Mid Season Report Part Deux

Breaking news! The Brewers trade three minor league players and a player to be named later for C.C. Sabathia. Best. Trade. Ever. The Brewers instantly have the best 1-2 punch of any N.L. starting roatation. I'm as giddy as a school girl. The second half of the season should be phenomenal.

It is time for the Twins position players to be reviewed. The Twins have used so many infielders this season that it's hard to pick one player for short and third. Apologies to Adam Everett, Mike Lamb, and Matt Tolbert. Stay healthy or start hitting and maybe you'll get back in the mix. On to the players!

Joe Mauer C - Best catcher in baseball. Possibly the best hitter in baseball. Hometown boy from St. Paul. Face of the Twins. He's lived up to the hype and is going to start in the All-Star game next week, one of the few deserving starters. He is unquestionably the best Twin.

Justin Morneau 1b - The power source in the lineup, Morneau has continued to drive in runs and hit for average. Currently second in the A.L. with 65 RBI's and hitting a solid .307, Morneau has shown an improvement defensively as well. Morneau and Mauer combine to make a formidable heart of the order that any pitcher would have trouble dealing with.

Alexi Casilla 2b -Injuries to Matt Tolbert, Nick Punto, and Brendan Harris freed up space at second base for Casilla to be called up. Since his call up, Casilla has been outstanding. Last season in 56 games, Casilla batted .222, had a .256 OBP, hit zero homers, and drove in only nine runs. This season in 45 games, Casilla is batting .320, has an OBP of .364, driven in 35 runs, and hit four homers. Casilla has been instrumental in the Twins turnaround. His speed, defense, and hitting has been a great boost for a team that has suffered through many poor second baseman. All the calls for Luis Rivas can stop.

Brendan Harris SS - Acquired in the Matt Garza trade along with Delmon Young, Harris has been underwhelming. After hitting .286 with 12 homers, 35 doubles, and 59 RBI's for Tampa last year, Harris is on pace to finish with worse numbers this year. He's an adequate player for the bottom of the lineup, but raising that .250 average and .306 OBP would help the Twins in the second half. On the plus side, he can play second, short, or third. His versatility defensively is a great asset in case of injuries.

? 3b - The main trouble area for the Twins. Mike Lamb was signed to be the everyday third baseman. He stunk up the joint so much that he has only two starts since the middle of June. Matt Tolbert was playing decently until he landed on the injured list. Brian Buscher has been fantastic since being called up, but with only seventeen starts, it's hard to tell if this is a fluke or a sign of things to come. Nick Punto plays great defense and is hitting better this season. He also dives head first into first base instead of running it out. I hate Punto. Hopefully Buscher can continue his hot hitting and solidify his spot in the Twins lineup.

Michael Cuddyer RF - It's been a rough season for Cuddyer so far. Currently on the 15-day DL for the second time this season, his numbers don't come close to matching his great 2006 season. A big part of the '06 team that won the division, it would be a huge boost for the Twins if, upon his return, Cuddy starts driving in runs behind Morneau and continues his superior defense in right field.

Carlos Gomez CF - The prize in the Santana trade, Gomez has shown flashes of brilliance at the plate and in the field. He also frustrates the hell out of me with his terrible plate discipline. I continue to remind myself he's only 22 and in his first full MLB season. He should only get better. The potential is there for a future star. If he can learn to take pitches and draw some walks, he would be instantly better.

Delmon Young LF - I had numerous nasty, mean, hurtful things to write about Delmon Young for this mid season report. Then Young had to catch fire on the current homestand and all the negative things I had to say floated out of my mind. He is still a disappointment, especially since Garza has been great for Tampa. The extra base power has been dormant for most of the year. His plate discipline is nearly as awful as Gomez's. His defense is adequate, but if he doesn't start hitting for power and drawing more walks, someone else will be doing his Twin commercials.

Craig Monroe/Jason Kubel DH - Monroe was signed in the offseason to be the Twins DH, a move I never understood. Why waste money on a 31 year old with a career average of .254 and a career OBP of .302? Cause he can hit homers, something the Twins rarely do. Usually starting against left handed pitchers, Monroe has been a decent bench player, chipping in eight homeruns. I thought the Twins should have handed the DH role full time to Kubel, and his play has justified that view. Belting twelve homeruns and driving in forty-three runs, Kubel has picked up the slack for Cuddyer and Young. In the second half, he should continue to get the majority of starts at DH.

Nick Punto, Super Utility Player - I can write one nice thing about Punto. It pains me to do it but I will. His defense is unbelievable. The play he made last Wednesday against the Tigers was one of the best I've ever seen. The video is still on YouTube as of two minutes ago. Now if only he would run through first base.