Never too early to sound the alarm on the Twins bullpen

Remember the Vikings 2018 season? Remember how they were a sure playoff team and perhaps more, but they were completely sabotaged by the offensive line?

I'm starting to feel a disturbing case of deja vu.

The 2019 Twins have the look in many ways of our 1st division champ since 2010. They have a lineup with a great mix of vets and young guys emerging into stardom. They have one of the league's best starting pitchers. They have a division that looks like a mess behind them.

But they too have a huge gaping problem, just like the Vikings did: the bullpen.

The bullpen stunk last year too,  but they were never in contention past early summer, so it didn't really cost them anything. But the offseason came and went and this was not addressed. Blake Parker was the lone acquisition of note, and he's barely of note.

So they come into this season with a pen, not counting Martin Perez, of 2 solid returning guys(Rogers, Hildenberger), Parker, minor league journeyman Ryne Harper, the perpetual tease of Trevor May, and Adalberto Mejia because he had no minor league options left. Plus they have had 1 appearance each by Chase De Jong and Andrew Vazquez.

Which brings us to tonight, my 1st Twins game of the season, against the lowly Blue Jays.

Perez officially became the 5th starter, and despite a couple shaky innings he managed to give up just 1 run over 6. The Jays countered with their 3-0 Matt Shoemaker, and he was kind of dominant at first. Then in the 4th Jorge Polanco chopped one up the middle and a gremlin got it or something, cause the ball did a high hop into the outfield. Then Eddie Rosario had a great at bat to coax a walk. And then CJ Cron blasted a 3 run homerun. Just like that the Twins were in control, up 3-1.

Perez finished out his start, Harper came in for a sharp 7th....and then out came Mejia for the 8th. And to say he shit the bed would be an enormous understatement.

Single (on an 0-2 count)
Double (also after an 0-2 count)
Single
3 run homerun (on an 0-2 count)

4 batters, none retired. A 3-1 lead turned in a matter of minutes into a 5-3 loss, a total kick in the teeth. Thanks a fucking bunch.

This is a major problem. The Twins have now played 13 games, and have already now had 3 games lost directly by their bullpen. Plus they have had a couple close calls.

This is not just one of those flukey baseball things. This is a team having its #1 weakness exposed.

The Twins would already be running away with this division if their bullpen wasn't such a liability. Honestly, this team might be able to hit its way to a lot of wins, and maybe a division title anyway, but the chickens always come home to roost. They do have 3 guys currently hurt, but you can't just assume any of them will come back and dominate. And you can't just wait around til the trade deadline either.

3 games have already been lost. Those 3 games could be the difference between a playoff spot or not, or home field advantage in the playoffs. And they will not be the last games given away.