How many months until spring training?

Kyle's list of reasons why the Twins are not in contention right now, in no particular order:

* Nick Punto, who has the worst batting average of any regular player in baseball, has played in 129 games so far this year. I have no beef with Terry Ryan bringing him back this year -- the guy hit .291 last year, he has speed, and can play defense. But something should have been done about this back in May. The guy is batting .198 now. I'll put up with occasional error if it means a mediocre batting average and somebody who can at least lay down a bunt.
* For some reason, Justin Morneau decided to stop hitting around the All-Star break.
* Formerly great general manager turned mediocre general manager Terry Ryan decided to trade Luis Castillo mid-season for a bag of baseballs. Yes, we would have lost Castillo at the end of the season anyway, but unless you're going to get something significant for him, why not let him play his contract out?
* Santana is 0-5 against first-place Cleveland.
* By the end of the season, Joe Mauer will probably have missed about 60 days due to injuries. Maybe he'll become our Mark Prior after all.
* The Twins haven't had a reliable DH in about four years. Give Terry Ryan another four years -- maybe he'll find somebody.
* The list goes on...