probably overcome that, but it's a couple of months or the season, the Twins don't have a chance. The division was weaker in past years which afforded the Twins more room for injury and error. With the Sox at full strength and the Tigers and Royals both improved, the Twins simply aren't going to be able to catch that magic again.
I'm just advocating being realistic here and saying that "the Twins will be fine because they've been fine in the past" is not realistic.
Yeah, but you've got to love the message the trade for capps sent. Plus we have our catcher signed till 2019, the twins wont have any need for a starting caliber catcher for a decade. And really, ramos was overvalued by twins fans and capps was probably the best we could do, so that makes the trade all right. This is all information ive picked up reading Nick's Twins Blog!
I was wrong about the Ramos trade in my initial take. I've admitted it before, I'll admit it again. I was wrong. I tried to take a dissenting position in the widespread negative backlash to the deal, and I had no idea Mauer's health would basically go into a downward spiral from the moment they made the deal.
I was wrong. It was a bad trade that may really set the franchise back. Are you happy?
They say it's always darkest just before the light. Let's hope that this is the darkest point in the season. Cousin Dave reminded that Pavano was lights out last night, that made me feel a little better.
And Nick, I still don't think you were wrong about the Capps trade. Mauer on the DL and a Capps blown save on the same day might make it seem that way, but don't throw out the baby with the bath water just yet. We've been finding inventive ways to lose games, but we're 3 games behind the White Sox and 1.5 behind the Tigers. There's a reason that the season is 162 games. Let's at least play 40 before throw in the towel.
I just hope the guy is not seriously sick or ill. Then i will bash him.
The Twins put him on the 15 Day DL. Until I hear otherwise I think he will be back in... 15 days. Hardly the end of the World. Weakness in his legs! OMG! It might be career ending! Lets see what the Docs have to say first.
As for the Twins they are 4-8. They should be 5-7 when Johnny Damon closed his eyes and golfed a luck shot to right. OMG! The Season is OVER! Unless you think Young, Cuddyer, Kubel, Thome and Morneau are all washed up then look at it this way - The Twins are 4-8 and they have 1 HR out of those guys. Pavano looked excellent as well. As for Jose Morales or Wilson Ramos are you kidding? Jose Morales is a singles hitter without a position and Wilson Ramos is a DH. Yeah he has hit well in 22ABs for Washington. OOOOOH! I'll take Matt Capps thanks. Get real people, the Twins have started slowly many times, heck this might not even be their year, but I'd say future seasons look very promising.
Sean
Pav pitched a great game last night. He looked like he wanted to stay in and finish up but Gardy and Andy pulled him out. Wow! This whole ball club needs to go on a retreat and find themselves!
Jose Morales is a singles hitter without a position and Wilson Ramos is a DH.
We're all dumber for having read that. Jose Morales is half a player, just like Drew Butera. Wilson Ramos is probably already a better defensive catcher than Mauer.
Take Heart!! 20 years ago the Twins started out the first 15 games of the season with a record of 5-10. Of course the rest is history as they later went on to win the World Series. Will the same thing happen this year?
I think history might just repeat itself!
And now we know that Mauer has a viral infection (basically the flu), not a serious injury. So how does everyone feel now?
So far, not a lot has worked out for the Twins, but there are a lot of fluky things going on. I still think the Twins are going to pull out of this. The starting pitching is starting to come around, and other than that ugly hiccup where Nathan & Capps both managed to blow saves in the same game the bullpen looks like it will be fine too.
The hitting is still an issue and with Mauer out for a couple of a weeks it's going to be harder, but it's still pretty early to give up on this team's ability to knock the ball around. I am encouraged by Span & Kubel so far and Morneau & Young should be fine.
Casilla is the biggest worry. His defense has been shaky so far and his hitting has been equally messy. You have to wonder where his confidence is and it seems to be affecting his play. Will Gardy be able to pull him out of it or will he just bury him in favor of Tolbert?
And now we know that Mauer has a viral infection (basically the flu), not a serious injury. So how does everyone feel now?
We're taking this at face value? How exactly does it explain his absence for most of spring training and his dreadful performance out of the gates?
Teams don't put players on the DL with the flu. There's more going on here than that.
USAFChief... I feel like I just got Mauer fatigue reading what you posted. It's that bad. How is Morales anything? He can't field at all at catcher. So, does he have power or get on base like a 1B or DH does? No, he brings NOTHING to the table because he can't play catcher and he has a poor Man's Lew Ford hitting ability. As for Ramos better than Mauer! HAHAHAHAHA... Oh boy, that's good. Mauer when he started was the best defensive catcher in baseball. Ramos with 30 games under his belt has a long way to go... Oh, and I feel great about Mauer. Advised you yahoo's who sound more like Twins haters that Mauer isn't dying. The viral infection didn't just start it's been with him for sometime. Check it out these infections can cause major weakness. I expect him to be back to form in 2-3 weeks. Case closed... But not go ahead and do some more Woodward and Bernstein speculation...
Sean
I'd also say Mr Nelson DOES have a desire to be an alarmist. He isn't alone though many perodicals of note jumped the gun. Just like the idea that the season is coming to an end. I'd like to see a post instead of blamming Twins management as to why the season is REALLY not going well. That would be due to the hitting. I believe the biggest fear to start the season was the bullpen and besides Capps and Nathan's Thursday blunder it's been fine. Casilla was a problem and continues to be. Cuddyer at 2nd is a problem but they are small compared to the lack of guys who can hit - Not hitting. Maybe some research on what's wrong with them would be insightfull and if the answer is nothing then again I think the Twins will bounce back.
Sean
Joe's really sore and a smidgeon sick.
Maybe he came to camp out of shape? If so, it could have set the tone for this season already.
Nah, still too early to panic.
I shouldn't argue with children, but here goes...
No, (Morales) brings NOTHING to the table because he can't play catcher and he has a poor Man's Lew Ford hitting ability.
Odd, then, that he's the backup catcher for the 12-4 Colorado Rockies. Small sample size, but he's put up a .792 OPS for them so far, as well.
As for Ramos better than Mauer! HAHAHAHAHA... Oh boy, that's good. Mauer when he started was the best defensive catcher in baseball. Ramos with 30 games under his belt has a long way to go...
You're entitled to your opinion, I have mine, which is: Ramos is, right now, probably a better defensive catcher than Mauer. Mauer's arm has gotten progressively weaker and less accurate, he never was good at blocking balls in the dirt, and I don't recall him blocking the plate once in all the years he's been playing. He recieves the ball extremely well, but that's about all you can say for Mauer as a catcher at this point.
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