Fan Friday – Betsy

Posted by John on September 11, 2009 under John | Be the First to Comment

It’s Friday and that means another Fan Friday column. Today’s article comes from Besty who writes her own Twins blog titled “For the Love of the Game.” Check out her blog at the link here.

Building For the Future

When Johan Santana and Torii Hunter left the Twins, GM Bill Smith made notes about how he was building for the future and last year how the Twins were in a rebuilding stage.  I’m beginning to wonder when this rebuilding stage will end and when this future will be the present.  We trade away our assists, but seem to get next to nothing in return.

Joe Mauer told Sports Illustrated earlier this year that he wants to be on a team that is going to win the World Series.  Shouldn’t this goal be every team’s goal at the start of the season?  Shouldn’t even the Twins, when Bill Smith has them in a “rebuilding” stage be aiming for that goal?  Then I have to ask, why aren’t we still pushing and fighting to obtain this goal?

Do I think the Twins have it in them this year to win the World Series?  Honestly, no.  I love them and really hope I’m wrong, but the upper management and the on-field management/coaches have got to start having faith in this team in order for them to start having faith in themselves.  I believe the players have the drive and the fight to win, but negative perceptions can damage a team and damage a players’ ability.

Why is it that when Justin Morneau goes on a lull of 0-19, and Michael Cuddyer goes on a lull of 0-16, they still get to play.  But when the likes of Casilla, Harris, Punto, etc. go on this kind of kick, they are benched (and for an extended period of time).  This to me doesn’t seem fair.  Sure I know that Justin, Michael Cuddyer, Jason Kubel and Joe Mauer are the power houses of the Twins team, but all I’m saying is that maybe Gardy should exercise the same caution with those players as he does with the rest of the team.  I think having confidence in a player is going to make them have more confidence in themselves and ultimately make them a better player.

Maybe Gardy and Bill Smith should have the song “Have A Little Faith in Me” played to them before every game.  Give them some perspective and maybe they’ll have a little faith in their team.