The daily digest of Twin Cities culture | Secrets of the City

Related Content

• Around the Horn: Series Victory in Cleveland
• Around the Horn: Twins 5, Indians 1
• Around the Horn: Twins 3, Angels 1
• Around the Horn: Twins 9, Angels 2
• Around the Horn: Twins 11, Angels 9

(AP Photo/Jim Mone)

Season Record: 9-11

Up Next: Rays (7:10 CT, 4/28)

1. Where's the Ace?

Scott Baker started the season on the disabled list after being named the team's opening day starter, but has since returned to the team. Upon his return the expectation was that Baker would step into the rotation and assume his position as the team's ace. After three starts that assumption still hasn't come to fruition, and the Twins are still searching for their ace.

While guys like Blackburn, Slowey and Perkins have performed well in recent outings, both Francisco Liriano and Scott Baker have struggled to find their identities. Baker has struggled with control and consistency; while one pitch will put the batter to shame, the next will be hung and put over the fence in left.

To start off the homestand the Twins sent out Baker with the hope that he could rebound and get on track for the remainder of the season. In the end Baker lasted six innings and allowed four runs for an overall decent outing. However, Baker struggled to even make it through five innings, hung pitch after pitch, and showed how far away he is from his '08 form.

With Liriano up next the team can only hope that he can find himself and get the rotation on step closer to being completely warmed up for the five months ahead.

2. In the Air

While ball after ball was tagged off the Rays' pitching staff, the end result for the Twins' offense was one run. The reason was the fly ball, a thing the Twins just couldn't seem to stop hitting. Over ten of the team's outs came via the air, and because of it, the offense never truly took off. 

Even the one run came off a fly ball, a homerun for Joe Crede in the middle innings. Had the Twins put even a few balls on the ground and through a hole, they could have possibly scored some runs. With two on in the seventh, Morneau tagged a ball to center; unfortunately for the Twins, the ball just barely hung in the air and a potential two-run hit turned into a routine out.

Aside from consistency, one problem for the Twins has been hitting the ball in the air. Another recent poor offensive effort came in the second part of a day-night doubleheader last week against Boston. The Twins hit starter Brad Penny hard in much of the same fashion, but managed few runs because most resulted in fly outs. 

3. Three Catchers? Maybe.

What should the Twins do when Joe Mauer returns? The easy solution is to send Jose Morales packing to triple-A, but with his offensive performances, it seems as though the Twins would like to keep him on the roster and go with three catchers. The idea might sound great, but it'll be tough to pull off.

The one player that would be easy to send down, Juan Morillo, is the likely candidate to head out the door when Jesse Crain returns Sunday, so that may not be an option. Whatever the Twins decide to do, it won't come without a tough decision by manager Ron Gardenhire.