I was at Walgreen's last night looking at their choice of disposable razors, comparing the cheapest brand to another brand...one with only one blade vs. one with 3 blades. The price difference was substantial - almost $2.00 in difference for packages with the same amount of razors. As I reached for the cheaper, generic brand, I was stopped by my girlfriend. 

 "Are you sure you want those?" she asked.

I said I did, as they were cheaper.

"But are they a false economy?" she inquired again.

I thought about it. Frankly, every time I go for the cheap-ass razors, they always tear my neck to shreds, no matter what shaving cream I use. Yet, I kept buying them as my "travel razors" for years purely because they were the cheapest brand. But, thanks to further thought, I bought the more expensive brand, and my skin thanks me every time I have to shave at my girlfriend's place in the morning.

After shaving my face this morning, I turned the TV on to watch highlights of the Minnesota Twins winning their second game over the Detroit Tigers, the surprisingly competitive team looking to contend in the American League Central; a division that not only features the defending World Series champs, but a Cleveland Indians team that was one late-season collapse away from making the postseason in 2005.

The major headlines regarding this team in the Twin Cities area spoke of hope, and perhaps a light at the end of the tunnel. But what got this team where it is now? Maybe more importantly, where are they realistically headed? 

The major moves the Twins made in the offseason were dubious ones at best: Tony Bautista at 3rd base, Rondell White in the outfield, and Ruben Sierra as DH. But maybe more telling are the moves they did not make, mainly not signing either Frank Thomas nor trading for Jim Thome, a move widely speculated upon as the offseason progressed.

Granted, the Twins front office wasn't selling the fan base on a World Series run. They were selling the public on the prospect of scoring more runs and becoming more competitive throughout the course of the season.

The early results don't even match those carefully managed expectations. A 13-18 start does not translate to "competitive", particularly when lowlighted by the second worst road record in the league.  If, at any point in the season, you have to take solace in knowing you're still not dead last in the division (in other words, "at least we're not the Kansas City Royals"), some questions have to arise.

But the biggest question is, have the Twins ingested too much of their own Kool-Aid? Has this organization lulled itself to sleep with too many of the tired old cliches like, "taking it one game at a time" and "swinging the bat better"? Has the slow and steady approach, buoyed by continued reminders to the increasingly wary fans that this is a "small market club", pulled the wool over the eyes of the powers that be within the Twins organization?

Have they reached a few too many times for the $1.65 package of razors when it's clearly time to go for the higher quality razors that cost just $2.00 more? 

Overpaying for mediocre players has its own consequences. Minnesota sports fans need only look at the situation in the Target Center to see the consequences of such a front-office strategy. But so long as you convince yourself that you don't need to pay for top-shelf talent to mix in with your developing prospects, you will never rise above mediocrity. You'll be also-rans at best. At worst, well, you'd be the Kansas City Royals.

It's possible they had no shot at Jim Thome. It's also possible Frank Thomas wanted too much money. But it's funny that the Chicago White Sox, a team never known for being all that spendy, and the Oakland A's and Billy Beane (he of the Beane-Ball approach to small-market team management) acquired these two high-profile designated hitters in the same offseason and both are having better years than Rondell White, who is hitting a pathetic .155 on the year. You can argue that Ruben Sierra is having a year similar to that of Thomas, but the greater risk acquisition might actually be better appreciated by the fan base in the midst of this rocky start. At least they'd know you tried.

Few teams boast a highly talented ace such as Johan Santana, or a prospect with as much upside as Joe Mauer or a center fielder of the defensive talent of Torii Hunter or a closer who has shown flashes of dominance like Joe Nathan. Even players such as Michael Cuddyer and Lew Ford would find a spot on many clubs throughout the Majors.

But if the ultimate goal is to win games, make the postseason and compete for a championship, the ultimate question has to be raised: if not now, when? When do you surround this core of great, good and even solid players with guys who are actually capable of making a serious impact?

The current approach clearly didn't work last year and hasn't borne fruit too much beyond some nice showings in the postseason and an annual "wait until next year" mantra.

But this isn't limited to the Minnesota major league team, this goes for every team in every sport trying to win on the cheap. Just as it goes for every face mauled by the use of cheap plastic disposable razors.

It's a false economy. One you always pay too much for in the end. And in this day and age when curses are being reversed and parity rules in almost every major sport in the country, you cannot waste time selling false hope.