Time for some decisive moves. Wouldn’t it be nice to not have to rely on any of the above five players anymore?

It’s time for Round 2 of the Bill Smith leadership era.

Only time is gonna tell which position is right here. But to my Bill-Jamesian eye, all the data points to troubled waters ahead for Livan Hernandez.

He is now an older pitcher. Over the first half of this season, he’s put up his worst aggregate numbers ever. Date back through last season and you see much of the same — real trouble getting outs, real trouble keeping scores down.

The “inning eater” claim is only plausible to me if he keeps the team in the game (otherwise, sign T-Mouse up for $120,000 per year and I’ll give you a few hundred innings). He has to eat innings that keep us in games.

One thing I believe your stats overlook is the simple fact that when the Twins put up huge run counts for Livan, it is far easier for him (or anyone else) to pitch. He can throw strikes while the opposing team has to look for walks and “get on base” at-bats. Give T-Mouse a 6-run lead by the third inning, and I’ll give you seven good innings, too.

One scenario that hasn’t been discussed is the one T-Mouse said he’d be willing to settle for. Namely, that Senor Smoke-less goes to the bullpen for longer relief. There he can eat up some innings, give Liriano the slot to get going, yet be available in case we need a fill-in starter (re: injuries).

Most major league teams are unwilling to look at the hard realities of this great game. Billy Beane obviously stands out (I think the Harden trade was brilliant). He knows the limitations of the hands he gets dealt. I am worried — when I hear our front office say this team is “fine as is” — that our young leadership doesn’t accept that we have to be statistical, decisive, and relentless in our pursuit of excellence.

Leaving Livan in a starting role, with Lamb occasionally DHing, Bass coming in with score tied in Fenway, Boof dragging down the pen, and excited about Adam Everett’s return. . . these are major no-nos if we want to make a legitimate pennant run this year.

T-Mouse (in da house)

I live in the Lake Shetek area in Minnesota. Storm Lake is a clean and rare Iowa Lake. Wish Lake Shetek would get dredged and cleaned like they did Storm Lake.

Enjoy the AS game!

Perhaps rightfully so. This team has no starter that is a long-innings playoff type. I don’t see much of a chance in the playoffs for this team if and when. So it’s no time to bust the bank and daringly lose prospects.

Yet 3B isn’t solved long-term by any means (mainly because of Buscher’s D). Acquiring Beltre would be about next year as much as this year.

And if it takes Boof/Humber/Buscher, that’s okay with me……BECAUSE

I’m changing my mind about getting a relief pitcher. I presumed Boof may have been needed to get a quality one. Then that may make it impossible to get Beltre.

Since playoff chances aren’t that good for the Twins, concentrate on 2009 and get Beltre. And 2009 is when Neshek will be back, and we’ll still have our prospects.

But I suppose if they could trade Livan for a setup man better than Korecki AND get Beltre, then we’d have a very decent chance on at least making the playoffs.

And IF Liriano is the lights out Franchise again, then he and Baker could comprise two playoff type pitchers. (Baker couldn’t carry the weight by himself.)