I apologize for the lack of baseball content on this site lately, but the Twins were so irrelevant for the majority of the summer, I just couldn’t bring myself to analyze anything. I felt like I was beating a dead horse on every episode of Twins Weekly (bullpen help needed, Delmon and Casilla terrible, #2 hitter mismanagement, etc.).

Well, props to the Twins for hanging around.

And props to the front office for acquiring the bullpen help so desperately needed in Jon Rauch. I can recall several instances this summer where Jon Rauch’s name was thrown out on this blog, or on the KFAN airwaves, and for him to be in a Twins uniform pitching in spots where other men used to serve up crooked numbers is a pleasant surprise.

The Twins obviously lost a heartbreaker 4-2 earlier this afternoon to the White Sox, when Joe Nathan gave up back-t0-back home runs to Gordon Beckham and Paul Konerko, before allowing two more runs.

But because the American League Central is so God-awful, the Twins — despite only being one game above .500 — still have a decent shot at earning a playoff bid.

Does this team have flaws? Of course. Relying on Jeff Manship and Brian Duensing down the stretch is as risky as it gets (not that they can’t be serviceable pitchers going forward). And rolling the dice on this bullpen for more than a year before making a significant move was also risky, if not downright illogical.

But let’s rekindle some magic and take this damn division. With Delmon and Alexi finally showing some signs of life, the Twins’ offense has a ton of punch. Denard Span, Jason Kubel and Michael Cuddyer are all having career seasons. As is Joe Mauer, and Justin Morneau is having the second-best season of his career. I will gladly eat my words if the Twins can surpass the Tigers. Playoff baseball is the bomb, and if the 2006 Cardinals can win the World Series, anything can happen.

OK, maybe I’m getting carried away by mentioning “World Series”.

Twins Weekly is off the air until further notice. The KFAN schedule shifts toward football every September, as do my duties. But if the Twins can hang around and stay alive for another few weeks, I’m sure we’ll bring it back for a stretch run.

Again… Come on, Twins. Catch the Tigers and give us something fun to watch in October.