Nick Nelson

In 2014, the All-Star Game came to Minneapolis. Seeing the game's finest players in action at Target Field was a welcome respite for fans amidst a fourth straight losing season – one which would spell the end for their longtime skipper.We're running a 20-part series in which we look back at each Minnesota Twins season of the 2000s. A rotation of different writers will highlight key moments, unearth forgotten details, and share nostalgic tales from the past two decades leading up to the present. This installment covers the 2014 season. Team Record: 70-92 Finish: 5th Place in AL Central All-Stars: Glen Perkins (RP), Kurt Suzuki ( C ) Awards: N/A Playoffs: N/A Season Overview After a scary concussion ended his 2013 season, Joe Mauer and the Twins made the tough decision to hang up his catcher's gear. In 2014, with first base opened up by the absence of longtime tenant (and M&M counterpart) Justin Morneau, Mauer settled in at his new home. Taking over at catcher was free agent Kurt Suzuki, who joined Mauer and a newly solidifying core on Opening Day: Brian Dozier at second base, Trevor Plouffe at third, Aaron Hicks in center field, Oswaldo Arcia in right. Sure, there were some leaky plugs, like shortstop Pedro Florimón and a DH spot being held down by longshot Chris Colabello. There were also some very strained efforts by Terry Ryan at recapturing nostalgia, with non-roster signings Jason Bartlett and Jason Kubel inexplicably making the bench out of camp. (Both predictably struggled, and then were done as big-leaguers. Bartlett actually announced his retirement in April.) But it was easy enough to see Ryan's vision for this team as he laid groundwork for the arrival of top prospects Byron Buxton and Miguel Sanó, ranked ahead of the season by Baseball America as the No. 1 and No. 6 prospects in the game. Unfortunately, things would not go as planned for either of these premier young talents in 2014. Sanó tore his UCL in spring training and required Tommy John surgery, forcing him to miss the season. Buxton was struck by a barrage of injuries – including a scary outfield collision in August that left him momentarily unconscious – and played only 31 games total. As their rising cornerstones stalled out, so too did the Twins in a rebuild largely framed around them. The team managed to hang around .500 through much for the first half, but started to slide as June transitioned to July, and by the break they were 10 1/2 games out of first. A picture-perfect All-Star Game at Target Field, featuring Suzuki and Glen Perkins, was a moment for Twins fans to savor, but there wouldn't be many afterward as Minnesota went 26-42 in the second half, completely fading from relevance. The offense, mostly, did its part. This required some tinkering and rejiggering from its initial state, and not every experiment took (the midseason signing of veteran free agent DH Kendrys Morales serving as one failed gamble), but others did. For instance: After Hicks struggled out of the gates in center (again), he was replaced by rookie Danny Santana, a natural shortstop who took well to the defensive relocation and slashed .319/.353/.472 in 101 games.Once the Twins finally grew tired of Florimón's totally inadequate bat, they turned to Eduardo Escobar as their regular shortstop in the second half and the light-hitting utilityman responded with a breakthrough offensive season, posting a .721 OPS with 35 doubles.On August 1st, slugger Kennys Vargas made his MLB debut, starting at first base and batting sixth. He doubled and drove in two. Over the final two months, Vargas would take over as primary DH, hitting .274/.316/.456 with nine home runs and 38 RBIs in 58 games.Even with Mauer becoming a mere shadow of his former self (.277/.361/.371), he was still reasonably effective. And the strength of this offense was in its balance – 11 different players made 100-plus plate appearances and posted an OPS+ of 100 or better. This was a stark contrast from one year earlier, when they had only three such players. Thanks to these varied contributions, the 2014 Twins finished fifth among AL teams in both runs scored and OPS. A big departure from 2013 (13th in runs, 12th in OPS) and 2012 (10th in both). The pitching staff wasn't such a departure from the status quo, ranking last in ERA and strikeout rate while allowing the most hits of any team in baseball for a third time in four years (they allowed the second-most in 2012). The internal pitching pipeline was providing very little, as evidenced by a season-opening rotation that featured four free agents (Ricky Nolasco and Phil Hughes from the latest offseason; Kevin Correia and Mike Pelfrey from the one prior) alongside Kyle Gibson. Hughes proved to be a phenomenal find, delivering an historic first season as a Twin, and Gibson was decent in his first full campaign. But that was the extent of positives for the rotation. Nolasco's first season was a disaster as he went 6-12 with a 5.38 ERA. Correia was bad before the Twins unloaded him to the Dodgers in August. Pelfrey battled injuries and made five starts, with a 7.99 ERA. Yohan Pino, Trevor May, Logan Darnell, Tommy Milone all got crushed in their rotation opportunities. In the bullpen, Perkins had another great year generally, but it was marred by a brutal September in which he allowed eight earned runs in 5 1/3 innings with one strikeout before being shut down with forearm soreness, inflating his final ERA to 3.65. Injuries were beginning to impact Minnesota's All-Star closer, who was already nearing the end of a brief-but-brilliant peak. As Perkins cratered down the stretch, so too did the Twins, stumbling to another last-place finish. This was enough for Ron Gardenhire to run out his leash. The second-longest tenured manager in the major leagues (behind Mike Scoscia of the Angels) was fired after the season ended. His endurance of this brutal stretch is a testament to the organization's unparalleled loyalty: Gardenhire became the fourth manager in MLB history to preside over four consecutive 90-loss seasons with the same team. One of the others was his predecessor, Tom Kelly. The other two examples are old enough that the teams managed were the Philadelphia Athletics and the St. Louis Browns. Team MVP: Phil Hughes (SP) Other Contenders: Brian Dozier (2B), Danny Santana (CF), Trevor Plouffe (3B), Kyle Gibson (SP) On the one hand, it's tough to award team MVP to a pitcher on a staff that was clearly the club's downfall. Dozier, Santana, Plouffe and others were all big factors in a lineup that was this team's only saving grace. On the other hand, none of those players were truly extraordinary. Hughes transcended in 2014, and he was basically the only thing preventing this rotation from all-out ruin. In a career-high 209 2/3 innings, he struck out 186 batters and walked only 16. His 0.7 BB/9 rate was the best in the majors, and his 11.63 K/BB ratio was the best in major-league history, topping Bret Saberhagen's record from 30 years prior. Hughes went 16-10 with a 3.52 ERA, 2.65 FIP, and 1.13 WHIP. His 6.3 fWAR led the team with ease, and represents the highest valuation FanGraphs has assigned a Twins pitcher since Johan Santana's Cy Young season in 2006. 3 Most Pivotal Games May 15th: Won vs. Boston Red Sox, 4-3 This game was notable for a few reasons. First and foremost, it was a walk-off win that clinched a series against a formidable foe, and part of a 7-2 stretch that pushed the Twins above .500 in late May. They won behind their newfound ace Hughes, who struck out eight and walked none over six innings of one-run ball, and a walk-off single from the embattled Hicks, who began to find himself at the plate a bit after this big moment. June 18th: Lost @ Boston Red Sox, 2-1 A month earlier, the Twins had won two walk-offs at home against Boston (including the one above) as they seemingly asserted their viability in the American League. Their rematch against the Red Sox at Fenway in mid-June, capped by this sweep-clinching walk-off loss, reflected how much things had changed. The Twins managed to score just two runs in three games, including a sleepy four-hit effort in the finale that wasted Gibson's seven shutout innings. Most painfully, the Twins took a 1-0 lead on Chris Parmelee's home run in the 10th, only to have David Ortiz and Mike Napoli tie and win it on back-to-back solo homers in the bottom half. By now Minnesota was six games below .500, and right in the middle of a 10-game road losing streak. By July 4th they'd be 11 games out of first. August 26th: Lost @ Kansas City Royals, 2-1 The Twins were hopelessly out of contention and spiraling toward the finish line. They went through five different four-game losing streaks in August and September, and were amidst one of them when Kansas City delivered this morale-crusher on August 26th. Nolasco provided a rare good start, firing seven shutout innings, before handing it off to Burton for a scoreless eighth. In came Perkins to protect a one-run lead. Alcides Escobar led off with a single, and Alex Gordon followed with a walk-off homer. Ballgame. It was the first sign of an unraveling to come for Perkins, who posted an 11.37 ERA the rest of the way, striking out two of his final 30 hitters before being shut down. Unforgettable Highlights Jorge Polanco Debuts Five years earlier, Bill Smith had signed a class of international talents that would eventually become transformative. In 2014, Jorge Polanco beat out Sanó and Max Kepler to a big-league debut, appearing mostly out of logistical necessity when the Twins needed an extra man for stretches in late June and July. He appeared for Minnesota only five times – four coming as a late-game replacement – and went 2-for-6 at the plate. Polanco didn't make much impact in 2014, but he became the second-youngest Twins player to debut in the 2000s (behind only Mauer, who was four days younger on Opening Day 2004). His impact would be plentiful down the line. Perkins and Suzuki Close Out All-Star Game In a storybook moment, Perkins was set up for a two-run save in the ninth inning of the All-Star Game at Target Field on July 15th. The hometown success story got a chance to throw to Minnesota's other 2014 All-Star, the catcher Suzuki, and together these Twins worked a 1-2-3 inning to close out the win. Dozier Joins 20/20 Club By notching his 20th stolen base on August 20th, to go along with his 20 home runs, Dozier became the fifth Twin to reach the 20/20 club. Torii Hunter did it twice (2002 and 2004), while Corey Koskie (2001), Marty Cordova (1995), Kirby Puckett (1986) and Larry Hisle (1977) are the other members. Hughes Gets His Phil of Strikeouts That headline might've made you groan, but I bet not as much as this fact: When Hughes struck out 11 White Sox in his September 13th start, it was the first time in 380 games that a Twins starter reached double-digit Ks. In a related note, longtime pitching coach Rick Anderson was ousted after the season alongside his main man Gardenhire. One Detail You Probably Forgot In the first decade of the 2000s, Matt Guerrier enjoyed the best years of his career, and was frequently an essential bullpen fixture. He led the AL in appearances in two consecutive seasons, 2008 and 2009, and was a top-notch setup man more often than not. By 2014, at age 35, he was nearing the end. He signed a minor-league deal with the Twins, was called up in May, and posted a 12-to-10 K/BB ratio in 28 innings through late July before the team moved on. Like fellow throwback signings Kubel and Bartlett, Guerrier walked off into the sunset after a final ride with the team – and manager – that brought him into the big leagues. In retrospect I suppose there's a poetic beauty to it, although I gotta say, at the time it was infuriating because these guys were clearly cooked. Fun Fact Per his contract, Hughes was in line for a $500,000 bonus if he reached 210 innings pitched in 2014 – no small sum for a guy earning $8 million in salary. Seemingly on a mission to reach it, he threw seven-plus innings in nine straight starts to end the year. In his last outing Hughes was through eight frames of one-run ball before a rain delay forced him out, with his season total sitting at 209 2/3 innings. Gardenhire offered him a chance to pinch once more in the final weekend and earn the bonus, but Hughes declined. ~~~ Previous Installments: The 2000 SeasonThe 2001 SeasonThe 2002 SeasonThe 2003 SeasonThe 2004 SeasonThe 2005 SeasonThe 2006 SeasonThe 2007 SeasonThe 2008 SeasonThe 2009 SeasonThe 2010 SeasonThe 2011 SeasonThe 2012 SeasonThe 2013 Season Click here to view the article

Jim: This was addressed in the article and is a lot more simple than you are making it out to be. The demographic I'm talking about is and relatively affluent white people who are less affected by the issues at hand. There is a tendency for individuals in this position to tune out because it's not something that impacts them personally. To me, that is what Kepler's message represented. In neither case do I think it's malicious or reflective of immorality; in fact I think it's often subconscious. For that reason I wanted to create some awareness on the issue.

We did a survey to gain insight on our readership demographics for advertisers. Granted it was several years back, but I have no reason to believe it has changed significantly, especially given the general demographics of Twins fandom. You want me to go back and dig up the actual statistics (which I'm pretty sure we made public) or is this satisfactory to take back your call of shenanigans? With respect, you don't come off as "well reasoned" when you claim an article is "based on flimsy information" because we don't know how Kepler feels. This isn't about how he feels. It's about what he did (or more accurately, what he didn't do). That's literally stated in the title. Here's the "flimsy information" this article was based on: I was sitting on my couch, watching images of the city of Minneapolis burning on my TV, when I happened upon a carefree Instagram post from Kepler saying he's "Not into politics," and then I started working backwards. I'm writing about my reaction to that experience as a fan and a Minnesota resident, who pays considerable money to watch the man play baseball. He might have done all the right things afterward. He might have had all the good intentions in the world. But what he did in that moment is reflective of what far too many people have been doing for many years. "Not my problem, peace." There are plenty of comfortable white men across this state and country who are every bit as oblivious to the severity of this issue as a millionaire 27-year-old from Germany (who should've known better). And that's why I wrote this. There's no flimsy information. It's all in front of us, Linus.

Lack of awareness is not an excuse. Plain and simple. Kepler has lived in the United States for more than a decade and is a 27-year-old adult. No one's asking him to fully understand the intricate historical context of racism and police brutality in America -- Kepler played at Target Field the night Philando Castile was murdered miles away in 2016. It's been one of our nation's foremost social issues for the duration of the time he's lived here and frankly its relevance extends beyond the United States, if you look at the widespread protests taking place across the world (including Germany). And again, no one is accusing him of having any racist feelings. The issue here is apathy and dismissiveness toward a crisis gripping our city and country. If we don't start calling it out, it won't change.

I can say that myself and other owners of the site have already made donations in amounts that vastly outweigh the relatively small money that will be made from ads on this article. But to answer your question directly, I do expect our site will make more formal donations to causes that need it, and will aim to do so on a continual basis because this issue isn't going away after this week. To answer your latter question, Tom shared a list of organizations you can donate to earlier on the thread but it understandably got buried. Here's the link again. Thank you for asking. https://docs.google.com/document/u/1/d/1jy_Y714oFhb7APUOk4Y4gEPzWpyxswzHa_sylQLVmJ8/mobilebasic

Have you turned on the news in the past week? Protests and riots have broken out in almost every major city across the country, and many across the world. This isn't about TD responding to what happened, it's about humanity responding. Kepler's insensitive remark didn't hit me in a bad way because I was upset about the situation, it hit me in bad way because the city he plays in was on fire and tearing itself apart in anguish when he made it. If you think what's happening right now is solely about George Floyd, I'm afraid you are the one showing a one-dimensional viewpoint. This has been building up for a long time. This is about so much more. I thought that was beyond obvious, personally.

After having the bottom fall out a year earlier, the Minnesota Twins were trying to find their footing again in 2012, with hopes that another front office shakeup might set things in the right direction. Unfortunately, despite some genuine highlights, the halfway-rebuilding Twins were only headed straight back to the bottom.We're running a 20-part series in which we look back at each Minnesota Twins season of the 2000s. A rotation of different writers will highlight key moments, unearth forgotten details, and share nostalgic tales from the past two decades leading up to the present. This installment covers the 2012 season. Team Record: 66-96 Finish: 5th Place in AL Central All-Star: Joe Mauer ( C ) Awards: Josh Willingham (Silver Slugger, LF) Playoffs: N/A Season Overview Coming off the disaster that was 2011, Ron Gardenhire and the Twins were looking to right the ship. Soon after the prior season ended, ownership decided to change course, dismissing Bill Smith as general manager and reinstating Terry Ryan. The front office's elder statesman returned to the helm and... well, he made some typical Ryan moves. Some of them worked out splendidly. For instance, there were the signings of relievers Jared Burton and Casey Fien to minor-league deals. Both righties emerged as key contributors in the bullpen, with Burton posting a 2.18 ERA in 62 innings and Fien 2.06 in 35. There was also the addition of free agent Ryan Doumit, who slashed .275/.320/.461 as a versatile and valuable piece on offense. Best of all, there was the signing of left fielder Josh Willingham, a veritable blockbuster by Twins standards at three years and $21 million. Willingham's lukewarm market and ultra-reasonable deal were a bit surprising, given his consistent track record as a righty slugger. He made Ryan look good by putting forth a career year, bashing 35 home runs with 110 RBIs and an .890 OPS. But these quality additions wouldn't be nearly enough to overcome an abundance of flaws on this mishmashed roster. Ultimately, the 2012 season's narrative is defined by fading mainstays and previous failed moves running their course. In the latter category, you had the likes of Tsuyoshi Nishioka (spent most the year in Triple-A before returning to Japan afterward) and Matt Capps (replaced at closer by Glen Perkins in July, didn't pitch again in the majors). In the former category: Francisco Liriano went 3-10 with a 5.31 ERA before being traded to Chicago in July. He wasn't done as an effective pitcher though, as he'd re-emerge as a standout in Pittsburgh the following year.Carl Pavano, on the other hand, was done. The 36-year-old was Opening Day starter, but made it through only 11 starts and 60 innings (with a 6.00 ERA) before injuries ended his season. He retired afterward.Nick Blackburn fully unraveled with a 7.39 ERA in 98 2/3 innings. Only 30 at season's end, he wouldn't pitch again in the majors.Scott Baker underwent Tommy John surgery in April and missed the season, ending his Twins career.Alexi Casilla posted an abysmal .603 OPS in 326 PA, and the team moved on after the season.Justin Morneau's season wasn't terrible (he slashed .267/.333/.440 with 19 homers and 77 RBIs while staying mostly healthy) and he wasn't quite at the end of the line with Minnesota – he'd be traded midway through 2013. But by now his diminished ability was all too clear.With three members of the starting rotation (Pavano, Liriano, Blackburn) flaming out, Minnesota's starting pitching depth was tested. And it quickly became evident that Ryan had not equipped the unit for such a scenario. His washed-up veteran signing characteristically fizzled, as Jason Marquis put up an 8.47 ERA in seven starts before his late-May release. Young righties Anthony Swarzak and Liam Hendriks, who would eventually find success as relievers, took pummelings in their miscast starting roles. Minor-league journeymen P.J. Walters and Sam Deduno combined for 27 starts (and a 4.99 ERA). Only one pitcher who made a start for the 2012 Twins registered an ERA+ above 100, although his season was rather remarkable. Scott Diamond, the team's Rule 5 pick a year earlier, stepped into the rotation with back-to-back scoreless seven-inning starts in May. He rode the hot start to a 12-9 record and 3.54 ERA 173 innings, leading the American League in BB/9 rate (1.6). Despite Diamond's efforts, and Perkins beginning his spectacular run in the closer role, this staff was awful. They allowed the most hits in the league, and the second-most runs, while striking out the fewest batters. The offense, while decent, was not up to the task of keeping pace with all this scoring from the opposition. Willingham was fantastic and Joe Mauer put forth a vintage effort, slashing .319/.416/.446 while making his fourth All-Star team, but no one else in the lineup was much above-average. Like in the rotation, poor depth here was exposed as Gardenhire gave a ton of at-bats to really bad hitters. While most of them would never amount to much, one would: Brian Dozier, who hit .234/.271/.332 while struggling defensively at shortstop. It was an inauspicious debut for a player destined to help lead the Twins out of the cellar. Not yet, though. For a second consecutive season, Minnesota finished last in the Central. As they did in 2011, the Twins quickly removed themselves from the contention discussion with an ugly start, losing seven of their first nine games and falling 15 games below .500 by mid-May. In 2012, losing turned from outlier to trend for the Minnesota Twins. And it's one that wouldn't change soon as the initial wave of enthusiasm for Target Field began to gradually wear off, with uninspired decision-making and poorly executed baseball becoming the norm. Team MVP: Joe Mauer ( C ) Other Contenders: Josh Willingham (LF), Denard Span (CF), Scott Diamond (SP), Glen Perkins (RP) Following a weird 2011 season marred by the "bilateral leg weakness" fiasco and disappointing production, Mauer carried the weight of hefty expectations. Now in the second year of his $184 million contract, he found himself under heavy scrutiny. Mauer responded in a big way. His .319 average wasn't enough to get him a fourth batting title, but it ranked third in the AL and was only 11 points behind the leader Miguel Cabrera. Mauer did lead the league in OBP at .416, drawing a career-high 90 walks. But it wasn't just the production that made a statement, it was the workload. Starting 42 times at DH as Gardenhire took it easy on his legs, Mauer still put in a full complement behind the plate and finished with a career-high 641 plate appearances. Some would argue that Willingham earned team MVP with his phenomenal power production. There's a good case to be made, but for me, the gap in defensive value gives Mauer a clear edge. FanGraphs' WAR metric agrees, pegging Mauer at 4.6 and Willingham at 3.7. 3 Most Pivotal Games April 13th: Lost vs. Texas Rangers, 4-1 After opening the schedule with four straight losses, the Twins rebounded with back-to-back victories, beating the Angels 6-5 and 10-9 to win their second series. But these scores were illustrative: in order to narrowly win games, the offense needed to show up in a big way. Too often, they didn't, like in this sleepy series opener at home against Texas. Minnesota managed just two extra-base hits and went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position. The Twins allowed fewer than four runs only twice in 24 April contests, but scored fewer than four 12 times. That's how you lose 16 games in a month, and 96 in a season. July 5th: Lost @ Detroit Tigers, 7-3 Trying to rebound from a July 4th thumping at the hands of Justin Verlander, the Twins were still within 12 games of .500 and nine games of first place, with a chance to take the series in Detroit. Despite getting seven innings of two-run ball from Diamond, and 15 hits from the lineup, the Twins fell handily. Fourteen of the offense's 15 hits were singles, and they drew only one walk. Diamond's seven strong frames were followed by the bullpen trio of Alex Burnett, Tyler Robertson and Swarzak giving up five runs while recording three outs. The Twins fell 10 games out of first, and were never again within single digits. July 31st: Lost @ Chicago White Sox, 4-3 By the deadline, Minnesota was already hopelessly out of contention, but this game was pretty representative of how things were going. Liriano, who was clobbered by the White Sox eight days earlier, had since been traded TO the White Sox. His first start came against the team that just dumped him, and naturally, Liriano struck out eight Twins over six innings of two-run ball. The Twins managed zero extra-base hits in the game. Blackburn actually had his best start of the year for Minnesota, allowing two runs over eight innings, but it lowered his ERA to 7.43. In this one it was reliever Jeff Gray who took the loss – one of many marginal players whose MLB careers came to an end with the 2012 Twins. Unforgettable Highlights Twins Daily Launches Pardon the moment of self-promotion, but from this fan's view, one of the most inspiring developments of the 2000s for the Minnesota Twins was the cultivation of a bustling, creative, prolific independent writing community that has deeply enriched the team's coverage. It started up around 2002 with forerunning bloggers like John Bonnes and Aaron Gleeman building audiences, and then progressively blossomed over the following decade. I like to think of the official launch of Twins Daily in spring training of 2012 as an inflection point in the quality, volume, and diversity of content available to hungry fans. Glen Perkins Takes His Perch as Closer A rare positive takeaway from 2011 was Perkins coming into his own as a late-inning reliever. In spring training of 2012 the Twins rewarded his turnaround with a three-year contract extension, but as the season got underway, Capps remained in the closer role. When he got injured midway through, Perkins – owner of two career saves – took over the gig. The left-hander notched his first save of the season on June 20th, protecting a one-run lead in the 11th to seal a victory over Kansas City. From there he converted 15 of 17 attempts with a 2.21 ERA and 40-to-3 K/BB ratio in 40 2/3 innings. He'd go on to make the All-Star Game three years straight. El Caballo Comes Aboard Looking back on it now, the trade on July 28th that sent Liriano to Chicago was a bittersweet moment. In one respect, it crushed whatever remnants existed of the dream the Liriano might round back into form as a Twin (he'd instead do it the following year, as a Pirate). But it did bring a player into the organization who would become a fan favorite and one of the decade's best stories. Acquired alongside pitcher Pedro Hernández, Eduardo Escobar was a 23-year-old utilityman known for his glove, with little in the way of established offensive upside. He made 44 plate appearances for the Twins after the trade and batted .227 with zero extra-base hits. But over the next five-and-a-half seasons with Minnesota, he'd collect 219 XBHs as a versatile defender and cheerful clubhouse fixture. Tom Kelly's Number Retired Ten years after Tom Kelly passed the torch to Gardenhire as Twins manager, TK's No. 10 was officially retired in a ceremony at Target Field on September 8th. Run Revere Run In what would turn out to be his last season in Minnesota – he was traded to Philadelphia for Vance Worley and Trevor May in the offseason – Revere's limitations came into full focus. Despite a strong .294 batting average, he posted a sub par .675 OPS thanks to his shortcomings in the patience and power departments. But his strengths also came into greater focus – particularly his blazing speed. On October 1st, in the season's third-to-last game, Revere stole his 40th base, becoming the first Twin to hit this milestone since Chuck Knoblauch in 1997. One Detail You Probably Forgot In 2013, Clete Thomas would become a glaring symbol of this era's fierce commitment to ineptitude, receiving 322 plate appearances while slashing .214/.290/.307. But he actually first arrived in 2012, claimed off waivers from Detroit in mid-April. Thomas hit a two-run homer in his first game as a Twin, but three weeks later the Twins sent him to Triple-A with a .458 OPS. Fun Fact In 2012, Revere and second baseman Jamey Caroll combined for 1,090 plate appearances and ... one home run. That's almost at the level of Jason Tyner, who put in 1,318 major-league plate appearances before homering for the first time with the Twins in 2007. ~~~ Previous Installments: The 2000 SeasonThe 2001 SeasonThe 2002 SeasonThe 2003 SeasonThe 2004 SeasonThe 2005 SeasonThe 2006 SeasonThe 2007 SeasonThe 2008 SeasonThe 2009 SeasonThe 2010 SeasonThe 2011 Season Click here to view the article

Ash, this is a great point and one that I could've addressed more directly in the OP. The reason I was especially sensitive to, and put off by, Kepler's post is because I was already dispirited by the lack of vocal advocacy coming out of the Twins organization. I hoped to see a number of people follow Baldelli's lead, but as you pointed out, the remarks have been pretty sparse. I see Karl Anthony Towns standing with others for a rally at City Hall. I see Vikings players speaking out emphatically. In other baseball markets I see statements of true conviction (the Rays for instance). The Twins just haven't stepped up in that kind of way, from what I've seen. Their actions generally seem timid and reactive. This makes me acutely sad, both because I want the Twins to be an integral part of our community and I rue the sport's larger struggles to connect with African Americans. So the Kepler thing is just a microcosm of my general disappointment, but it was a clear and newsworthy example to center on. This is just where we fundamentally disagree. It's not about me wanting players to be heroes, it's about me recognizing that someone like Kepler DOES have a large platform and IS influential in this community. Young people look up to him. Fans pay attention to him. He has 67K followers on Instagram. In my opinion the $35 million commitment the team made to him last year calls for more than playing baseball. It calls for being a representative of the franchise and city. Does that mean he needs to be an activist? No. I'm not asking him to. But in my opinion it does entail a certain level of social responsibility, like understanding and empathizing with a humanitarian crisis in the city where you play.

Kepler wrote "Not into politics" with a peace sign as the city of Minneapolis was literally on fire and in crisis. That is a bad move from any angle. Given the timing, it was one of the most tone-deaf things I've ever seen from a Twins player on social media. I'm not assuming Kepler's indifference -- a message of indifference was CLEARLY broadcasted to his fans. By him. Max Kepler is a prominent Major League Baseball player with a platform. These optics matter. How he feels inside isn't the point. He has a platform and he's entrusted to be a representative leader in this city where he is known and admired. It comes with the territory. I'm not trying to say what he should've done except that it's not that. I'm not trying to tell anyone how to act, I'm simply urging them to ACT. Think deeply about the role you can play personally in helping us get to a better place. There's no one way to go about it. But sitting on the sidelines silently and wishing people well does nothing other than fortify the status quo. Almost every person I've spoken to who is impacted by these issues continually tells me this is the single biggest problem holding us back. (Having said all that scottz, your comment was super thoughtful and I appreciate the perspective.)

You don't need to read my mind, you only need to read the post. On that note, I feel compelled based on responses to reiterate this for the ~1,000th time: My issue is not with the Blue Lives Matter mask. Here is all I said about that: "On Thursday, Kepler shared a picture on Instagram of himself wearing a "Blue Lives Matter" face mask he'd received from some company. Evidently, he got a rush of negative feedback because he quickly deleted the post." That's it. This post isn't about that image. If the controversy was around Kepler posting that picture I wouldn't have written about it. It's about what came after. It's about the indifference and apathy he expressed. (Prior to posting a canned PR apology.) The fact that so many commenters can't grasp that tells me either they have poor reading comprehension or they simply don't care about the actual issue being addressed and want to grind their own axes.

I just want to say that while clearly this person disagrees with me, and the premise of this article, on every level ... they stated their disagreement and differing viewpoints in civil terms without crossing over to disrespect. Thank you for that. I know everyone would rather be reading about baseball. Believe me, I'd rather be writing about it. Right now I don't feel up to it. Saying my piece on this felt important. I appreciate everyone who has taken the time to read it with an open mind. I appreciate the majority of comments, including the one above.

Where did I insult anyone in the post? Every perceived slight is based on some ridiculous inference. I am urging people to speak up and advocate because their voices matter. It's as simple as that.

Thanks for the charitable assessment, doc. As a point of fact, I happen to know that much of this site's readership falls into a category that is able to make a difference but rarely does. Much like Kepler. If I can get through with that message to but a few people, I will have accomplished something. If the money I've contributed to various causes in recent days makes any difference in supporting their essential work, I will have accomplished something. If my presence alongside thousands of other peaceful protesters on the 35W bridge yesterday -- as pandemonium broke loose -- contributed at all to a sense of solidarity and unified purpose, I will have accomplished something. Go ahead and call it "virtue signaling" if you want. It is less cynically labeled raising awareness and spreading advocacy. It's how every movement in history has taken shape. You might be shocked to hear this, but some people are actually open-minded! Since you're so quick to judge and criticize, what are you doing? How are you helping to improve the situation? Other than anonymously spewing insults at people you know nothing about on the internet, that is.

Alright Darius. Let's address this comment since it reflects a lot of the negative response I'm seeing throughout this thread. (You presented it in a more constructive and less personal way than some, which I appreciate.) Everyone, let’s virtue signal and dox everyone around us as possible racists and supporters of the police (anything but that!). Very productive right now. Incredible misreading of the point here. I didn't use Kepler as an example because I think he's a bad guy, or racist. Exactly the opposite. I think he's a good and well-meaning person but his silence is deafening. This is pervasively true in our society, and changing that attitude WILL be productive despite your claims otherwise. And yes, its been politicized. You’re parading around a symbol of support for the police that’s been around for years as some sort of symbols of hatred? It’s a clear political statement. What message do you think you’re sending that’s productive in that sense? I didn't criticize him for supporting police. Other people got mad about the mask and prompted him to delete his picture, not me. I didn't manufacture that as a story, it was covered by numerous outlets. I don't know why commenters keep focusing on that part as if it was remotely the point. My disappointment is with the reaction it prompted: him saying he's "Not into politics" and dismissing a humanitarian crisis that is ravaging our city and country. It's not about his stance, it's about his declining to take one. Worse yet, he trivialized the situation. I dunno why that's hard for you to see. He's a star ballplayer and role model, his words and actions matter. Honestly, from my point of view there are very few people out there who aren’t agreeing on the issues right now. Who is arguing what happened to this man at the hands of a potential sociopath was/is acceptable? It was absolutely horrific, and absolutely needs to be addressed. Who is arguing peaceful demonstrations are unacceptable? Anyone with a shred common human decency agrees (which is 95% of the population) Here's the problem: it's not enough for people to just agree that something is wrong. The comfortable masses remaining silent in the face of injustice is what prevents change. You say 95% of people agree what happened to George Floyd is wrong and unacceptable. Someone else above said 99%. Great. So why does it keep happening, over and over again? Because too many of those people just sit there doing nothing, saying nothing, and complaining when someone writes about it on a baseball blog, distracting from a non-existent season. It's not enough. It's just not. Voices everywhere need to rise up and say they're not going to put up with it anymore -- the comfortable and unafflicted most of all. I'm sorry you don't like hearing that message but it's being shouted by thousands of protesters across the entire country, not just me. It needs to be heard. Do with it what you want, but please, at least hear the message.

Each time. I've lost hundreds in the past couple weeks alone. I never suggested it was a steep price and your snark is entirely unwarranted. I'm simply refuting the notion that there's some underlying benefit in taking these stances. It's false.

This is a pretty incredible statement when I specifically stated in the article that I'm not judging or pointing fingers, and I recognize my own need to do better. This isn't about YOU (the reader). This is about US (a society). Maybe there were times in the past where I would've prioritized the growth of my "personal brand" over using my platform to do what I think is right. Publishing this piece is part of my own effort to improve in that regard. The idea being suggested by some here that I wrote this article as "click-bait" or to increase readership is sorely misguided. We will lose readers for publishing this. I lose dozens of followers on twitter whenever I talk about anything vaguely political. And I'm perfectly at peace with those things, as well as the vitriol being directed at me in this comment section. As the old bland and pointless saying goes: it is what it is.

I believe they are all very understanding of what's happening. They continue to say so. You been watching the news? Tonight the MPLS chief of police Medaria Arradondo expressly stated that all four officers present at George Floyd's death were culpable. That's been a recurring chant at protests. Your comment was pretty rude but I understand it's a touchy subject. I ask: rather than dwelling on the source, do you disagree with Mr. Cuomo's statement? That this is a humanity issue rather than a political one? Do you see signs at these protests talking about Democrats and Republicans?

Our community is broken. Our country is broken. To not speak up is to be complicit. To shy away from this conversation is to contribute to the widespread apathy and complacency that has brought us to this tragic state. That's why Max Kepler's actions on social media over the weekend are so bitterly disappointing to me.Our city, and many cities around the nation, have been thrown into turmoil. Long-brewing tensions are at a boiling point in the aftermath of George Floyd's murder, less than five miles away from Target Field. I was heartened to see Twins manager Rocco Baldelli speak up immediately, tweeting last Wednesday, "George Floyd should be breathing right now. We have a lot of progress to make. A lot. Remember his name. Remember what happened." Over the weekend, Twins center fielder Byron Buxton shared a heartfelt message on Instagram, accompanied by the image of a memorial for George Floyd. "It’s unbearable to even think about what’s happening in our city and throughout the country, but things have to CHANGE," Buxton pleaded. "African Americans have been slaughtered left and right for nothing more than the color of our skin. That is reality and it has been ignored far too long." Download attachment: buxtoninstagram.png I can't help but wonder how Buxton feels about seeing the comparatively tone-deaf remarks from Kepler, who has long played alongside him in the Twins outfield. To recap the events that went down: On Thursday, Kepler shared a picture on Instagram of himself wearing a "Blue Lives Matter" face mask he'd received from some company. Evidently, he got a rush of negative feedback because he quickly deleted the post, adding a follow-up: "wasn't aware of what the mask supported. still not into politics," along with a peace sign emoji. Download attachment: keplerinstagrammask.jpg Download attachment: keplerinstagramfollow.jpeg Now, let me preface what I'm going to say here by being as clear as possible: I don't think Kepler had any malicious intent. Based on every interaction I've had with him, and every story I've heard from others, he's a genuinely good-hearted person. I can certainly believe he was unaware of what the mask represented, given the cultural disconnect from growing up in Germany. And I believe he means what he wrote in a later message: "Racism has no place in our world and I do not in any way support the actions that we all witnessed that led to George Floyd’s passing.” But Max being a good person and actively choosing to stay silent is exactly the problem. What really grinds on me is that first follow-up message. "Not into politics [peace sign]." This is the attitude that has gotten our society to this point: comfortable white people choosing to excuse themselves from the conversation, because it doesn't affect them personally. While I know he didn't intend it as such, Kepler's comments come as a slap in the face to a grieving and enraged community where he's supposed to be a leader. To paraphrase CNN's Chris Cuomo, what's happening right now isn't a political issue. It's a humanity issue. People like Buxton don't have the luxury of categorizing systemic injustice as "politics" and that's why Kepler's remarks, shared while the city of Minneapolis literally burned, landed with a total lack of empathy. If Kepler wants to stand on the sidelines, defining himself simply as a ballplayer while rejecting any personal stake in the situation, that is his prerogative. But it's precisely what perpetuates a lack of change that is destroying us. We live in a world now where the lines are blurred; Kepler and the Twins aren't playing baseball due to a global health crisis that has sadly been framed as "political" by some, but is much more fundamental to our civilization and society in general. What we now face here in Minnesota, and across America, is much the same. I don't know if Kepler will receive this message. But I know, based on the demographics, that our site's audience is predominately white, and relatively affluent. We are the voices needed most in this fight. I say this not to be judgmental, or to point fingers – I myself recognize a serious need to be more outspoken and active in my support and advocacy. Writing this article, despite the backlash it will inevitably receive, is a small step toward that end. Max: if you want the peace sign you included in your message to be anything more than a meaningless platitude, copping out with a "not into politics" comment is not an option. This isn't politics. This is life. This is the city YOU represent. Take a cue from your manager, who is again showing himself to be a true leader. We need to confront these issues seriously, not obscure them behind images of a dog fetching a tennis ball. These aren't happy or carefree times. Acting like they are will only make your fanbase lose touch with you. This is coming from one fan who already feels like he has. We're leaving the comments open on this post. We welcome a respectful and productive conversation around this vital topic. But we also need to look out for our overburdened moderators. If people can't keep things respectful, comments will be shut down. Thanks for hearing me out y'all. Click here to view the article

As the Metrodome era came to an end, the 2009 season featured a good but flawed team, which barely squeaked into the playoffs out of a ho-hum division. But it also featured one of the greatest individual campaigns, and one of the greatest single games, in franchise history.We're running a 20-part series in which we look back at each Minnesota Twins season of the 2000s. A rotation of different writers will highlight key moments, unearth forgotten details, and share nostalgic tales from the past two decades leading up to the present. This installment covers the 2009 season. Team Record: 87-76 Finish: 1st Place in AL Central All-Stars: Joe Mauer ( C ), Justin Morneau (1B), Joe Nathan (RP) Awards: Joe Mauer (AL MVP; Gold Glove & Silver Slugger, C) Playoffs: Lost to NYY 3-0 in ALDS Season Overview The Joe Mauer season. Minnesota's 2009 campaign was a memorable and historically significant one for many reasons, but this is how it will always be remembered: a former first-round pick and hometown kid fully realizing his potential, and taking over the game for five spectacular months. A less charitable recollection might frame the 2009 season more as one in which the management above Mauer, and talent around him, failed to aptly support his absurdly dominant performance. The Twins required a fierce late surge and intense tiebreaker to win a fairly weak division and skim into the postseason, where they were quickly sent packing. But as the St. Paul native and childhood Twins fan said goodbye to the only Twins stadium he'd ever known – the Metrodome opened almost exactly one year before he was born – he sent it out with a bang. After missing all of April due to back pain caused by inflammation in his pelvic sacroiliac joint, Mauer played his first game on May 1st, homering on his first swing of the season and setting the tone for one of the most ridiculous months in Twins history: .414/.500/.838 with 11 home runs, eight doubles, 32 RBIs, and 19 walks in 28 games (122 PA). And yet the Twins, who entered May at .500, finished the month two games below. This was the story for much of the summer: Mauer delivering Herculean efforts while the team around him failed to elevate. This wasn't as true on the offensive end; the 2009 Twins scored the fourth-most runs in the American League and posted the fifth-highest OPS. Mauer got help from: Denard Span, now the entrenched leadoff hitter and a natural fit for it with his patience (.392 OBP and 70 walks) and speed (23 steals and 10 triples).First baseman Justin Morneau and designated hitter Jason Kubel, who delivered prodigious power production from the left side, combining for 58 home runs and 203 RBIs. This would be the last time two Twins teammates drove in 100-plus runs until 2019.Michael Cuddyer rebounded from an injury-marred 2008 and rounded back into the prime form he showed in '06, slashing .276/.342/.520 with 32 homers and 94 RBIs as a critical righty-swinging complement to the lefty sluggers above.Sure, there were some laggards. Delmon Young once again combined mediocre offense with horrendous defense for a subpar overall package. Alexi Casilla had a major backslide from his solid 2008, putting up a dreadful 45 OPS+ in 80 games. Carlos Gómez flailed to a .623 OPS, with his ferocious home-run cut producing just three long balls. Free agent third baseman Joe Crede slashed .225/.289/.414 with 15 homers in 90 games but couldn't keep chronic back problems at bay, playing sparsely in the second half and retiring after the season. Shortstop became such a pit, handled by Nick Punto and Brendan Harris, that general manager Bill Smith traded on deadline day for veteran Athletics shortstop Orlando Cabrera, who proved to be a clear improvement down the stretch. This wasn't the only in-season move Smith would make to energize a ballclub struggling to keep pace with the frontrunning Tigers. Minnesota's pitching staff was much more needy. This group, outside of closer Joe Nathan – who made his fourth All-Star team and saved a franchise-record 47 games with a 2.10 ERA – was just not very good. Opening Day starter Francisco Liriano was a complete mess, rarely showing flashes of his pre-surgery dominance and mixing in plenty of erratic clunkers en route to a 5-13 record and career-worst 5.80 ERA. Questions about conditioning plagued the 25-year-old as his fastball velocity lingered around 90. Meanwhile, fellow young lefty Glen Perkins also fell off a cliff, failing to back up his promising 2008 showing with a 5.89 ERA in 18 appearances (17 starts). Rookie Anthony Swarzak was lit up for a 6.25 ERA while going 3-7 over 12 starts. Kevin Slowey pitched to a 4.86 ERA in 15 starts before requiring season-ending wrist surgery in early July. Scott Baker and Nick Blackburn were once again the rotation's steadiest contributors, each tossing 200 innings with a roughly average ERA, but the lack of quality behind them, coupled with Nathan getting little help in the bullpen, meant Minnesota's outstanding offense was being outscored too often. Three moves by Smith in August helped turn the tides, providing crucial stability down the stretch: Starter Carl Pavano was acquired from Cleveland on August 7th in exchange for prospect Yohan Pino. Pavano pitched decently for the Twins, with a 4.64 ERA over 73 2/3 innings, but he provided length and the Twins went 8-4 in his starts. His biggest impact was yet to come.On August 22nd, rookie left-hander Brian Duensing moved to the rotation full-time after 14 of his first 15 big-league appearances came in relief. Duensing went 5-1 with a 2.68 ERA in eight starts.On August 28th, reliever Jon Rauch was acquired from Arizona for prospect Kevin Mulvey. Rauch stepped up in a leaky bullpen, holding opponents scoreless in 16 of 17 appearances for a 1.72 ERA while being credited with five wins.These developments, along with Mauer's continued excellence, helped the Twins surge to a 20-11 record in September and October, erasing a big deficit in the standings and winning four straight at the schedule's end to force a second straight AL Central tiebreaker. This time it was against the Tigers, at home. And this time, Minnesota would come out on top of a thrilling nailbiter, capturing the division with a walk-off single in the bottom of the 12th. Following a relentless charge to an unlikely postseason berth in the final weeks, the Twins were out of gas once they got there. With little time to celebrate a draining victory, they packed up and headed to New York, where Ron Gardenhire had little choice but to start the rookie Duensing in Game 1. He struggled and the Twins lost, setting the stage for their first (but certainly not last) time being swept out of October by the Yankees. Mauer was robbed of a key double in Game 2 by umpire Phil Cuzzi's bogus foul call, but still batted .417 (5-for-12) in the three ALDS games, capping a season for the ages. As the Twins prepared to open a new chapter with the arrival of Target Field, they were going to need to open the checkbook and pay handsomely to lock up the handsome face of their franchise. Team MVP: Joe Mauer ( C ) Other Contenders: Denard Span (CF), Justin Morneau (1B), Jason Kubel (DH), Nick Blackburn (SP) Duh. Despite missing a full month, Mauer's 7.9 bWAR in 2009 ties Kirby Puckett's 1988 mark for fourth in Minnesota Twins history. The only superior seasons according Baseball Reference came from Rod Carew (1975 & '77) and Chuck Knoblauch (1996). Mauer won the "Sabermetric Triple Crown" by leading the league in all three AVG/OBP/SLG slash categories (.365/.444/.587). He was the first catcher ever to do so, and the first American Leaguer since George Brett in 1980. Not only were his rate stats tremendous, but Mauer also filled up the volume columns: 28 homers, 30 doubles, 96 RBIs, 94 runs scored. He was an All-Star, MVP, Gold Glover, Silver Slugger. Arguably the best season ever by a Twin. 3 Most Pivotal Games May 1st: Won vs. Kansas City Royals, 7-5 Mauer's delayed start was hotly anticipated, and he did not disappoint. His first swing against the dreaded Sidney Ponson sent a baseball over the left field wall, signaling the prodigal son's arrival. Mauer added a double and walk, scoring three times as Morneau chipped in a homer and three RBIs. The relief trio that followed Slowey's five innings – Matt Guerrier, José Mijares, Nathan – would become Minnesota's bullpen bedrock throughout the year. This game perfectly exemplified the 2009 team's formula for winning. September 13th: Won vs. Oakland Athletics, 8-0 Even with Mauer leading a strong offense, the Twins just kept hanging at or below the .500 mark. By this point in mid-September, they were underwater, trailing Detroit by 5 1/2 with only 20 games left to play. Things were looking dire. But on this date, they dominated the A's and springed in to some serious momentum. Duensing threw seven shutout innings. Mauer went 3-for-4 with a homer. The victory set off an 11-1 stretch that moved the Twins within two games of the Tigers, a gap they'd close in the final weekend. October 6th: Won vs. Detroit Tigers, 6-5 Without question the greatest Twins game since 2000, and perhaps the greatest Major League Baseball game of the past 20 years period. Minnesota's race against Detroit came down to the wire, as the two teams faced off in a decisive Game 163 at the Metrodome. The Twins sent their best starter to the mound in Baker, and he delivered a low-grade quality start with six innings and three earned runs. Tigers rookie Rick Porcello countered with a strong outing of his own. The teams battled to a tie through nine. In the top of the 10th, Brandon Inge's RBI double put Detroit ahead, but Cuddyer countered with a leadoff triple, scoring on Matt Tolbert's game-tying single. In the bottom of the 12th, with closer Fernando Rodney pitching for the Tigers, Gómez opened with a base hit, moving to second on Young's one-out walk. Up came the embattled Casilla, who tapped a seeing-eye single up the middle. Gómez rounded third, slid in headfirst with the winning run, and the Metrodome went crazy. For the last time, it would turn out. Unforgettable Highlights Jason Kubel Caps Cycle with Grand Slam The Twins have had three players hit for the cycle since the turn of the century, and two happened within five weeks of one another in 2009. While Cuddyer's feat on May 22nd was cool to see, it couldn't hold a candle to the dramatics of Kubel's on April 17th. Coming to the plate with bases loaded against the Angels in the bottom of the eighth, Twins trailing 9-7, Kubel needed a home run to complete the cycle. Wait a minute ... a go-ahead grand slam to complete the cycle? Too good to be true, right? Nope. Kubel took a hanger from Angels reliever Jason Bulger deep to right. The Twins won and Kubel was on his way to a career year. Twins Bring in Pivotal International Class After the international signing period opened up on July 2nd, the Twins made perhaps their most impactful splash ever in this market. Over a span of four months, they signed teenagers Max Kepler out of Germany, and Miguel Sanó and Jorge Polanco out of the Dominican Republic. It should be looked back upon as the most critical contribution of Smith's short tenure as GM, and a worthy one at that. Ten years later, these three would become key figures in the most explosive offense in franchise history. Joe Nathan Breaks Twins Single-Season Save Record Set at 45 by Eddie Guardado seven years earlier, Nathan nabbed the title by saving 47 games on 52 tries. He rattled off 12 straight in September as the Twins closed the gap on Detroit. Sadly, Nathan's historic season ended on a sour note; his blown save in Game 2 of the ALDS, on Álex Rodríguez's two-run homer in the ninth, was a gut-punch the team couldn't recover from. I'm not sure they have since? Saying Goodbye to the Metrodome The final Twins game ever played in the Dome followed that Game 2 letdown, a 4-1 snoozer that ushered Minnesota out of the playoffs. It was a bummer. But the ballpark's final days will forever be tied to that incredible Game 163, and the raucous applause that rang throughout the Metrodome's silo-esque interior as Gómez slid across home, harkening back to the glory Octobers of 1987 and '91. One Detail You Probably Forgot In December of 2008, the Twins had taken interest in a mid-30s knuckleballer by the name of R.A. Dickey, signing him to a minor-league contract. They gave him a shot in 2009, as Dickey made 35 appearances including one start, but he wasn't too impressive with a 4.62 ERA and 1.62 WHIP. The team cut ties. Turns out they were just a little too early on the late bloomer. The next year Dickey signed with the New York Mets and posted a 2.84 ERA over 174 1/3 innings, in a rotation that also featured Johan Santana and Mike Pelfrey. In 2012, Dickey would win the NL Cy Young at age 37. Fun Fact Phil Cuzzi sucks. ~~~ Previous Installments: The 2000 SeasonThe 2001 SeasonThe 2002 SeasonThe 2003 SeasonThe 2004 SeasonThe 2005 SeasonThe 2006 SeasonThe 2007 SeasonThe 2008 Season Click here to view the article

With a new general manager and new faces across the roster, the Minnesota Twins were rebooting in 2008. But they were still very much contenders in the AL Central, and would battle for it down to the season's last day.We're running a 20-part series in which we look back at each Minnesota Twins season of the 2000s. A rotation of different writers will highlight key moments, unearth forgotten details, and share nostalgic tales from the past two decades leading up to the present. This installment covers the 2008 season. Team Record: 88-75 Finish: 2nd Place in AL Central All-Stars: Joe Mauer ©, Justin Morneau (1B), Joe Nathan (RP) Awards: Joe Mauer (Gold Glove & Silver Slugger, C), Justin Morneau (Silver Slugger, 1B) Playoffs: N/A Season Overview As the 2008 season arrived, everything felt NEW. Though Ron Gardenhire's coaching staff remained intact, a new general manager was running the show, with Bill Smith taking over following Terry Ryan's resignation the previous September. And Smith's first roster was full of new faces, a stark departure from the culture of continuity and homegrown talent he'd inherited. Gardenhire's Opening Day lineup at the Metrodome featured: Center fielder and leadoff man Carlos Gómez, prize of the offseason's Johan Santana trade. Despite a raw and unrefined game, the athletic 22-year-old was thrust into action straightaway, with hopes that his exhilarating speed and energy could reignite a fanbase feeling gutted by the loss of its elite ace starter. While he definitely had his moments, Gómez's inexperience showed often, and with his sub-.300 OBP he was badly miscast as a leadoff man (a role he thankfully lost to rookie Denard Span in the second half).Left fielder Delmon Young, prize of the offseason blockbuster that sent Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett to Tampa. The Twins envisioned Young, a first overall draft pick turned No. 1 overall prospect turned Rookie of the Year runner-up, as a long-term solution to their offensive shortcomings, and also a crucial lineup infusion with one of the team's main power threats (Torii Hunter) departing via free agency. In what would become a trend, the free-swinging Young showed little progression or growth from his rookie year, mixing in ugly defense to become a net-negative.Designated hitter Craig Monroe, a veteran brought in to platoon at the position with Jason Kubel as the DH carousel kept spinning. Monroe lasted only 58 games as a Twin, before Kubel (finally) took a firm grasp of the DH role.Second baseman Brendan Harris. The Twins had soured on Alexi Casilla after he sputtered to a .516 OPS in 2007, so the 27-year-old Harris, acquired alongside Young in the Rays trade, got the nod at second. Casilla would soon re-stake his claim as Harris shifted into more of an infield utility role.A left side of the infield comprising Adam Everett (shortstop) and Mike Lamb (third base). Both were veteran free agents, signed to cheap short-term deals, and both flamed out rather quickly. In many regards, the new GM Smith was showing a lot of functional similarity to his predecessor. As another example...Starting pitcher Liván Hernández. Coming off a season in Arizona where he posted a 4.93 ERA and led the league in hits allowed, Hernández signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Twins in February. Then, he was named Opening Day starter, as Gardenhire decided to go with his most experienced option in the absence of the only two Opening Day starters he'd ever known: Santana and Brad Radke. Hernández and his 5.48 ERA were traded in July.The new additions were pretty much roundly disappointing, as Smith's initial efforts to augment the roster fell flat. But luckily, his incumbent talent was good enough to make this team a pesky postseason contender. Joe Mauer won another batting title, along with a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger, finishing fourth in the AL MVP voting. Justin Morneau played in all 163 of the team's games, batting .300 with 129 RBIs and a franchise-record 47 doubles. He finished as MVP runner-up behind Boston's Dustin Pedroia. The M&M Boys were driving the bus. As the aforementioned rundown alluded, many passengers were still searching for their seats. But several did settle in over the course of the campaign. Michael Cuddyer battled injuries, but his absence opened the door for Span to debut in spectacular fashion, slashing .294/.387/.432 and quickly entrenching himself as leadoff hitter with his stunningly advanced plate approach. Kubel mashed 20 homers with an .805 OPS to solidify his DH hold. Casilla came to fit Gardenhire's beloved prototype as a bat-handling middle-infielder in the lineup's second spot. He bunted like crazy and led the league in sacrifice hits. While uneven, the offensive unit was – on balance – a solid one. And the same can be said for a reworked rotation, where young arms were coming together to fill Santana's void. Scott Baker led the way, posting a 3.45 ERA in 28 starts as suddenly the team's longest-tenured starter. Kevin Slowey and Glen Perkins both won 12 games in their first full seasons. Nick Blackburn grabbed the torch from departed Carlos Silva as an efficient, strike-throwing, pitch-to-contact righty. Unfortunately, Francisco Liriano opened the season in the minors and totaled only 76 innings with the Twins as he dealt with reduced velocity and wavering command in his return from Tommy John surgery. The bullpen generally took a step back, outside of the ever-reliable Joe Nathan, who saved 39 games with a 1.33 ERA fresh off signing a four-year contract extension in March. Altogether, this was a good young team still searching for greatness. They raced in lockstep with the Chicago White Sox atop the Central for most of the season, culminating in identical records after 162 games. The two clubs faced off in a tiebreaker at U.S. Cellular Field, where Jim Thome's solo homer against Blackburn proving decisive as Chicago took the division title with a 1-0 win. It was a fitting end for a group that was almost, but not quite, ready to push back into contention. Fate would tilt in their favor soon enough. Team MVP: Joe Mauer © Other Contenders: Justin Morneau (1B), Denard Span (CF), Scott Baker (SP), Joe Nathan (RP) After a bit of a down year in 2007, Mauer came back strong in '08, winning his second batting title in three years with a .328 average to go along with his .864 OPS. Playing in 146 games, including a career-high 135 starts at catcher, Mauer scored 98 runs, drove in 85, and walked 34 more times than he struck out. He also won his first of three straight Gold Gloves at catcher. His 6.4 fWAR led all Twins – nearly doubling Morneau's 3.3 – and tied Mauer with the AL MVP Pedroia for 12th in the majors. 3 Most Pivotal Games July 26th: Won @ Cleveland Indians, 11-4 As the All-Star break approached, the Twins had fallen into a slump. Tied for first place five days earlier, they'd suffered a sweep at Yankee Stadium, and then followed by dropping their first tilt in Cleveland. Suddenly three back, and seeking to snap a five-game losing streak, the Twins sent their best starter Baker to the mound. Big Spot Scott did his part, and the offense came through in a well-rounded effort where everyone in the lineup had at least one hit. Third baseman Brian Buscher led the way with three knocks and five RBIs. The Twins would win the series at Cleveland, and then take three of four from the White Sox at home, setting up a dramatic final two months. September 25th: Won vs. Chicago White Sox, 7-6 Throughout August and September, the Twins and White Sox jockeyed for the top spot, with the division lead changing hands several times and never growing beyond a few games. In late September, though, it looked like Chicago might take the thing. Up 2 1/2 with six games left, the White Sox were coming to Minnesota for a three-gamer, the Twins desperately needed a sweep. They took the first two behind Baker and Blackburn, then clinched the finale on Casilla's walk-off RBI single against Bobby Jenks in the bottom of the 10th. The Twins had overtaken first with three games left. September 30th: Lost @ Chicago White Sox, 1-0 Unfortunately Minnesota couldn't close the deal by winning a home series against the Royals, dropping two of three while the White Sox went 2-2 to force the first division tiebreaker game in either franchise's history. A coin flip determined it would be played in Chicago – the last time this method was used. An epic pitcher's duel ensued between Blackburn and John Danks, with Thome's solo homer the only disruption to a crisply pitched and defended ballgame. Minnesota's best chance to score, in the fifth inning, was thwarted when Cuddyer was thrown out at home by Ken Griffey, Jr. trying to score on a sac fly. Catcher A.J. Pierzynski held onto the ball at home plate as Cuddyer lowered his shoulder and railed into him. Unforgettable Highlights Go-Go Goes for the Cycle On May 7th, Gómez hit for the cycle against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field, becoming the first Twins player to accomplish the feat since Kirby Puckett in 1986. Gómez was also the third-youngest big-leaguer ever to hit for the cycle. The sequence of Gómez's hits (home run, triple, double, single) is known as the reverse cycle or "unnatural" cycle. He's one of only 10 players to do it. Kevin Slowey Skewers Brewers Slowey was easily one of the most enigmatic pitchers on the 2008 staff. A 24-year-old known for his stellar numbers in the minors and his pinpoint command, Slowey was inconsistent in his acclimation to the majors. But when he was on, he was ON. That was definitely the case on June 29th, when he outdueled Ben Sheets in a complete game shutout against Milwaukee, allowing three hits and no walks with eight strikeouts. One month earlier he'd given up one run in a complete game win against Kansas City; a month later he would spin another shutout in Chicago. Slowey led the team in complete games (3) and shutouts (2); he would achieve neither feat again after '08. "Jason" Morneau Wins Home Run Derby In 2008, Morneau participated in his second straight All-Star Game and also his second straight Home Run Derby. While this contest is best remembered for Josh Hamilton's ridiculous first round, in which he launched a staggering 28 home runs, it was Morneau who eventually won, out-homering a fatigued Hamilton 5-3 in the finals. After coming out on top, there was a common (and silly) sentiment that he'd "ruined" Hamilton's big night by having the gall to win the contest. ESPN's presenter infamously referred to him as "Jason Morneau" during an interview after the event – a reflection of the Twins' relative anonymity on the big stage, even when repped by an MVP winner. Glen Perkins Slays the Dragon The "Big Bad Yankees" narrative was only getting started – 10 straight playoff losses were still ahead – but the dread was already underway. So when Perkins threw an absolute gem against New York at the Metrodome on August 11th, holding them scoreless on four hits over eight innings in a 4-0 victory, it was a big deal. And Perkins, it seemed, might also become a big deal, as the former first-round pick was rattling off wins during his first opportunity in the rotation (he went 10-1 in June, July and August). Perkins would indeed become a big deal. Just not in the rotation. One Detail You Probably Forgot After emerging as one of the game's top closers in 2002 and 2003, earning All-Star nodes both years, Eddie Guardado signed with Seattle as a free agent and delivered a couple more outstanding seasons. But by 2008, he was 37 and had been through some injuries, diminishing his abilities. Still, he was having a decent enough season with the Rangers, and the Twins needed some help in the bullpen, so they traded pitching prospect (and St. Paul native) Mark Hamburger to Texas for him on August 25th. The move didn't pan. Guardado posted a 7.71 ERA in nine appearances with Minnesota. He gave it one more go with Texas in 2009, then retired, later rejoining the Twins as bullpen coach. Fun Fact Comparing Mauer's workload in 2008 to Mitch Garver's in 2019 is an eye-opening exercise in the evolution of catcher management. Mauer started 135 of Minnesota's 163 games at catcher, mixing in four starts at DH to total 139. On 13 separate occasions, he started at least six consecutive games behind the plate. At one point in June he caught 15 out of 16 games over 18 days. In 2019. Garver – an MVP-caliber offensive producer in his own right – started 75 games at catcher and never once started more than four in a row behind the plate. ~~~ Previous Installments: The 2000 SeasonThe 2001 SeasonThe 2002 SeasonThe 2003 SeasonThe 2004 SeasonThe 2005 SeasonThe 2006 SeasonThe 2007 Season Click here to view the article