FanHouse continues its 2009 MLB Preview with a look at the Minnesota Twins.
Last year was supposed to be the season in which the Minnesota Twins finally had to deal with reality. They traded Johan Santana to the Mets because they couldn't afford him any longer, and the heart and soul of the team, Torii Hunter, left for the glitz and glamor of Los Angeles. Then the Twins went out and won 88 games and were one run shy of making the playoffs after losing to the White Sox in a one-game playoff for the Central title. This is just what the Twins do. They defy everyone's expectations but their own, and odds are they're going to do it again this season.
I've long considered Ron Gardenhire to be the best manager in baseball, and subsequently the most underrated seeing as how he's never won Manager of the Year. He's had only one losing season (79-83 in 2007) since taking over the Twins in 2002 and has won four division championships in his six seasons. The organization is run like a well-oiled machine, and is the envy of every other team. They routinely lose players to free agency, yet no matter who walks out the door, they always find somebody from the farm system to plug right in and take over the job as if he's been doing it for 20 years.
So no matter what happens, we know that come September the Twins are going to be right in the thick of things in the AL Central, but the question this year is if they do get back to the playoffs again, will they do anything once they get there?
| Lineup | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Denard Span | LF |
| 2. | Alexi Casilla | 2B |
| 3. | Joe Mauer | C |
| 4. | Justin Morneau | 1B |
| 5. | Michael Cuddyer | RF |
| 6. | Jason Kubel | DH |
| 7. | Joe Crede | 3B |
| 8. | Nick Punto | SS |
| 9. | Carlos Gomez | CF |
| Pitching Staff | ||
| 1. | Francisco Liriano | L |
| 2. | Scott Baker | R |
| 3. | Kevin Slowey | R |
| 4. | Nick Blackburn | R |
| 5. | Glen Perkins | L |
| CL | Joe Nathan | R |
In: Joe Crede, 3B (free agency); Luis Ayala, RP (free agency)
Out: Mike Lamb, 3B (free agency); Craig Monroe, OF (free agency); Adam Everett, SS (free agency); Livan Hernandez, SP (release); Dennys Reyes, RP (free agency); Eddie Guardado, RP (free agency)
Storylines
The Natural's Health ...
Is there a prettier swing in baseball than the one belonging to Twins catcher Joe Mauer? Mauer's swing is such a beautiful work of art that eventually it's going to cause Ted Williams' frozen corpse to thaw out just so he can say "Damn, now that's how you swing a baseball bat!" Of course, if Mauer goes down due to an injury, Williams' thawing out process will take that much longer. Injuries are something that Mauer has dealt with regularly in his first few seasons in the big leagues, and though the Twins seem capable of overcoming anything, they'd have a very hard time replacing Mauer in the lineup and behind the plate if he had to miss a significant amount of time. Things are already off to a bad start thanks to the kidney surgery Mauer had this offseason, so the Twins would be wise not to rush him back and perhaps give him some more time at designated hitter. It will benefit both the player and the team.
Liriano's Elbow ...You know what would really help the Twins win the AL Central? A full season's worth of starts from one Francisco Liriano. He burst onto the scene in 2006, going 12-3 with a 2.16 ERA in 28 appearances (16 starts) before missing the entire 2007 season after Tommy John surgery. He returned last yearm but struggled early and spent a few months in the minors before returning to Minnesota in August. Liriano won his first four starts after returning, allowing only three runs in 23 2/3 innings, while striking out 20. If Liriano can stay healthy in 2009 and pitch like that once again, well then the Twins become a favorite within the division. It's just too bad that given the violent motion of his delivery, his arm remaining healthy just doesn't seem likely.
Bullpen Nightmares ...
Without a doubt, the thing that killed the Twins in 2008 was their bullpen. Although Joe Nathan had no problems shutting the door on opponents in the ninth inning, getting to Nathan became quite the chore. After Pat Neshek went down in May and had to have Tommy John surgery -- making a return to form this year unlikely -- the entire bullpen seemed to fall apart. Matt Guerrier and Jesse Crain need to bounce back big time this season for the Twins to contend, and though Jose Mijares looked fantastic in 10 September appearances, it's still only 10 September appearances. Whether or not he's ready to inherit a setup role full time remains to be seen. Also, the fact that they've already lost Boof Bonser for the year does not bode well.
Who Will Be the "Who The Hell Is That Guy?" This Season ...
It happens every year with the Minnesota Twins. You see, odds are that unless you live in Minnesota and follow the team daily, when they come to your town this summer there's going to be some guy on the team that is entirely unfamiliar. That player will then go ahead and single-handedly destroy your team in a three-game series and probably hit .315 on the season. Last year this player was Alexi Casilla, who the Twins called up despite his .219 batting average at Triple-A Rochester. He hit above .300 all year until a decline in September, and finished with a .281 batting average. Your best bet for that guy this season? I'll say Matt Tolbert.
2009 Outlook
Why You Should Watch: There are plenty of reasons to watch the Minnesota Twins play baseball, but the biggest reason is probably because they're just a good baseball team. No matter who they're playing they always have a chance to win because they play solid, fundamental baseball. In fact, if you have a young son who is learning how to play baseball, the Twins would be a perfect team to have him pay attention to. Plus, they have a ton of talent in Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Francisco Liriano, and Joe Nathan.
What Defines Success: When you've won four division titles in six seasons, just being in contention is not good enough. Of course, this year the Twins can't just be content to win the AL Central and move on to the postseason. If they want 2009 to be considered a success, not only do they have to reach the playoffs, but they have to advance to the ALCS as well.
Related Links
- Better Know a Prospect: Minnesota Twins
