First half is behind the Twins, things have gotten a little better

Whether you call 81 games the first half of the Major League Baseball season or wait until the All-Star Break, the first half is definitely behind the Minnesota Twins.

It's behind them. In many ways, the first part of the season was a disaster. One of the worst disasters in franchise history, some have said. The Twins start the second half today, after the Break, sitting 20 games out of first place in the AL Central. They're one of the worst teams in baseball, competing with the rebuilding Braves and now the Reds, with a 32-56 record.

So, that's not great.

A piping-hot July, so far
They went into the Break winning seven of their last nine games though. In 10 games so far in July, they've scored double-digits in runs in four games, scoring a total of 78 runs. How significant is that? Well, the Twins managed just 80 runs in the entire month of April. The pitching and run support has been much better recently.

The pessimistic Twins supporters could easily be annoyed that the All-Star Break came at the worst time for this ball club.

Just a reminder that the season was pretty much declared dead nine games in during the 0-9 start in April. Some were a little more optimistic and waited until the end of the month to say such things. Yes, it's a long season. Yes, there are ups and downs. However, statistics do not support a team that had the kind of start the Twins had. Being 20-some games below the .500 mark is just such a deep hole. They're on pace to drop more than 100 games for the season.

The positives
Things have turned around a little bit, but it's also come after some roster shuffling. Still, plenty of reasons to watch the boys of summer.

Eduardo Nunez was the lone representative at the All-Star Game for the Twins - after he wasn't even listed on the ballot. Fans had to write him in. Regardless, and whether you like the rule or not, Nunez was chosen by the AL manager. He was the only All Star who didn't get an at-bat and played just a quick 9th inning at second base, helping to turn a game-ending double play.

Nunez has no doubt been the team's star of the first half. He's hitting the ball, he's hit the 20-mark for stolen bases and his helmet has flown off his head too many times to count. His .321 batting average leads the team (minus Kennys Vargas, who's been on a tear in his recent call-up). He's always got a big smile on his face, too, which you'd think would help lift some spirits.

The other hot bat early on was in the hands of Joe Mauer. He started the season with a 28-game on-base streak and was in his usual form from a few years ago, drawing walks and slapping singles around the field. He's trailed off a bit the past few weeks.

Last year's first-half hero and All-Star, Brian Dozier, had an ice-cold start. So did a lot of guys, so I guess he can't be faulted too much. His bat has flared up recently though, and he leads the squad in RBI with 43 and is tied for the home run lead with Miguel Sano at 14.

Oh, Sano. In the beginning when the team was strikeout prone, he was one of the main culprits. As a power guy who can hit home runs, he'll strike out some. He's dealt with a hamstring injury that probably could have been worse. There was his time in right field. Yeah. On his return, he's starting hitting again and has showed off what a nice arm he has at third base.

Rookie leaves his mark
That brings us to perhaps the most pleasant surprise: Rookie Max Kepler. He was called up and got significant playing time in right field after Sano went down. In the final game before the Break, he hit his first career grand slam in Texas as part of a route-win, 15-5, over the Rangers.

When he hits home runs, they've been huge. His first career homer was a 3-run shot to the right-field seats at Target Field, in a walk-off, 10th-inning win over the Red Sox. He's also at 33 RBI, which ranks fourth on the team - and he only has 46 games under his belt. He's fun to watch.

There have been plenty of injuries and players being sent down to AAA. Trevor Plouffe has had a couple stints on the disabled list, Eduardo Escobar and Danny Santana have, too. Byung Ho Park struggled after his good start, so he was sent down to AAA. Eddie Rosario spent some time down there, too. Oswaldo Arcia and Kevin Jepsen were both designated for assignment - and now they've ended up with the Rays.

Starting pitching has turned around as well, with pitchers tossing quality starts after massive struggles. It's maybe not where it should be but has improved.

So, there are a few thoughts about the Twins in their first half. Some good things and definitely some not-so-good things. Here's a the second-half of the summer!