I’m frustrated. I’m very negative right now. I’m a Twins fan and as a result of that i’ve learned accept the fact that I live in a flyover state and that my team will always be stuck in mediocrity. Sure, the Twins have won 2 world series in my lifetime. Sure the Twins won division titles for 4 our of 5 years. Sure there are bright spots here and there. What frustrates me the most is that each time I think that the Twins are really in it to win it, I buy into the lie. I buy into the sound bites from team officials. I buy into the enthusiasm that Bert Blyleven, Dick Bremer, John Gordan and Dazzle spew game in and game out.

Each time the Twins get close, I buy it hook line and sinker. I am a fool. I am a dope. I am an idiot.

In the 2008 season, which all media and most fans would have said is a “rebuilding” year, the Twins have somehow become compeditive. I would have been fine with this being a rebuilding year (after all how could it not be when we lost Santana and Hunter to free agency). Team officials however have said over and over again that they are striving to still be compeditive and to ultimately win games in October.

After first half of the season and the maturation of the pitching staff, I started to believe that this year could be interesting. Maybe the Twins Nation would be in for something magical much like the ‘87 season. Maybe the Twins would play meaningful games in August and September.

All of those hope and dreams are now shattered. Today the Twins failed to make ANY moves that would benefit the team or help position themselves to be competitive with the White Sox or any other American League team. The Twins instead chose to stand pat and not fill any of the glaring holes that it has at 3rd base, 2nd base or late inning relievers. The Twins chose to watch teams like the White Sox, Red Sox and Rays make moves that will position themselves to compete. After all, they recognize the fact that in order to get something you have to give something.

Unfortunately that is NOT the philosophy of the Twins organization. The Twins would however choose to ride out their season with Adam Everett, Boof Bonser, Nick Punto, Matt Macri and Brendan Harris at key positions.

Billy Smith stated today in a press conference that they were willing to “take on payroll” but as such did not want to give up any of our 4 starting pitchers (Slowey, Blackburn, Perkins or Baker). While I understand their hesitation to do this, it also infuriates me even more. The Twins have long been able to find and develop pitchers in the minor league system because after all pitching and defense wins games. The problem is that the twins front office becomes infatuated with their players. The organization doesn’t want to part ways with all the boys that they have sculpted into men. So instead of trading a guy that is EASILY replaceable by the next guy that Rick Anderson could make into a quality pitcher they choose to do nothing.

As a result, please let me be the first to announce to the Twins Nation that our favorite team has officially waved the white flag. The WhiteSox have an embarrasment of hitting riches and the Twins will be starting guys like Everett, Punto, Bonser, Macri and Harris.

I’m tired of all of this.