MLB: Minnesota Twin's Whatnot 6/11

In this edition of Twin's Whatnot, top writers from around the country talk up the MLB Draft, division rivalries, and other topics as they relate to the Minnesota Twins.

With Minnesota's loss Saturday night they are 4.5 games (now 5.5 games) behind the White Sox. Will the Twins be able to contend later in the season, or will Chicago run away with the AL Central?

Marty Andrade: Too early to tell.  I really underestimated the White Sox in an earlier Twins Whatnot column; they look really good, especially after hammering the Twins.  But, after witnessing the Twins incredible 2006 season I'm not ready to close the door on the AL Central.  Except when it comes to the Royals.  Their door is closed.

Kelso Hakes: The Minnesota Twins have the great ability to come back. They have done it before and they can do it again. Although the rest of the teams are pretty well behind, the Twins will have to step it up to get back in the race. I'm sure injuries have something to do with it and that's keeping the Twins from being consistent.

Dhruv Kalra: Thus far in this four-game series, the Twins have looked completely overmatched. The White Sox hitters' aggressive approach at the plate has been absolutely hammering Twins pitching, and has resulted in two blowout losses. Chicago looks like a team that is poised to make a run and decidedly lock up the division. The Twins, on the other hand, have looked relatively flat ever since their series victory against Boston almost a month ago. If, and this is a very big if, the Twins manage to win the final two games of the White Sox series and earn a split, all hope may not be lost

Overall, it's going to take a marked improvement in the starting pitching (most notably the removal of Livan Hernandez, whose golden carriage has turned into the proverbial pumpkin many Twins fans expected it would). Expect to see Francisco Liriano back in a Twins uniform by no later than the All-Star break if this slide continues.

Any shot at contention will also require production increases from Michael Cuddyer, Delmon Young, Mike Lamb, and whomever Gardenhire eventually pencils in as his everyday shortstop. Thankfully, Cuddyer and Young, along with a recently surging Joe Mauer, seems to be slowly but surely hitting their strides.

To make an otherwise long story short, with a savvy trade or two at the deadline, along with a bounce back by the starters (Baker and Blackburn's next starts are key to this - they both need to go deep into them), I wouldn't count the Twins out yet. If the current level of play continues, however, then it's going to be a long three months of baseball.

Andrew Kneeland: It is way too early to tell. If Minnesota falls behind by six games in September, it may very well be over for the Twinkies.

I think Minnesota should trade Livan Hernandez, after he raises his value a little, and acquire either a good left infielder, power hitter, or a couple of prospects.

If Minnesota can just keep on doing what they're doing (last week aside) they should be fine. I doubt Chicago can continue scoring like they have been. If Minnesota can keep playing like they do, like piranhas, I would think a division title isn't out of the question.

The MLB Draft was this weekend. How would you rate Minnesota's performance, and what do you think about the picks?

Marty Andrade: They're top position player was a better pitcher than their other two picks.  They grabbed a relief pitcher in the first round (out of college).  One of their picks could have easily been grabbed in later rounds.  To me it looks like they wasted two out of the three picks in the first round.  At least we didn't pick up another David McCarty or Scott Stahoviak.

First round pitchers normally have about a 20% chance of making the majors while first round position players sit at around 30%.  Given those numbers it might seem like a good idea to go with position players but with so much room for error there really isn't a solid "strategy" when it comes to the amateur draft.  The Twins look like they found one of the best athletes (in Aaron Hicks) in the draft and that's what they love to do, find the athletes.  I would have preferred the Twins have taken Isaac Davis or David Havens over Hicks but like I said earlier, it's all a crap shoot.

Kelso Hakes: All in all pretty good. I watched it and heard the comments about each player. Should be a promising future for them, but as any newly drafted individual, they are good and will get better. After getting 2 first-round draft picks (for the trade of Torii Hunter), they chose Aaron Hicks (Pitch/Outfield) and Carlos Gutierrez (Pitcher). They also obtained Steven "Shooter" Hunt (pitcher). You can never have enough pitchers. Hicks will more than likely play the field as a center fielder though.

Dhruv Kalra: Going with the general consensus, the Twins drafted fairly well in the first round. Aaron Hicks is an absolute steal at 14, and has a tremendous ceiling. The greatest advantage of drafting a player like Hicks will undoubtedly be that the organization can easily slot him in as a pitcher down the line as long as he takes care of his arm. Shooter Hunt looks to be a solid pick at 31, with at least two major-league caliber pitches. Coming up through the highly-touted Twins' Minor League system will give him plenty of opportunity to develop another off-speed pitch and fine-tune his fastball. Like many others, I'm a bit puzzled by the decision to draft Carlos Gutierrez with the 27th pick. Call that one a throwaway, but the kid may surprise us all yet

Overall, I'd grade the Twins' first round a solid B+. Based on what the organization has at the high minor league levels, this draft class should be ready to make a splash within a couple years of the new ballpark opening, which times nicely with some impending openings on the big league roster.

Andrew Kneeland: A- for the first round. I am a really big backer of Hicks and Hunt, and I think Gutierrez will grow on me. Like all the experts, I don't know what Minnesota was thinking when they drafted Gutierrez. However, I will defer to their judgement when making decisions about prospects.

Which team do you feel has the biggest rivalry with Minnesota?

Marty Andrade: It was nice when the Brewers were in the National League and the Minnesota/Wisconsin rivalry thing played out regularly for Twins fans.  Now we rarely see those drunken bastards.  The Royals are a storied team, but no rivals are they.

Who are we kidding?  If any of the writers in this Whatnot don't pick "White Sox" they earn my scorn, permanently.

Kelso Hakes: Definitely the Chicago White Sox. There really is no rivalry in the AL Central. Especially since (as of Sunday morning) only the White Sox is over the .500 mark. The Twins are at .500. The Twins are looking for nothing more than for victory, they're just hitting some speed bumps along the way.

Dhruv Kalra: I would have to say the White Sox, if only for some of the "Ozzie-isms" that have escaped from that dugout in recent years. That being said, it's become a kinder, gentler rivalry over the last few years. During the Twins' division winning years of 2002-04, the White Sox could always be counted on for sour grapes sound bites, along with the occasional bench-clearing incident at US Cellular. Ever since their World Series run in 2005, however, the White Sox have been a harder team to hate.

Now, A.J. Pierzynski, on the other hand...

Andrew Kneeland: Chicago, hands down. No, not the north side. The White Sox are the ones we have been fighting with over the years, and there is plenty of tough love for each other coming out of both dugouts.

If you had the choice, would you prefer a dome or an open stadium?

Marty Andrade: Everyone loves "the great outdoors" in theory but when you add in bugs, heat, humidity, rain, snow, sleet, high winds, the ebola virus and skunks, they go back inside and turn on the AC and play videogames.  Heck, I like Mother Nature "in theory" but I rather enjoy watching baseball in the comfort only AC can bring.

I don't care if indoor baseball is un-American and anathema to the laws of God and Man, I'll take climate controlled comfort any day.

Kelso Hakes: Well, the way this spring/summer is going(cold, rain, hail, tornadoes) people in Minnesota definitely appreciate the cover. I like the Dome just because its different and you never have to worry about being too cold or too hot.

Dhruv Kalra: Open stadium, hands down. Baseball was meant to be played outdoors. Nuff said.

Andrew Kneeland: Normally I would say an open stadium because I think baseball was meant to be playing in the elements. But considering the Twin's position on the globe, I would say a Dome. There would be way too many snow outs and rain outs over the course of a season.