Has Cliff Lee talk distracted Twins?
By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 07/07/2010
The Twins have the number-one vote getter for the 2010 All-Star game next week in Los Angeles in catcher Joe Mauer. It is a tremendous honor when more fans worldwide vote for your star player than for any other player in Major League Baseball.
Mauer is a three-time American League batting champion and the reigning American League Most Valuable player. This is his shining moment for his career achievements. His teammate, first baseman Justin Morneau, was also selected to start at first base.
For most of the first half of the season, the Twins have led the American League Central. However, the Twins have clearly struggled of late. Two weeks ago the Twins, normally one of the American League’s strongest teams in inter-league play, lost six of nine games on the road at Milwaukee, Philadelphia and New York.
After returning home last Monday, the Twins battled Detroit for three days in a key series they took two games to one. Tampa Bay, the Rays from the rugged American League East and one of baseball’s top teams, came to town last weekend and humbled the Twins, taking three of four games. The Twins were 3-4 at Target Field, where they are averaging nearly 40,000 fans per game.
It was the second straight losing week for the Twins and the first time they have had a losing home stand at new Target Field.
In their last 22 games, the Twins are just 9-13 home and away. And it’s been the last three weeks that speculation has become heavy that the Twins should trade for All-Star starter Cliff Lee from Seattle before the trade deadline.
The rumors have been, in my view, a distraction to this young pitching staff.
And now the Twins are tied for first with Detroit in the suddenly tight American League Central race. Don’t look now — the Chicago White Sox are just one game back.
“Cliff Lee certainly would be great for us with his leadership and talent,” said second baseman Orlando Hudson. With six games before the All-Star break this week, three in Toronto and three at Detroit, the Twins need to pick it up. They have committed more errors recently, and the starting pitching has not been consistent.
Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:20 am, and on WDGY-AM 740 Monday & Saturday mornings at 7:50 am and Fridays at 3:50 pm; he also commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). Larry welcomes reader responses to lfitzgerald@spokesman-recorder.com , or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com .
