Standing Pat= standing still

And when you stand still, you get left behind.

Today Our Beloved Twins couldnt make a deal at the trade deadline. I was on record as saying that I didnt think we would get Soriano. I didnt think we'd get a Big Name. I did think we at least would end up dumping a contract or two. Instead...nothing.

It was ominously quiet as I went outside at 3:00 today. The sound I heard was the sound of Mench, Hillenbrand, Cantu and even Millar staying put. And I will say, Im saddened. Not becuase I felt anybody would single handedly salvage our season. No, I am sad because it signals that we are still playing for this year which is a serious mistake I think on TR's part.

I think if we were building for this/next year we would have moved guys like Mays, Lohse and even Jones (more on that later) for some decent prospects. I mean really, a bucket of slightly used baseballs for Romero wasn't possible? In a previous year I think TR would have made a move and let some competeing team rent Mays or Jones. This year however, it would have been probabally unpopular considering we are still numericaly in the playoff race.

But as demonstrated today by Our Beloved Twins, good pitching only can take you so far. We are currently an extreme example of what happens when you can pitch your little arse off and not score. Even the Dodgers a few years ago where a low scoreing, pitching team who had some success. The Twins are getting too old and too slow for "Small ball," and agressive baserunning. We no longer have the team when Guzy and Lawton just had to get on base and make things happen.

J.J was probabally saved from any trades when Hunter got hurt. He will now become a supplemental draft pick in next years draft I believe. And thats fine I suppose but I am not convinced we couldnt have gotten something for him that would pay dividends by 2006 or 2007 in the way of a prospect. The issue I am speculating became a sudden lack of depth in the OF if Jones was traded. To which I say: "for the right deal, put Cuddyer in right, Lew in center, Stewart in Left, Ryan and a AAA guy like Kevin West could be the 4 and 5 OFers. It would be an extreme white flag move but it may have kept us competitive for a while longer.

I trust somewhat blindly that the "right," deal wasnt out there and TR did the right thing. But Im still not happy. But I am now filled with a little anticipation as to what Our Beloved Twins will do.

My hope is that we start to expose our talent. This is what I'd like to see:

-Tiffy stays up and gets to Play 3b most the time perhaps platooning with Cuddyer

-Bartlett comes back to the club and plays everyday getting his Major League Hacks in before next year...he is the futur SS and the future is now

-Loriano replaces The Old Man...TOM becomes a ticket sales guy or beer guy or whatever else helps the team that doesnt rhyme with "Bitching."

Until the Sept Call ups the odd men out will be guys like Baker which is too bad. The bottom line is; how does this hurt us? Can we make the team worse than it is right now? Even if you believe it does short-term, doesnt it make us more prepared for next year?

How does this line up look?

1Stewart
2Bartlett
3Mauer
4Morneau
5Ford
6Jones
7Lecroy DH
8Tiffee
9Punto

I think its at worst about as bad a line up we are fielding right now.

I am trying to be optimistic here and there is reason to be for sure. The division should slightly improved next year but still wide open. So why not start to look at these guys as our future?