What will the Twins do now?

By Brian Hansel (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Wednesday, July 16, 2008

It looks like the Minnesota Twins can play some baseball after all.

They are challenging Chicago for the American League Central Division title. Not bad for a team that a lot of “experts” picked for fourth this year.

In the last month the Twins have won 21 of their 27 games for a .777 clip and their starting pitchers have recorded 17 of the winning decisions.

June 13 marked the beginning of Minnesota’s remarkable run. Manager Ron Gardenhire called a team meeting in Milwaukee and talked straight from the shoulder. The Twins have responded like contenders.

Now the All-Star break has arrived and the second half (there are actually 67 games left to play) looms.

Question, does Minnesota have enough “oomph” to get the job done down the stretch?

They are chasing a pretty good White Sox team. They do not have to win the division to get into the playoffs but there are some other good clubs in the American League that might get hot down the stretch, so a division title would be good insurance.

The Twins are a very young group as a whole. Starters Carlos Gomez and Delmon Young are both just 22. So what would you be thinking if you were running the Twins? Are they going to ride it out with these kids or are they going to add a veteran or two?

They have to make a decision.

It is sure tempting to say “hang the veterans we can win this thing with youth.” Livan Hernandez and Brendan Harris are the only two veterans Minnesota added before the season that have made a positive difference.

What the Twins really need it a guy who can hit in the clutch. They have been leaving too many guys on base. They have been winning most of their games lately so this problem has not a big issue.

Just for the record, the Twins were 45-43 and eight games back last year at the All-Star break. This year’s club is 53-42.

Tinkering with the batting order might produce some good results, but it is iffy.

Carlos Gomez has remarkable speed but his average has been dipping and it might be time to put Denard Span on top of the lineup, a guy with good speed who also happens to be swinging a good bat.

Delmon Young drove in 93 runs for Tampa Bay last year. He has boosted his average and he might be more productive hitting higher in the order.

There is a lot of good competition in Minnesota’s lineup right now. Everyone seems to be giving it his best. Five guys are hitting over .300. No one is going to mistake the Twins for a power-hitting group, but they are hitting well.

What would you do?

Johnson fires hole-in-one

Valerie Johnson shot a hole-in-one on No. 2 Sunday at Pebble Lake.

Johnson’s ace on the 132-yard hole was witnessed by Nathan Johnson.

Registration set Saturday for FF Area Football

Registration for the Fergus Falls Area Youth Football program will be held Saturday at the senior high cafeteria from 9 a.m. until noon.

The program is designed for third through eighth grade players.

For more information go to www.ffarea football.org.

Wenonga Days to have football, running events

A football tournament and a 5K race/walk will be held Saturday, July 26, in conjunction with Chief Wenonga Days.

The eight-team, double elimination football tournament will be held at the Dick Buntje Football Complex beginning at 9 a.m. The entry fee is $125 per team. Call Eric Koep (218) 371-6558 or Sean Belmont (218) 329-2129 for information.

The 5K race/walk will begin and end at the Battle Lake High School track.

The race starts at 8 a.m. A $20 entry fee will be charged. For more information call Kathy Kensinger at 864-5215 Ext. 103.