August is upon us and the Major League Baseball teams are being divided into pennant contenders, unlikely teams and the still possibles. It’s that time when general managers bite the bullet and say, “No, not this year,” and build for the upcoming seasons. The contenders and still possibles survey the available players from the non-contending teams and those ramifications that come with the players they want. Can they afford them? Will they help the team next year and really, how much of an upgrade would they be over the present players?

Our Twins have now reached that point. Is a pennant still possible and if it is, what are the teams most driving needs? An August evaluation is needed.

When the Twins came out of Spring Training the strengths supposedly were the starting pitching staff and the three all-stars’ Mauer, Morneau and Nathan. The outfield was thought to be major league capable with four starters in Span, Cuddyer, Gomez and Young. The rest of the team was composed of maybes with Crede, Punto, Casilla and the relief corps. It was not long into the season before the teams’ weaknesses were exposed. The middle infielders did not live up to the hopes of the Twins. Casilla has yo-yoed between Rochester and Minnesota. Punto has not hit and third baseman Crede has been average when healthy.

The Twins’ second basemen have batted .186 in 410 plate appearances with the shortstop position hitting .236. Shortstop Brendan Harris has an acceptable bat, but no range, no matter what Dick-n-Bert say. Manager Gardenhire was talking about his middle infield and said: “There are just so many outs,” referring to their hitting. “That just can’t continue. That’s hard, really too hard.” I think that sums it up pretty well. Their pennant chase is hurt badly by their middle infield.

The team has yet to find a third outfielder as both Gomez and Young have disappointed. The all-stars Mauer, Morneau, and Nathan have played very well and you can’t really expect more from them. There has been a big drop-off from them that was not really expected when the team broke spring training.

But perhaps the biggest disappointment is the starting pitching. It was felt heading into the season that the team had five capable starters. Now only a shell shocked remnant remains. It looks like Kevin Slowey is out for the season. Glen Perkins has settled into pitching one inning, being shelled and leaving, complaining of his arm. Perkins got off to a good start and has been ineffective since then. Realistically he was slated for the fifth starter and that evaluation has proved to be accurate. Francisco Liriano leads the league in losses and has been unable to put his talent and his head together. Nick Blackburn, the No. 4 starter, was for a while the best of the staff, but has failed badly his last two starts. Scott Baker, the once designated ace of the staff, has been very inconsistent and cannot be relied upon.

When you take a look at the club with its present lineup, it’s hard to see them winning the division. Diehard Twins fans, of which I’m one, long for a trade, but I don’t think a new second baseman will do it. The team needs a dominant starter on the order of Johan Santana to stabilize the team and provide wins. Will that happen? Are you kidding?! Not with the cautious Bill Smith at the helm.

The Twins are indeed fortunate that they are in the Central Division and not ten games back. Do they have a chance at this juncture? Possibly, but I don’t think so..