Ouch

Anyone out there starting to think this team is cursed? Yeah, me, too.

The current state of the Twins' disabled list:

RHP Jesse Crain, 15-day as of 05/16/2007 (out for the season)
LHP Francisco Liriano, 60-day as of 03/24/2007 (out for the season)
LHP Glen Perkins, 15-day as of 05/22/2007
C Joe Mauer, 15-day as of 05/06/2007
IF Alejandro Machado, 15-day as of 03/24/2007 (may be out for season)
OF Josh Rabe, 15-day as of 05/10/2007
OF Rondell White, 15-day as of 04/05/2007

Jeff Cirillo and Lew Ford have served 15-day DL stints and returned to the lineup. And those are just the serious injuries. Off the top of my head, I recall that Nick Punto, Jason Bartlett, Torii Hunter, Dennys Reyes, Michael Cuddyer and Luis Castillo have all been unavailable for multiple consecutive games at some point in the season thus far. I'm probably missing a few guys with that list.

And oh, look--we now have a bullpen with no lefties. As if the Twins' pitching wasn't enough of a question mark. Isn't that just dandy? Then again, the lefties we did have in the bullpen weren't exactly setting the league afire...

What it comes down to is that the Twins are sitting in the toughest division in baseball and missing the reigning AL batting champ, who also happens to be an elite catcher, their starting left fielder, the hottest young lefty starter since Johan Santana, another young lefty (future) starter who they were depending on for some bullpen help, a promising young infielder, an oft-used middle reliever, and a backup outfielder. For the next few days, they also have to contend with the unavailability of their lefthanded specialist and the probable unavailability of their starting shortstop, along with the usual worries about the bum knees of their second baseman, their outfielder/DH, and their current left fielder.

So yes, they got their butts whupped 14-4 by the Rangers last night, but given the current state of the roster, I'm amazed they managed to put nine guys out there every inning.

No official word from the Twins on who will be called up to replace Glen Perkins, but the Rochester Red Wings site is saying that the major league club has purchased the contract of lefty Carmen Cali. Cali is 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA in 16 2/3 innings of work over 12 games for the Red Wings. He has walked 6, struck out 5, and has a 1.14 WHIP. Cali is not currently on the Twins' 40-man roster, but I believe there is one spot available due to Liriano being on the 60-day disabled list.