Minnesota Twins: Where's the Consistency?

To find success in the Big Leagues, a level of consistency must be achieved.
The Minnesota Twins won six division titles over a nine year span beginning in 2002 by piecing together teams built around throwing strikes, fielding well and playing small ball.
Then came the 2011 season. A rash of injuries, an equally inexperienced and lousy bullpen and a general regression by just about every player on the active roster led to a 99-loss season.
More of the same is taking shape this year.
And in Sunday's loss, capping a three-game sweep by the Texas Rangers, the amicable Ron Gardenhire did a dastardly job managing.
It may have only been one foible, but it was the difference in the game.
Stubbornly stricken by the lefty-lefty matchup, and trusting his recently reliable reliever, Gardy elected to keep Glen Perkins in the game to face Josh Hamilton with the tying run on third -- this despite the fact the former MVP was 5-for-11 with a homer and three RBI in his career against Minnesota's setup-man.
One pitch and a mighty cut later, the Rangers took the lead for good.
It makes little sense to go with traditionally favorable generic matchups in the later innings if the specific individuals involved have a significant history. In this instance, Hamilton consistently crushes Perkins like Grave Digger a clunker.
The fact Gardenhire kept the ball in the former Gophers' left-hand is baffling. It also makes what Gardenhire verbalized Monday surprising.
The Twins manager looked at the the specifics of the Yankees series and determined that he would not be playing Justin Morneau Tuesday because the slugger "stinks" when facing C.C. Sabathia, the named starter.
Before celebrating Gardenhire's improved scouting, remember he is also the manager who insisted on batting Carlos Gomez first. The guy's reasoning: Gomez caused mayhem on the base paths. That's all fine and good if Gomez could ever reach base to showcase his abilities. But he didn't hit for average and refused to walk.
While irksome, the managing mistake with Hamilton resulted in just one loss. In a 162-game schedule, only if the pitching staff actually consistently gets hitters out and the team competes, will the err possibly be relevant.