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(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Season Record: 18-20

Up Next: Yankees (7:05 CT, 5/17)

1. Fix the Bullpen

What does it take for anybody in the organization to realize that the bullpen is the reason for nearly every loss? The Twins have lost their past three games, and while the offense has played a part in the failures, the bullpen hasn't been able to keep games going, and have allowed three walkoff victories in three days. First it was Joe Nathan with a three-run ninth to blow game number one. Then it was Craig Breslow allowing a two-run homerun in extras to lose game two. In the most recent collapse, Jesse Crain allowed a walkoff homerun in the tenth.

The Twins' bullpen entering the series with New York had been the reason for the losses in four of the team's previous ten games. They've now lost the past three, and aside from Jose Mijares and Matt Guerrier, not a single pitcher has come close to pitching successfully. 

After 38 games, the bullpen's ERA is well over 5.50; the bullpen is ranked 27th in the entire league out of 30 total teams. There is a feeling that Luis Ayala might not accompany the team back to the Metrodome next weekend as the team is apparently ready to make a roster move. The move would be a welcome one, but adding Sean Henn to the bullpen and shipping Ayala out won't make a big enough difference.

The Twins need to make more than one move to see a turnaround, and if the team wants a chance to compete for the division in the next four months, moves better be made. The bullpen currently has the following ERA's: 2.25, 3.07, 3.92, 4.15, 5.63, 7.11, and 9.00. The Twins are below .500 because of the bullpen, and the bullpen solely. 

2. Capitalizing 

1-25.

Those numbers above represent the number of hits that the Twins have collected in 25 chances with runners in scoring position over the course of the first three games in New York. The Twins have lost by a total of four runs in those three games, and with even one hit in any of the first three games, the Twins would be 3-0 rather than 0-3 with three walkoff losses. 

The Twins have played with little emotion and seemingly little care. Obviously the Twins care about losing, but the way they've managed themselves over the three-game losing streak doesn't show it. On a number of occasions in the past three days, the Twins have put runners on first and second with no outs; in each occasion they've come away with nothing. Multiple times the bases have been loaded and the team has done much of the same. 

They've made mistakes on the bases, they've popped up first pitches with runners on, and they've swung at pitch after pitch in the dirt. Against a good team like New York, capitalizing on opportunities is key, and the Twins failed to do so 24 times in past 30 innings and they have three losses to show it. 

3. Nothing More

The first two points tell the story of the Minnesota Twins recent struggles and the season in general. With any type of bullpen the Twins would be above the .500 mark, and with even a few hits in their 25 at-bats with runners in scoring position the Twins would have some victories in New York. The Twins will not get any better or more consistent unless things change in the lineup (less Tolbert, Punto) and the bullpen (new pitchers).