When Scott Baker pitches a game like that, dammit all to hell, you have to find a way to win.
Hell, when anybody pitches a game like that for you, you have to find a way to win.
The Twins have won eight of their last twelve, and just went in and won two of three in Detroit, and they've still somehow managed to lose ground in the standings.
Not somehow, actually; Cleveland just keeps winning.
"We have a game plan and we're sticking to it. Guys are walking, guys are getting in hitting counts. Not being defensive." So said Michael Cuddyer after Saturday afternoon's game. Yeah? Really? Where was this game plan against Jeremy Bonderman? The guy was throwing his slider out of the strike zone all night and the Twins were flailing away at it like there was no tomorrow.
By the way: Sunday was the thirteenth time this season the Twins have scored one or fewer runs.
Yes, on Punto. He's dangerously close to the Mendoza line. Terrific defense, but...
That's two superb starts in a row by Baker, and two very different ones. Against the Blue Jays, he fanned 9 in 7 innings. Versus the most potent offense in baseball, he threw only 79 pitches in a complete-game 8 innings.
Everybody keeps gnashing their teeth over the inconsistent offense. According to Sid's column, Gardy thinks one answer is to get 37-year old Jeff Cirillo more at-bats at 3B. What about getting some 3B for either Redmond or Mauer, and letting Cirillo/White/Kubel handle the DH? Absent a trade, it is the most productive lineup. Even with great pitching, it is very hard to compete with Nick Punto at 3B (thankfully not always anymore) and Jason Tyner as a corner outfielder (even against righties).
Another possibilitiy: Baker's value will never be higher. Time to trade him?