Quick Hitter: The Twins MLB Dream

[Matthew Lenz]

On Monday, MLB.com started their 32-team “Dream Bracket” which features “dream rosters” for all 30 Major League Franchises, as well the Negro Leagues and “25 and Under Stars”. This piece will analyze the Twins roster and provide analysis on their first round match-up.Twins Dream Roster

Pitchers:

Walter Johnson, Johan Santana, Bert Blyleven, Jim Kaat, Camilo Pascual, Frank Viola, Jim Perry, Joe Nathan, Rick Aguilera, Glen Perkins, Taylor Rogers

 

Starters:

C: Joe Mauer

1B: Kent Hrbek

2B: Rod Carew

3B: Harmon Killebrew

SS: Joe Cronin

LF: Goose Goslin

CF: Kirby Puckett

RF: Tony Oliva

DH: Bob Allison

 

Bench:

Roy Smalley, Justin Morneau, Gary Gaetti, Michael Cuddyer, Torii Hunter, Earl Battey

 

Roster Analysis

A little over two years ago, I constructed a dream roster of my own that looks a lot like this team, although I only considered guys who donned the Twins uniform. MLB’s list also includes players from the Washington Senators like Walter Johnson, Joe Cronin, and Goose Goslin. It also appears that I was a little more stringent in regards to position eligibility; for example, Harmon Killebrew was not eligible at 3rd base for my team.

 

Regardless, let’s take a quick dive into the roster. On first look, the pitching staff definitely includes the best of the best. I had an extra pitcher compared to MLB’s Dream Roster, but knowing what we know now, I assuredly would replace Tom Hall with Taylor Rogers. I also only carried six starters, one as a “long relief” pitcher, whereas they are carrying seven.

 

I had to take a deeper dive into Cronin and Goslin but, as I noted in my piece, Shortstop and Left Field are the two weakest positions in Twins history. It wasn’t surprising to see two Senators fill those spots. Cronin easily beats out Smalley for the shortstop job, as he garnered MVP votes in three of seven seasons with the Senators, including a second place finish in 1933. Goslin is also an easy pick over Mack, as he also garnered MVP votes in three seasons, and owns the franchise single season record for OPS (1.056) and is tied with Christian Guzman with 20 triples in a single season.

 

MLB Dreams Roster had two additional bench guys on their team. I noted in my piece that I was trying to create a realistic roster which limited some of my options, but it’s hard for me to imagine how Bob Allison didn’t make the cut over Michael Cuddyer. Other than that, the others are deserving of a bench spot.

 

MLB Dream Bracket

The Minnesota Twins Dream Roster was up against the Toronto Blue Jays Roster in the first round of the bracket. Toronto’s team features Hall of Famers Roy Halladay and Roberto Alomar, as well as current Twin Josh Donaldson and Twin Killers Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion.

 

You can find the series recap here but the short of it is that the Twins lost four games to one. Halladay (2 GS, 1.20 ERA, 12 K’s) and Bautista (1.324 OPS) lived up up to their reputations throughout the series and carried the Blue Jays to round two where they will face a loaded Boston Red Sox team.

 

Like recent history, it was a short lived playoff series for the Minnesota Twins. If there is any good news it is that they were able to win one game and snap their 16 playoff game losing streak. Ho hum.

 

What are your thoughts on their dream roster for the Twins? Take a look at the rosters in the bracket...who do you have as the winner? It pains me to say that I’m taking the Yankees over Dodgers in what would be their 12th championship matchup.

 

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