Through the years, the Twins have affectionately been referred to as the Twinkies. Like a Twinkie, the Twins are a reasonably affordable product, and don't break down after an extraordinary amount of time. In the Twins case, a good front office, great minor league pipeline, and shrewd trades are responsible for the team's long-term success despite its below $70 million payroll. In the case of a Twinkie, longevity is the result of massive quantites of preservatives. So, I guess the comparison ends there, except to the degree that sponge cake has the same consistency as the Metrodome's Field Turf, but I digress...The Twins were one of the great success stories of 2006. At 25-33 and 12 1/2 games out of first on June 8, their postseason prospects were as unlikely as Dick Cheney appearing on the Daily Show. However, a 71-33 finish propelled them to the AL Central title. Can they do it again? When you have the reigning MVP and Cy Young winner (Justin Morneau, Johan Santana) and the first catcher to win a batting title since 1942 (take a bow, Joe Mauer), anything is possible.
However, there are questions with this team, starting with the starting pitching. Francisco Liriano is gone for '07 after hearing the dreaded words "Tommy John." Will the Twins have enough for a return to the playoffs? Well, somebody has to be the best team not to make the postseason, and sadly I think the Twins will be that team. However, even if they don't make the playoffs, the Twins' system of developing star players through their minor league system is as strong as ever, and thus they will continue their Twinkie-like staying power. Here's what to expect from the Twins in 2007:
Biggest reason for hope: The above-mentioned superstars. No pitcher means more to his team than Santana does to the Twins. The remaining starters can take comfort in the fact that the Twins have one of the best bullpens in baseball. Closer Joe Nathan (1.58 ERA, 36 saves) is undoubtedly one of the best closers in the business, but perhaps as importantly, the middle and setup guys are top-rate, too. No other team can match the relief depth that Juan Rincon (2.91 ERA) , Jesse Crain (3.52 ERA), Pat Neshek (37 IP, 53 K), lefty specialist Dennys Reyes (0.89 ERA), and long man Matt Guerrier (3.36 ERA) provide.
Biggest potential nightmare: Ramon Ortiz and Sidney Ponson - 40% of the Twins 2007 rotation. Rejoice, opposing batters! Now, Ponson and Ortiz balance each other out weight-wise (they look like Laurel and Hardy next to each other), but in terms of recent success, both are starving. Ponson hasn't had an ERA below 5 since 2003, and his last three years have been good only to MLB batters and Maryland's criminal defense attorney population. Ortiz is back in the AL after 2 years of plus 5 ERAs in the National League. In fairness to Ortiz, though, he is a durable pinata - he's made 63 starts over the past two years (and allowed 65 homers). These guys are supposed to replace Liriano and the retired Brad Radke? That's the equivalent of replacing a flashy Porsche (Liriano) and a steady pickup truck (Radke) with an Adobe (the car made of clay!) and a Krispy Kreme box with 4 tires.
Player to watch: Matt Garza. Garza is Minnesota's next big starting pitching prospect, and is supposedly ready for the majors. While he'll start the season in Triple-A, he could give the rotation the same midseason injection that Santana and Liriano did for the Twins in 2003 and 2006, respectively. Even if he is meduiocre, Garza will be a breath of fresh air for Twins fans traumatized by the Ortiz-Ponson madness.
Why do we still have to watch this player?: I can't find anyone here - every player seems to either have a redeeming quality or is too young to brand as unwatchable. Oh wait, did I mention that the Twins have Sidney Ponson?
Telling Statistic: The Twins led the majors in with a 2.91 ERA from their bullpen. No other team had an ERA under 3, and the next closest American League team was Oakland at 3.60.
Interesting fact signifying nothing: Looking for great deals in Twins history? On November 14, 2003, the Twins dealt catcher A.J. Pierzynski to the Giants for Nathan, Liriano, and Boof Bonser (now Minnesota's #2 starter). Mauer replaced Pierzynski at catcher in Minnesota, while Pierzynski left the Giants after one year via free agency. That splashing sound you hear is a sea of Giants fans jumping into the bay with cement blocks tied around their ankles.
Projected record & finish: 87-75, 2nd place, AL Central
Prediction that won’t come true but should: Team owner Carl "Montgomery Burns" Pohlad decides that his billionaire status means that he can spend a bit more on the team. Twins players arrive on opening day to find lunch boxes in their locker, courtesy of the owner.
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