MINNEAPOLIS -- During the previous decade, as Minnesota piled up division titles as a spunky overachiever, the organizations ability to produce fundamentally solid players and competitive teams without expensive power hitters or starting pitchers became known around baseball as the Twins Way.Theyve become the wayward Twins these days. Theyre on pace at the All-Star break to pass the club record of 102 losses.Like a lot of people, I dont look at the record too much anymore. Its kind of counterproductive for me, manager Paul Molitor said after historic, horrific first half of the schedule during which the Twins went 27-54.I try not to go down that road. Obviously I hope we have a better half, said Molitor, who in his first year running the team oversaw an 83-79 record that had the Twins in postseason contention until the second-to-last day on the 2015 slate.Having averaged 96 losses over the four years prior to Molitors debut, the 0-9 start this season that didnt get much better throughout April and May looked more like the trend. The optimism-fueling 2015 finish looked more like the outlier.Not where we want to be, said first baseman Joe Mauer, in his usual understated manner.What cant be overstated is the organizations persistent problem procuring and maintaining adequate starting pitching. Twins starters are 19-38 with a 5.26 ERA this season, ahead of only Cincinnati.The backbone of the Twins Way was durable starting pitchers who didnt walk many batters, trusting stout defense behind them to minimize potential damage from pitches to contact. The philosophy was formed around the time manager Tom Kelly took over in 1987, leading the Twins to their first of two World Series titles. There were lean years in the 1990s, but the club was in contention in Kellys last season, 2001, and kept it up under his replacement, Ron Gardenhire. The Twins won the American League Central division six times from 2002 through 2010.Since then, quality starters have simply stopped coming through the farm system.Kyle Gibson, the teams first-round draft pick in 2009, has settled in as a capable middle-of-the-rotation right-hander. Tyler Duffey has shown potential in 24 major league starts. Jose Berrios is waiting in Triple-A. But the dearth of starting pitching has prompted general manager Terry Ryan to dole out close to $200 million in free agent contracts since he returned to his post nearly five years ago.Ervin Santana has been the best of a mediocre-at-best bunch, a group of five veterans whove combined for 78 victories over the last 4 1/2 seasons.Hopefully weve drafted and are starting to develop some people who are going to emerge in the near future and give us an opportunity to start building a staff where youd say, `All right, theyre going to be around here for a while, Ryan said.This is the sixth straight year that Twins starters have ranked in the bottom five in the majors in strikeouts. The overall struggles have triggered a shift toward development, Ryan said, from innings limits to drafting harder throwers.Less-than-desirable defense hasnt helped the starting pitchers, either, but sometimes theyve been at fault, too. Molitor ordered an early round of pitchers fielding practice before a recent game, the type of fundamental drills rarely seen during a season after spring training.Theres a lot of our game, our Twins baseball, this year that needs cleaning up, Molitor said that night. You can talk about base running and our defense at times. But the plays that are on the mound, our guys make good pitches and we get balls hit in the infield and were having mental lapses about covering bases or where to go backing up bases. It was just kind of my desire to get these guys focusing a little bit more and realize that they have more responsibility than just throwing a pitch. You let your guard down, and its easy to come back and bite you.The Twins have gone 7-3 in July while outscoring opponents a whopping 78-37, including seven games against league-leading Texas. Theyre likely to make some trades this month and next, clearly out of contention for 2016, but Molitor has expressed at least a mild satisfaction in recent progress shown by some of the young players who struggled so badly at the beginning of the season.Questions have been raised about Ryans future, given the ugly record. A new general manager could always make a change on the bench, too, so Molitors return isnt exactly guaranteed. For now, a recalibration toward development has given him a fresh perspective on the second half.Its a great opportunity to teach, Molitor said. Vinny Testaverde Jersey . Nathan MacKinnon, Jamie McGinn and Jan Hejda also scored for the Avalanche, who won despite being outshot 38-23. MacKinnons goal, also on the power play, came with just over a minute remaining. Marshal Yanda Jersey . Aaron Harrison scored a 22 points for Kentucky (6-1), which has won four in a row following a Nov. 12 loss to current No. 1 Michigan State. Julius Randle overcame a scoreless first half and added his sixth double-double in as many games with 14 points and 10 rebounds. http://www.customravensjersey.com/custom-clarence-moore-jersey-large-223d.html . World champions Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov of Russia won the gold medal with 237.71 points, Moore-Towers and Moscovitch followed at 208.45 and Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov of Russia were third at 187. Kyle Richardson Jersey .Y. -- Canadas Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse have another World Cup gold medal after winning the two-women bobsled race on Saturday in Lake Placid, N. Jihad Ward Jersey . Pence singled in the winning run with no outs in the ninth inning to give the Giants a 7-6 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday. My sister has always been fearless.When we were little kids, wed stand on a railing on the second floor of our house, then jump off onto the couch down below on the first floor. Shed go first, and Id follow. We were both gymnasts, so we were always trying things around the house. Nothing scared her.In the gym, wed often train together, and sometimes, when it came to trying a new move, shed joke that she was going to die. Its something all gymnasts joke about -- the fear is real.But most of us dont go and do it perfectly then! Simone was always able to go for it. If she felt fear, she never showed it.There were hard days in the gym leading up to the Rio Olympics. Sometimes shed get so frustrated with herself, and there were days when shed cry because it was so hard. It wasnt easy at all. That didnt stop her, though, and she never gave up. Thats something Ill always remember.Everyone expected Simone to win in Rio. She told me once that she did feel the pressure, and that it was more pressure than shed ever felt before. She said the expectations were hard -- and she didnt want to disappoint anyone. But she also told me that she knew she was ready.When we got to Brazil, I was so nervous for her, more nervous than Ive ever been. I almost couldnt watch. The best night was when she won the all-around. She finally did it, and I couldnt control my emotions. We didnt get to talk to her right after, but I could see how happy she was. We were all cheering and crying and jumping up and down when she won. I just couldnt stop crying.Its been funny to watch her go from normal Simone to famous Simone. Even in Brazil, people came up to me every day thinking I was her. Theyd ask for autographs and take pictures. And mmany times they didnt speak English so I couldnt explain that I wasnt her.dddddddddddd Theyd just say, Simone! Simone! and finally I decided it was easier to just let them take a picture.We do look alike, Ill give them that. But Im about 5-foot-2. Simone is 4-foot-8. Im a good head taller than her. When we are side by side, people can definitely tell us apart.Since Rio, its been crazy. We cant go anywhere without Simone being recognized. Well run into the supermarket to get onions and someone will say, Hey! Thats Simone Biles! Sometimes I want to just go to the store and grab a few things without people coming up to us, but she deserves it too. Shes worked so hard. And now every time we go out, someone wants a photo with her.Weve always had a lot of fun together. If I could do anything in the world with her, right now, wed go ice skating. Weve always been so busy that we just havent had time. This year, were doing it.Simone is as outgoing as she seems, and yes, she is always laughing. Shes also kind and humble, and Im so proud to have her as my sister. I look up to her in every way.More on Simone Biles? Exclusive book excerpt: Courage to Soar by Simone Biles?Story ?? Meet the coach who helps Simone Biles, Laurie Hernandez stay mentally strong?Story ?? Simone Biles mom Nellie on keeping her daughter steady on the balance beam of life?Story ?? The difficulty of being Simone Biles?Story ?The IMPACT25 is espnWs annual list of the 25 athletes and influencers who have made the greatest difference for women in sports. Explore the 2016 list and more content at espnW.com/IMPACT25. ' ' '