1. Mariners are sneaky competent. On the surface, your 14-18 Mariners seem like the same uninspired collection of jagoffs that we've seen for a few years running. Sniff closer, and savor the unfamiliar stink of promise surrounding these Baby Bombs.
a. Not yet proven to be terrible. Their biggest draw? It has not been convincingly beaten into my head that these players suck. Among Ackley, Seager, MONTERO!!!, Liddi, Saunders, and Carp exists the possibility that some or all of them won't be mediocre-to-poor Major Leaguers. You'll note I did not include Smoak on that list, because he has sucked, but I secretly like Smoak and hope he'll improve as the weather heats up.
b. THE FARM!!! At AA Jackson, the Mariners have the most prospect star power on one team in all of Minor League Baseball. SP's Danny Hultzen, Taijuan Walker, and James Paxton will back up Felix in the Mariners rotation very shortly (next season?). Our young pitching is the envy of baseball. I didn't know this when Pineda was traded, but now that deal makes sense.
2. The Twins are terrible, have no discernible plan, and should be sold for parts. On the surface, your 8-21 Twins seem like the worst team in baseball. This is...the truth. You know it's bad when the fan blogs are looking to players other teams might waive for help.
a. Abysmal pitching. The Twins starting pitching is 5-17. Until last night, no Twins starter had pitched six scoreless innings to start a game this season. The Twins did not shut out a team until last night. From watching way too much of this team, Carl Pavano is the only competent starting option they have. And it's not like Pavano is great, it's just everyone else is so awful that Pavano's mediocrity shines bright in contrast.
b. What happened to the bats? This team was in the playoffs in 2010! Joe Mauer was the MVP in 2009! Justin Morneau was the MVP in 2006! Two MVPs! The Twins are 28/30 in Total Bases so far in 2012 (I use a non-batting-average stat to impress you! Note: I like Total Bases as a stat because 10 singles aren't better than 6 doubles.) The Twins hit like recent Mariners teams, in that it's a complete surprise whenever offense occurs.
3. WTF happened to Francisco Liriano? This is an extension of 2a, but it warrants further development.
a. Liriano then. Liriano was so good so quick that he made the Twins trade of Johan Santana to the Mets palatable. Liriano was an all-star in his second season at 22 years old. As recently as 2010, Liriano won 14 games, struck out 201, and ate up almost 200 innings.
b. Liriano now. Liriano is borderline unplayable. He is 0-5 with a 9.45 ERA and a WHIP over two. Really think about that. In the average 2012 inning for Liriano, of which there have been 26.2, two people reach base. That is just not a recipe for success. His struggles led to one of the most troubling headlines I've seen in recent years, "Liriano's Psyche to be Given a Rest." You don't get to thinking about resting someone's psyche until a bunch of other corrective measures have failed to work.
4. Welcome developments.
a. Chone gone. Chone Figgins is no longer an everyday player for the Mariners. Huzzah!
b. Somebody new in MN. The Twins, desperate for fresh blood, called up rookie SS Brian Dozier this week. Dozier is a slick fielder, patient hitter, and most importantly is not one of the players responsible for Minnesota's awful start.
5. Games of the week.
a. Mariners. Beat Detroit Tigers 3-2, at home, on 5/7/2012, all runs coming in the 9th off of a hilariously wild Octavio Dotel. Jesus Montero hit a heroic double to tie the game.
b. Twins. Beat Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 5-0, at home on 5/8/2012. Scott Diamond pitched seven scoreless innings in his first start of the year as the Twins got their first shutout, and generally looked like a competent major league outfit.
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