| 14 June 2011
I tossed in the towel a few weeks ago. Is it too late to take it back?
The Twins were more than a dozen games out of the divisional race, injuries had ravaged the lineup, and those who had managed to stay healthy weren't performing well. I was growing disinterested in Minnesota's major-league club, and turned my eyes to the future.
It was time to call it quits.
I was hardly alone in making this jump. I just jumped earlier than most. But now that the team has won nine of their last eleven, I want back on board.
The growing prevalence of social media and knee-jerk reactions makes it difficult to watch a baseball game without rooting for either team to win. Long gone are the days where you can enjoy a game without caring about the outcome. As a fan of a team over 16 games behind the division leaders, I decided a few weeks ago that I would rather see the Twins lose than win.
Minnesota has an excellent scouting and development team, and are more than willing to spend money in the draft. If the Twins were to qualify for a high draft pick next June, they would undoubtedly be able to sign some of the best amateur talent in the country. If a team is willing to spend as much as $5 million on a signing bonus, a high draft pick can be turned into a left-handed ace or an MVP-caliber infielder.
But it turns out Minnesota can't even properly secure the top overall pick in next year's MLB Draft. It's time for me to stop worrying exclusively about the future and enjoy this stretch for what it is: an exciting time where the Twins can do no wrong.
Tonight, when Carl Pavano takes on the White Sox in Target Field, I will be rooting for a Twins win. And I don't want to apologize for wanting my “fan-hood card” back.
The Twins have lost just three times this month, and are sprinting back into the division race. They still have a lot of ground to cover, but there are reasons to be optimistic: the bullpen has been fantastic as of late, and the lineup is slated to receive reinforcements as several top players return from the disabled list.
Is a healthy Joe Mauer the only thing holding this team back? Probably not. Will Tsuyoshi Nishioka's presence in the infield significantly improve the team's winning percentage? I doubt it. But those two returns -- combined with Jason Kubel, Jim Thome, Glen Perkins, and Denard Span – make Twins fans excited for these next few weeks.
I still don't think the Twins can contend in the division this year, much less reach the postseason. The hole they dug in April and May can't be filled by a two-week surge. Is it possible? Sure. But if they intend on being the last team standing in the AL Central, they'll have to catch some lightning in a bottle.
And I want to be rooting for them while they try.
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