Football
Associated Press 18y

2010 can't get here fast enough

MINNEAPOLIS -- Is there any way the Twins' new ballpark can
be built tomorrow?

Think about it. It's been an excruciatingly long wait for the
legislature to approve a plan, so why not grease the wheels and get
into the Guinness Book of World Records for fastest stadium built
and put that puppy up in a hurry?

Sure, there are little things to worry about like safety and
quality, but after watching another stinker on Wednesday -- an 11-0
defeat to the Cleveland Indians -- I'm willing to roll the dice.

Why?

For years the Twins, Commissioner Bud Selig and many fans have
been touting a new stadium as the magic elixir to their salary cap
constraints.

If you build it, they will come.

Not just legions of fans from all over the Midwest, but
concessionaires, parking attendants, corporations who buy expensive
suite packages, all translating into dollars that can be put toward
luring some big-time free agents.

No one is saying the Twins' payroll will reach Yankee-like
proportions when the doors open at Sid Hartman Stadium in April,
2010. But the idea of actually being able to make a run at a Jim
Thome or an Alfonso Soriano every few years sure is an appetizing
one.

Because let's face it -- things aren't exactly working out right
now.

Wednesday's game was the perfect summation for the Twins season
to this point -- one step forward, two steps back.

Every time they look like they're putting things together -- such
as in Tuesday night's impressive 6-5 win in 10 innings over the
Tribe -- they lay an egg the size of the Metrodome.

Most of the 22,000 fans in attendance were on their way home by
the middle of the sixth inning, after former Twin Casey Blake's
second bomb of the game made it 6-0.

Indians starter C.C. Sabathia said he hardly broke a sweat in
nine innings against the Twins, who constantly swung at pitches
early in the count and failed to adjust as the goose eggs mounted.

Rondell White and Tony Batista, the team's two big offseason
acquisitions who were supposed to bring some pop to the lineup,
went 1-for-6. The designated hitter White hasn't hit a home run
this season and Batista has managed just five while playing a
traditional power position at third base.

These are the kind of acquisitions general manager Terry Ryan
has been forced to make while the revenues plummet in the
Metrodome. No sure things, just gamble and hope one of your young
guys blossoms.

Not the way you want to be running a Major League club.

But maybe there is a silver lining. If the Twins (20-26)
continue to struggle like this, they'll get a good draft pick. Oh,
wait -- this isn't the NFL or NBA, where talented players who can
make an impact right way are in abundance at the top of each draft.

The baseball draft is all about looking down the road -- WAY down
the road. That means they'll be able to draft a player next year
who might be ready to help them by the time the Fresh Air Field
opens in four years.

That's why when Gov. Tim Pawlenty comes to the Dome on Friday to
officially sign the ballpark bill, he should bring a shovel with
him to start breaking ground over behind the Target Center.

It's become abundantly clear that -- barring a miraculous
turnaround -- these Twins are going to be headed home early for the
third straight season.

This year's AL Central is far too powerful -- and was far too
aggressive in the offseason -- for the Twins to match.

The White Sox added Thome, the Tigers added manager Jim Leyland,
starter Kenny Rogers and closer Todd Jones and the Indians added
valuable experience from last season's pennant race with Chicago.

That leaves the Twins, with their signings of Batista and White,
in the dust.

They're playing hard. They're doing everything they can. But
like this year's edition of the Belmont Stakes, which will not have
the Kentucky Derby winner or the Preakness winner in its field, the
Twins just don't have the horses.

There remains one solution -- take the next couple weeks to slap
that baby up and go make a run at some high-priced veterans before
the trade deadline.

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Jon Krawczynski can be reached at jkrawczynski(at)ap.org.

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