The beginning of the Twins’ season was unlike any other. Good play followed poor play and the cycle kept repeating itself, the highlight being a 12-game winning streak and the low light a seven-game losing streak.

“I couldn’t take any more of that streaky stuff,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “It was more than a little bit. It was excessive.”

It sure was.

But the Twins eventually settled in, found some offensive consistency and started rattling off series wins. They finished the first half of the season with a 54-42 record, on pace to win 91 games and in line for a playoff berth.

Here are five questions facing the Twins as the second half of the season gets underway:

Will the Twins make a move at the trade deadline?

The trade deadline is fast approaching — it will fall on July 30 at 5 p.m. CT this year — and the Twins currently are in position to be buyers. Holding a Wild Card spot at the moment, the big question will be how much the Twins want to push to supplement this roster.

After a slow start, the offense has been among the best in the majors. It seems as if contending teams could always use bullpen help at the deadline, but the Twins’ group could be getting major reinforcements soon in the form of injured relievers Brock Stewart and Justin Topa.

But the status of the starting rotation is more of a question.

The Twins have Pablo López, Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, Simeon Woods Richardson and Chris Paddack currently in the rotation. But their starting pitching depth is thin. And the Twins will need to continue carefully monitoring Paddack’s workload in his first full season since 2019.

Would they swing a trade for a starting pitcher? And how much would they have to part with to do so? They have a little over a week to figure that out.

How healthy will the Twins be?

The Twins limped into the all-star break, forced to play a catcher, Christian Vázquez, at third base last Saturday due to a string of injuries to their infielders.

After staying mostly healthy for much of the first half of the season, both Kyle Farmer (shoulder) and Jose Miranda (back) landed on the injured list and Carlos Correa (more on him below) was sidelined with a foot injury.

Austin Martin was already on the injured list at the time, though his return could be quite soon. Fellow infielder Royce Lewis, whom the Twins said early in July they would re-evaluate after the all-star break, was too. Lewis is dealing with an adductor strain that the Twins expected would keep him out for a few weeks.

Stewart appears to be near a return — which could provide a big boost to the bullpen —rehabbing with the Triple-A Saints last week after missing two months with shoulder tendinitis, and Topa (knee) could be moving toward making his season debut.

The Twins haven’t said much publicly about Alex Kirilloff’s status since he landed on the IL a little more than a month ago, though it’s hard to see how he fits into the picture at the current moment when he is healthy.

How big of a problem will Carlos Correa’s foot be?

Carlos Correa was scratched from the lineup on Saturday and imaging revealed plantar fasciitis in his right foot. The all-star break came at a good time for him, and if he does take the field on Saturday, he would have had seven days to rest.

But how serious is the injury?

The early word is that it is less serious than the plantar fasciitis he had in his left foot last season, but it still has to be a concern considering how much he was limited by his foot a season ago.

Correa said last Sunday if he could have done things differently last year, he would have taken more time off when the issue started to make sure that the pain doesn’t worsen.

But how much time is enough time? And how much will plantar fasciitis affect and limit Correa, who has been the Twins’ team MVP to this point?

What will the Twins do with Brooks Lee when Royce Lewis returns?

It’s a good problem to have, certainly, but what will the Twins do with their No. 2 prospect when Lewis makes his return?

Lee was called up from Triple-A when Lewis landed on the injured list, and his performance in a small sample size has impressed those around him.

Though he’s primarily played third base since he got called up, and was drafted as a shortstop, he had an very notable day in the field last weekend at second base, making multiple nice plays, which drew praise from manager Rocco Baldelli.

If Lee continues to perform, the Twins could opt to shift him over to second, letting him play a little bit of third and possibly even short, as well. That could free up super utilityman Willi Castro to move around the field as needed.

Can the Twins catch Cleveland?

The Twins hit the all-star break 4½ games behind the division-leading Cleveland Guardians in the American League Central division and they will spend the second half of the season trying to track them down.

Despite the ground to make up, FanGraphs gave them a 38.1 percent chance to win the division (behind Cleveland’s 53.3 percent).

The Twins will play seven games in the second half against the Guardians — they went 0-5 against them in the first half — and will have an opportunity to gain some games on Cleveland then.

If they are unable to catch the Guardians, they are still well positioned to make the playoffs currently. As it sat at the break, they held the second Wild Card spot — matching them up for a series in New York against a historically-dreaded playoff foe: the Yankees.

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Lacey Pfalz | (TNS) TravelPulse

As the days get longer and the sun gets hotter, we’re often encouraged to leave our local areas for places farther afield, or we sit tight and wait and plan for travel during the changing seasons ahead.

Yet what about that charming town just an hour’s north, or that gorgeous nature preserve even closer to home, which you haven’t yet visited even though you’ve heard amazing things about it?

This summer, let’s rediscover the joy of visiting new places closer to home. Let’s look at the familiar world around us through the enthusiastic eyes of a traveler. Who knows? Perhaps you’ll find more to appreciate than you expected.

Day trips are short, often day-long or half-day-long trips that a traveler can complete in a single day. They might take a few hours’ drive or only a half hour, but either way, they encourage locals to experience places, parks, towns and attractions that are new to the traveler.

Since coming back from my first trip to Europe, I began viewing my local world with new eyes. I’ve become more curious about visiting places near me that I’ve never visited before, such as Port Washington, a small Wisconsin port town off Lake Michigan that is home to the first artificial harbor in the Great Lakes and is absolutely charming in the summer.

After spending an afternoon wandering around the waterfront area, visiting historic landmarks, practicing my photography and drinking coffee in the town’s adorable cafes, I asked myself only one question: Why hadn’t I visited this place sooner?

It’s something like traveler’s blindness. We become so focused as travelers on heading farther and farther away from our homes, convinced that the further we travel, the more miles we roam, the more we will learn, the more we will enjoy it, and the more we will return refreshed, renewed, and yes, even more respected by our traveling peers.

Surely you understand me. How many of you have heard someone humbly bragging about their trip to an exotic locale, as if it makes them a better human being for having traveled all the way to Vietnam or Greece or Argentina?

The sad truth of the matter is that this desire to visit the places that are most different to our own hometowns blinds us to the joy of discovery while we’re here, at home.

Yet I’m convinced that we can look at the world around us through the same eyes as the ones we use when we explore some of the world’s most beloved destinations.

A few weeks ago, Orange Cone Season (the Wisconsin slang term for summer) forced me to take an unexpected detour on my way to a nearby town that I’ve begun visiting to work remotely for a few hours. For a long while, I had no idea where I was headed, but without that detour, I never would’ve discovered the last covered bridge that still stands in Wisconsin, tucked away in a charming rural park.

When was the last time you got in your car and hopped onto your local freeway, but took it east instead of west, purely out of curiosity to discover where it might lead you? When was the last time you left your county for the promise of a nearby summer festival you’ve always heard about, but never thought to attend? When was the last time you chose to go somewhere wholly new — without ever leaving your home state or spending a night in a hotel?

This summer, make it a goal to take at least one day trip, either spontaneously or planned. I guarantee you will not regret the experience.

Reasons why you should take a day trip

It’s good for you. While I don’t have the psychological stats to back it up, I do know that when we visit new places, no matter how near or far, it boosts our curiosity and makes us happier, more fulfilled human beings. It also creates memories, especially when we do it with other people. So what are you waiting for? If you have a car, then there’s no stopping you!

It’s good for your local economy. If you live in a place that isn’t well-known for its tourism economy, then chances are, domestic (in-state) tourism is the main tourism driver for many of the places you’ll visit. Even when you take a day trip, you’re supporting your local parks, business owners and restaurateurs with every purchase, meal and experience you have, and that contributes to the overall health of the communities you visit, which is pretty great.

It’s short — on time. Even if you don’t have a flexible work schedule, it’s still possible to enjoy day trips in your free time. With summer’s longer daytime hours, you can get off work in the afternoon and enjoy several hours of daylight in a nearby locale before heading back home, and why not enjoy a nice meal in that new place while you’re at it? Or, if you want to save money, you can plan a visit to a free park and pack your own lunch or dinner to have while exploring.

You might just end up liking your corner of the globe. I know, I know, we all love to disparage where we live. Yet there’s so much to discover and appreciate! Local farmers selling the freshest produce, neat historical landmarks, charming towns and villages, native wildlife, fascinating cities and stunning parks. No matter where you live, there’s sure to be something that’ll open your perspective, widen your worldview and maybe, just maybe, give you a newfound appreciation for your little corner of the globe.

So, what do you say? Do you want to take a day trip?

________

©2024 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. Visit at travelpulse.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Moira Macdonald | (TNS) The Seattle Times

It’s officially summer, which means it is officially Holing Up Indoors Avoiding the Heat season for many of us. And that means we’re in need of some mindless yet entertaining romantic comedies.

OK, fine, twist my arm; here are five new/newish streaming ones, rated from one heart to five and filled with cute outfits, enviable interior decoration and questionable life lessons. Enjoy!

“PLAYERS”

(Netflix; 105 minutes)

The premise: Mack (Gina Rodriguez) is a sports writer for the Brooklyn Ace who loves to facilitate one-night stands by running elaborate “plays” with several colleagues, including handsome Adam (Damon Wayans Jr.) — though it’s obvious to anyone not blindfolded that Adam is very much in love with Mack and her impressive assortment of bare-midriff tops. Regardless, Mack decides she wants to pursue a real relationship with a war correspondent named Nick (Tom Ellis), because he’s hot and why not, and of course the guys help her to trick him into this, in ways that seem so very much more complicated than just saying, “Hey, would you like to have dinner with me?” But hey, this is Rom-Com Land and the rules are complex.

The setting: New York and its boroughs, looking at their very “When Harry Met Sally” cutest.

The chemistry: In the grand rom-com tradition, the air practically melts between Mack and Adam the very first time we see them together, and you wonder why their motley group of friends and co-workers isn’t constantly screaming, “WHY ARE YOU TWO NOT TOGETHER ALREADY, OMG!” I screamed it, at my TV, but nobody heard me. Seriously, Rodriguez and Wayans are absolutely adorable, particularly when they get all dressed up in outfits that no journalist could ever afford and go to a swanky soiree, and probably should launch an entire rom-com franchise in which they cutely use sports metaphors.

The other people: There are some, namely Nick and Claire (Ego Nwodim), who are Mack and Adam’s dates for an extremely awkward brunch that’s basically Mack and Adam bonding over their mutual dislike of whole branzino (and doesn’t that sound exactly like a “When Harry Met Sally” outtake?). A couple of Brooklyn Ace colleagues are also hanging around all the time, assisting with the plays and commenting from the sidelines like a scruffy Greek chorus, but I never did catch their names; they’re basically plot devices.

The life lessons learned: If your adorable co-worker is in love with you, have the decency to love them back. And maybe don’t order the branzino.

Rating: 4 hearts

“MOTHER OF THE BRIDE”

(Netflix; 90 minutes)

The premise: World-renowned geneticist Lana Winslow (Brooke Shields) is distressed upon finding out a) that her rather tiresome daughter Emma (Miranda Cosgrove) is engaged and planning an immediate influencer wedding in Thailand, and b) Emma’s fiance R.J. (Sean Teale) is actually the son of Lana’s long-ago flame Will (Benjamin Bratt). And … seriously, I’m writing this an hour after watching this movie and I can’t remember what else happens, except that I kept hoping that Shields, who seems to have some sort of rider in her contract requiring that all her Netflix movies involve world travel, might just hop on back to her castle in Scotland to sulk. (See “ A Castle for Christmas,” which is much more fun than this movie. Or see “Ticket to Paradise,” the Julia Roberts/George Clooney comedy from a couple of years back, which is basically “Mother of the Bride” but better.)

The setting: A lavish resort in Phuket, Thailand, where the women wear flowing dresses and the men wear linen shorts and nobody ever gets sunburned. In other words, typical rom-com fantasy.

The chemistry: Ouch. There is absolutely no reason to root for Lana and Will, who seem to have nothing in common except their picture-perfect/very dull children and a tendency to look a bit embarrassed when delivering lines like “I am so impressed by your engagement numbers.”

The other people: Shields has much more chemistry with a character delightfully referred to as Sexy Doogie Howser (Chad Michael Murray), a handsome doctor who’s randomly hanging around the resort by himself. Lana, however, does much to douse said chemistry by commenting, “I have underwear older than he is.” TMI, Lana.

The life lessons learned: To avoid unpleasant surprises, ask your kid who they’re marrying before you show up at the venue.

Rating: 1.5 hearts

“AM I OK?”

(Max; 86 minutes)

The premise: Lucy (Dakota Johnson) is 32 and in a transitional, confusing period in her life: Her best friend Jane (Sonoya Mizuno) is moving overseas, her dreams of being an artist seem to have fizzled, and she’s finding herself attracted to women — specifically, her flirty co-worker Brittany (Kiersey Clemons). It’s a rom-com — there’s plenty of dating — with emphasis on the rom, and on Lucy’s personal journey.

The setting: Los Angeles, filled with yoga classes, posh wellness spas (Lucy works at one, but honestly she doesn’t seem to actually do anything), “hammock sanctuaries,” and people saying things like, “I was going to meditate with the view but then I started making a mood board on Pinterest.”

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The chemistry: Alas, Johnson plays Lucy with one note: the same sort of vaguely detached, low-energy murmuring that she brought to “Madame Web” and the “Fifty Shades” series, both of which I am still recovering from. You wonder why the much more dynamic Jane puts up with Lucy, whose cute slouchy hats have more personality than she does, and who has a weird way of saying lines like, “Do you have a lot of … pants?” like she’s playing a very slow round of Mad Libs. Things perk up a bit by the charming final scene — I wouldn’t quite call it chemistry, but at least it was something — but I mostly watched this movie thinking how much better it would have been with someone more vivid (say, Mizuno, delightful as Jane) in the central role.

The other people: Tig Notaro (who co-directed “Am I OK?” with Stephanie Allynne) steals the movie in a two-minute role as the facilitator of the aforementioned hammock sanctuary (“The hammock is our vulva,” she croons); Sean Hayes is reliably funny as Jane’s over-it boss.

The life lessons learned: Be open to life change at the ripe old age of 32; be nice to your best friend, even if she’s moving away; approach hammock sanctuaries with caution.

Rating: 2.5 hearts

“UPGRADED”

(Prime Video; 104 minutes)

The premise: Ana (Camila Mendes) is an intern at a posh art-auction company who, after getting upgraded on a work trip to London and downing a few glasses of free Champagne on the plane, allows her handsome seatmate William (Archie Renaux) to think that she’s the boss of her company. But guess what — turns out his mother (Lena Olin) is a super-rich art collector in need of some auctioning! Some very rom-com, “Devil Wears Prada”-ish scrambling ensues.

The setting: Mostly London, which allows for some beautiful historic buildings, views of London Bridge and William Morris wallpaper.

The chemistry: It’s decent! Mendes and Renaux are rather charming together, particularly when she calls him “Downton Abbey” and he responds with “I’m more of a ‘Bridgerton’ man.” One could quibble that these two characters are perhaps not the swiftest — would he really think that Ana, who appears to be in her early 20s, would be the head of a vast New York office, and doesn’t he wonder why she carries her own suitcases and makes her own reservations? And wouldn’t Ana figure out, before swiping her boss’ gown and going to a society party, that her boss and some photographers would also be there? But the movie’s cute enough to let that slide.

The other people: Marisa Tomei, speaking in an absolutely unclassifiable accent (sort of Italian put through a blender), marches hilariously through this movie with one raised eyebrow as the Miranda Priestly-ish boss, dispensing useful wisdom to Ana on her London visit: “Don’t sleep with anyone who looks like Jude Law.” I also enjoyed Ana’s sister’s fiance (Ana lives with them, in their too-small New York apartment) warning her about Londoners, with “their big clocks and their pirate accents.”

The life lessons learned: Do not lie to handsome men seated next to you on trans-Atlantic flights. On the other hand, maybe do — it works out fine for Ana in the end.

Rating: 3.5 hearts

“A FAMILY AFFAIR”

(Netflix; 114 minutes)

The premise: Zara (Joey King) is trying to get a toehold in the movie industry by working as an assistant to egotistical movie star Chris Cole (Zac Efron), but gets more drama than she bargained for when her widowed mother Brooke (Nicole Kidman) begins a relationship with Chris. This is particularly cringe-y when Zara, who’s living with her mom to save money, barges right in on the two of them in bed and ends up with a really quite funny head injury, as one would.

The setting: Hollywood, a mysterious land where Brooke, a supposedly acclaimed writer who nonetheless seems to spend all of her time not writing, lives in the most lavish and picture-perfect seaside home you could possibly imagine (seriously, it makes a Nancy Meyers movie set look low rent), and Chris lives in a modern mansion with a puzzlingly enormous front door, as if he’s expecting Chewbacca to drop by.

The chemistry: OK, so Chris comes to Brooke’s house looking for Zara, and walks right in when Brooke doesn’t answer his knock. And when she, irritated, asks if he always just lets himself in, he says, “Well, I’m famous, so …,” and if you could bottle the charm with which Efron delivers the line, you’d need a lot of bottles. Last seen together in 2012’s “The Paperboy,” a very strange movie that involved some creative treatment of a jellyfish sting, Efron and Kidman are basically adorable together, even though he gets all the good lines and she mostly just smiles at him. (Efron also at one point sings along to a Cher song and I thought my soul left my body, but in a good way.)

The other people: Kathy Bates does her Kathy Bates thing as Zara’s grandma, Liza Koshy gets a few good moments as Zara’s best friend Genie, and Sherry Cola is funny as Zara’s screenwriter friend who works as a closet organizer for rich people, which is my new dream career. But this movie’s mostly a three-hander with Brooke, Chris and puppy-cute Zara, who’s got a nice screwball delivery and a very effective, if somewhat overused, eye roll.

The life lessons learned: Knock on your mom’s bedroom door before entering.

Rating: 3.5 hearts

Moira’s guide to rom-coms streaming now

1 heart – Not even worth hate-watching

2 hearts – If there’s nothing else to watch, try this

3 hearts – Watchable, some semblance of plot

4 hearts – Cute, heartwarming

5 hearts – Cult classic

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©2024 The Seattle Times. Visit seattletimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.