Questions Have Been Answered

There is just one week until the Twins open their season at Angels’ stadium, and two weeks until they officially open their new home at Target Field. It’s all so close I can smell it… Oh, no that’s the garbage incinerator next door to Target Field, sorry. With things so close, the two questions that had been on far too many people’s minds have been answered in all the obvious ways.


1) Will Joe Nathan be able to pitch this season? If he can’t who will be the closer?

Nathan played his first game of catch since hearing that he had a torn ulnar ligament on March 21. He ultimately had no choice but to undergo season ending Tommy John surgery on Friday. This, no matter how unfortunate was really no surprise to me and hopefully not much of a surprise to many other people as well. The procedure was said to go well and Nathan is hoping to be able to make his return to the team next year for the 2011 season.

This however forced the Twins to announce Sunday they would be using the closer- by-committee approach with the players that they already have, which as I’ve said earlier is the best option that the Twins have at the moment. They can always see how everything pans out and then talk about trades. They don’t have to stick to one thing for the entire season.


2) Will Joe Mauer sign a long term deal with the Twins?

On Sunday, the Twins announced that they and Mauer had agreed to an eight-year, $184 million dollar contract (the fourth biggest in MLB history). This too was something that was obviously going to happen. Mauer is the 2009 American League MVP, three-time batting champion, two –time gold glove winner, and three-time All Star. However even if his resume isn’t taken into consideration the Twins still really had no choice but to sign Mauer for the long term. Being a St. Paul native, he’s loved by the entire Twins Territory which reaches over most of the states bordering Minnesota. Letting him go would be deemed unforgivable by these dedicated people. The last thing the Twins should want to do is piss off fans just a year after opening controversial Target Field. Instead they wisely decided to put a little warmth in the fan’s hearts before introducing them in the bitter cold they’ll be living with for years to come.

Although it was an obvious choice for the Twins, I still have to question Mauer on this move. Yes, he’ll be making a whole lot of money and yes he’ll get to stay in his hometown for the remainder of his career (or at least most of it). But will he have wasted his career on a team that will never get him a World Series ring? In my opinion, Joe Mauer is far too talented to not win at least one World Series, after all that is the reason that most, if not all athletes compete in sports, to win. So, until the Twins do win it all (another play-off appearance resulting in the Twins being swept won’t do), I will feel that Mauer has wasted his career.

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To Trade or Not to Trade

It’s hard not to know Joe Nathan’s current situation, he’s recently been diagnosed with a torn ulnar ligament. He is expected to play his first game of catch today since the terrible news. If all goes well, he’s likely to be the Twins closer this season. However, if all doesn’t go well, he’s likely to need a surgery similar to Tommy John, meaning his season will never happen and his career could possibly be over.

So, the question is, “What if things don’t go well? What if he can’t pitch this season?” The Twins have options. Some arguably better than others and some undoubtedly more realistic than others.

The Twins have shown interest in All-Star righty, Heath Bell who in 2009 saved a total of 42 games, the most in the National League. There were also rumors that they were showing interest in Blue Jays’ reliever Jason Frasor.

A trade is what everyone seems to be rooting for. For me the price the Twins would have to pay for a decent closer at this point in the year isn’t worth the risk. In my opinion, even with Joe Nathan as closer the Twins have a lot of holes in their roster.

Newly acquired JJ Hardy is still a question mark for me. Although he was an All-Star in 2007, his numbers weren’t impressive in the 2009 he finished with a .229 batting average, 47 RBI, and 53 runs scored. He in fact was sent to the minors in August. This leaves a question only time will answer, will he put up numbers similar to those in his 2007 and 2008 seasons?

Another concern I have is that the Twins still haven’t found a true third baseman, one that will pose a threat in the line-up. Don’t get me wrong, Nick Punto is a great defensive player, but his numbers will never be that of a third baseman.

Justin Morneau too has his issues. One, he’s coming off back surgery. Two, since his MVP year in 2006 he’s shown inconsistency between his first half numbers to his second half numbers. The latter a problem he’s said he’s working on. I also think though that he’ll learn a lot from playing with and watching newly acquired veteran DH Jim Thome.

The last major concern that I have with the line-up is Delmon Young, he hasn’t been what the Twins had hoped he would be when they acquired him in 2008 from the Tampa Bay Rays. He hasn’t been the power hitter that they wanted. And he’s shown little patience at the plate. This I have to attribute to his age, he’s only 23 and in my opinion has a lot to learn about the game. But nevertheless an issue that should be addressed.

I think if need be, a trade in the middle of the season would be a better option than one before the season starts. I’d really be happy for a trade at this uncertain time in the season if and only if the Twins could somehow trick the team into giving them both an established closer and an established power hitting third baseman. The Twins are crafty but unfortunately not that crafty.

So, I say work with what they have for now, see how the season starts out. If they see they have a real chance at making it to the play-offs then I say go ahead see what they can get. Right now there are still too many ‘ifs’ to take that big of a risk.

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