Twins Fourth Straight Losing Season

Wednesday the Minnesota Twins have their final game at Target Field in 2014 and for the fourth straight year will have a 90 plus loss season. The Twins moved into their present home in 2010 and have had just one winning season there.  After a 94-68 record in 2010 Minnesota has gone 63-99, 66-96, 66-96 and were 67-90 heading into Wednesday.  The Twins have scored the fifth most runs in the American League but alas are again last in starter pitching ERA at 5.10.  To put this in perspective, the average starter ERA in the American League is 3.83 and Target Field is supposed to be a pitcher's ballpark. The only team in the majors with a higher ERA is Colorado and they play in the mile high city!  Talk about a pitcher's nightmare.   April was the ONLY month Minnesota had a winning record and that was 12-11.  They have been consistently bad at home and on the road with records of 34-46 at home and 33-44 away from home.  Joe Mauer didn't catch a single game and the hopes it would keep his legs fresh and add to his power were just that, hopes.    The Twins have to change their pitch to contact philosophy and find some power arms or the losing records will continue. Twins pitching had the fewest strikeouts per nine innings of any staff in the majors.   Isn't this season proof of that, 5th in runs scored and not even close to being competitive in the division race.  Minnesota was second in runs scored in the Division and still will end in the basement.  They tried to shore up the pitching before the season but have failed. Ricky Nolasco was signed to a 4 year 49 million dollar contract with an option for 2018 and has a 5.64 ERA.  The highest of his career, again in a pitcher's ballpark.  Doesn't it make you scratch your head ?  I think it's that whole pitch to contact thing, it gets in their head and they don't do what a pitcher should try to do, strike guys out.  That's the object of pitching.  Make the batter swing and miss.  Minnesota pitching has given up the most hits by far this season, 1541 heading into Wednesday (about 10 a game) They are definitely pitching to contact.