Do look back, do look forward

A BRIEF GLIMPSE INTO THE PAST

After the whole world (including Stephen A. Smith in this week’s podcast) began to take notice that Joe Nathan was on pace to pitch over 50 innings (most likely 62 or so) with an ERA under 1.00, Nathan promptly blows his second save in as many opportunities against the Seattle Mariners, moving his ERA back up to a gigantic 1.12. What was more depressing was the Twins lackluster effort against a sub-par starter in Miguel Batista.

There has been only one other occasion this season where Batista went five innings or more and gave up one or fewer runs: that was a 7.2 inning shutout of the Angels on April 20. Following that start teams watched some video and promptly beat the living hell out of Batista for a month and a half (he posted a 1-5 record with 7.08 ERA from April 25-June 7). He started a few games here and there since, was sent to the bullpen, was brought back out, then he faced the Twins and gave up one run on six hits.

I hate Seattle.

Speaking of 50+ innings of sub-1.00 ERA’s lets take another look at other-worldly Anthony Slama who recently had his ERA inflated after giving up four earned runs in his last 10 appearances (12 innings). Slama’s ERA is still a freakish 1.06 over 68 innings.

Joe Mauer had his 16-game hitting streak snapped on Monday as well. During that streak Mauer hit .349 (22-77), with one home run, 10 RBI, and 12 runs scored. Nick Punto also lost his 12-game hitting streak, he had hit .423 (22-55), with three RBI and 10 runs during a run where he boosted his batting average from .257 to .293.

It was a shame to see Delmon Young’s near game-winning RBI single go to waste as the bullpen blew another lead. It was the second time this month that Young has provided dramatics to put the Twins back into a crucial game, only to have it forgotten by late-inning mishaps (Yankees three-run home run off of Rivera anyone?). Just in case anyone has forgotten from my previous rants about the misdirected hatred of Young, he is still hitting .304 with 8 home runs, 42 RBI, and 33 runs scored in 68 games since June 1. Game winning hits go a long way to getting on the good side of fans, and Young could certainly use some good will. He would have been a welcomed hero along with Francisco Liriano and Eddie Guardado if it wasn’t for Adrian Beltre and the Twins bullpen/late-inning defense.

I hate Seattle.

I also hate A.J. Pierzynski. Now let it be noted that I pretty much hated A.J. when he was a Twin and welcomed his departure in 2003. But what I really hate about A.J. is how broadcasters and commentators (I’m talking to you John Kruk, who praised Piersynski for being a brilliant base-runner after his escape from a run down, even though A.J. committed the original sin of base-running by running towards third on a ball hit to his right with one out in the bottom of the 10th) continue to compliment A.J. as being a smart ball-player, and crafty, when he pulls off the kind of non-sense that he did in Chicago this weekend against Tampa Bay. I know the game is all about winning and however you need to do that you should, but A.J. reminds me of a 6-year-old playing a 12-year-old’s game - he is petulant and irrational and determined to entice pity in the umpires and loathing in his opponents.

Watch the video and notice (on the first replay) how former Twin Jason Bartlett immediately, and I mean immediately tries to point out to jack-ass umpire Doug Eddings what really happened. He knows what A.J. is.

A BRIEF GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE

Over the next six games the Twins will face these six pitchers:

Ryan Rowland-Smith: Left-handed pitcher who has made five starts for the Mariners this season. He has a 3.84 ERA over the course of 72.2 innings, and was shelled by the Twins on August 16, giving up five runs and 10 hits in five innings (a 6-5 loss).

Ryan Feierabend: Left-handed pitcher who has was terrible in a start against the Twins on August 17, giving up six runs on 10 hits in three innings. Feierabend did rebound with a very good outing against Oakland though giving up only one run in five innings.

Dana Eveland: Was recalled from AAA on August 21, after having struggled to a 7-8 record with a 4.46 ERA in 22 starts for Oakland. Eveland pitched seven strong innings against Seattle on Saturday giving up only one run over seven innings and striking out seven.

Dan Meyer: Another left-hander who has been just terrible in his last two appearances giving up nine runs in eight innings, his season ERA is 5.95 in 19.2 innings, his career ERA is worse.

Dallas Braden: Left-hander who the Twins beat on August 20 when Braden went 5.2 innings giving up three runs on six hits. Braden had an excellent start in Los Angeles yesterday though throwing seven innings while giving up one run on a solo homer. On the season he is 4-3 with a 4.13 ERA (that is really the best looking record and ERA of any pitcher the Twins will face during this stretch).

Greg Smith: Left-hander with a terrible record (6-12) and a good ERA (3.75) in 25 games started for the A’s in his first season at the majors. Smith faced the Twins in late April giving up two runs in seven innings in an 11-2 debacle where Liriano gave up six runs without getting out of the first inning. Remember those times? Bad times.

I bring up these names because outside of Smith they all suck and should be eaten alive by any team that is serious about contending. I don’t give a flying sh– if Raul Ibanez hits five home runs in the next two days and Jack Cust pulls The Natural’s bat out of his ass. This Twins team needs to step up and win the next six games.

I am done with this hanging around non-sense. After the White Sox get done sweeping the Orioles (that 14-inning restart doesn’t count here), they will travel to Boston for three games. At the end of those three games the Twins need to have their first lead in the loss-column of the Central Division since May. Is that asking too much?