Minnesota Twins: How Did the Pitching Get So Bad?

Jun 21, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher

(30) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Let’s spend a few moments and travel back in time to late summer, 2006. The Minnesota Twins had two of the best starting pitchers in baseball at the time in Johan Santana and Francisco Liriano. As a matter of fact, Santana was on his way to winning his second American League Cy Young Award in three seasons as well as the AL pitching Triple Crown, leading the league in ERA, strikeouts and wins in 2006. Liriano was having an all-time great season for a rookie and beat Roger Clemens in Houston in Clemens’ return to the big leagues earlier that summer. The rotation and pitching staff as a whole were strong that season. The team ERA ranked second in the American League that year.

Now? The Twins finished last in AL ERA last season. The team’s pitching has been a major Achilles’ Heel for the past four seasons. How did it get so bad? Let’s take a look.

Next: Liriano's Fall