Nick Nelson

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

I tend to side more with the players but this comparison doesn't do much for me. If I was making vastly more money than the "intern" (who is doing the exact same job) and we were amidst a massive crisis, I'd probably be okay with taking the larger cut. Isn't that pretty much what we're asking the owners to do? Make a bigger sacrifice because they're in far more comfortable position? It is common for companies to be instituting deeper salary cuts for senior management and higher-paid positions in efforts to stay above water right now. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/24/business/economy/coronavirus-pay-cuts.html

In the wake of a thrilling division title run in 2006, a changing of the guard was afoot for the Minnesota Twins. The clock was counting down on veteran leaders in the lineup and rotation – and also, it turns out, on their long-tenured general manager.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 2007 season. Team Record: 79-83 Finish: 3rd Place in AL Central All-Stars: Johan Santana (SP), Justin Morneau (1B), Torii Hunter (CF) Awards: Torii Hunter (Gold Glove, CF), Johan Santana (Gold Glove, P) Playoffs: N/A Season Overview Coming off one of the best regular seasons in franchise history (and one of the most deflating postseasons), the Minnesota Twins faced a future of change and uncertainty. Torii Hunter was entering his final season under contract, while Johan Santana's own upcoming free agency (after 2008) forced the low-budget Twins to start weighing the possibility of trading their superstar pitcher. Beyond big-picture considerations, general manager Terry Ryan also had plenty of short-term concerns to address – most pressingly, absences in the starting rotation created by Brad Radke's retirement and Francisco Liriano's recovery from Tommy John surgery. In painfully typical TR fashion, the GM signed two low-cost veteran mediocrities to complement a roster with valid World Series aspirations. Ramón Ortiz (5.14 ERA) and Sidney Ponson (6.93 ERA) were both disastrous, and neither made it through May in the rotation. The Twins went 6-11 in 17 combined starts from these two before Ortiz was demoted to the bullpen and Ponson was released. Their spots were soon claimed by two young hurlers who would become staples in the post-Radke (and soon-to-be post-Santana) rotation: Scott Baker and Kevin Slowey. Another right-hander named Nick Blackburn debuted and got his feet wet as a reliever in September. Meanwhile, pitching prospect Matt Garza found his first MLB success at age 23 with a 3.69 ERA in 16 appearances (15 starts). Thanks to solid efforts from newcomers, another excellent season from Santana, a bounce-back year from Carlos Silva, and reliable work from Joe Nathan, Matt Guerrier and Pat Neshek at the back end of the bullpen, this was a quality staff. The Twins ranked fourth among AL teams in runs allowed, ERA and WHIP while leading the league in K/BB ratio. But much like 2005, a lackluster offense and an inspired run from a division opponent spelled doom for Minnesota's chances of repeating as division champs. Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau took steps back after producing MVP-caliber results the prior year, but both were still plenty good, with Mauer registering a 118 OPS+ and Morneau checking in at 122 to go along with 31 homers and 111 RBIs. Hunter was stellar in his walk year, building a strong case for free agency with 28 homers, 45 doubles, 107 RBIs, and his seventh straight Gold Glove. But elsewhere, weaknesses were evident: Second baseman Luis Castillo batted .304 but it was an empty average, as he drew just 29 walks and collected only 14 extra-base hits in 384 plate appearances. At age 31 his signature speed was fading. The Twins traded him to the Mets in July to make way for prospect Alexi Casilla.Following his impressive showing at third base after replacing Tony Batista in 2006, Nick Punto dove (head-first) back into the dumpster offensively, slashing a hideous .210/.291/.271 while drawing the fifth-most plate appearances (536) on the team.The designated hitter spot was a mess as Ryan's perpetual inability to find a capable bat for the position persisted. Among players to draw more than a dozen starts at DH for the Twins in '07: Jeff Cirillo, Mike Redmond, Jason Tyner, Rondell White, Garrett Jones. None finished the year with an OPS above .700. Meanwhile David Ortiz mashed his way to a fifth straight top-five MVP finish in Boston, not to mention a second championship.Hurting their chances significantly, the Twins went 4-14 against a Cleveland Indians team that won 96 games and the division, coming within a game of the World Series. CC Sabathia won the Cy Young Award, ending what should've been a three-year run by Santana. In the only sub-.500 season of their decade-long run from 2001 through 2010, the Twins were stuck in transition, with several notable tenures coming to an end. Staring down the unenviable task of moving on from multiple cherished franchise mainstays in the coming offseason, Ryan stepped aside as GM in September. Replacing him would be his longtime assistant Bill Smith. There never seemed to be much substantive momentum toward Hunter re-signing with the Twins. He inked a five-year contract with the Angels around Thanksgiving. A week later, Smith struck his first big trade, sending Garza and Jason Bartlett to the Rays in exchange for 2007 Rookie of the Year runner-up Delmon Young. Shortly after the calendar flipped to 2008, Santana would be traded to the Mets in exchange for a package of four prospects. With construction officially getting underway on their new downtown outdoor ballpark, the Twins were restructuring for a very different type of future, eliminating the last vestiges of an early-decade core that ushered success back into the Metrodome. This was going to be Mauer and Morneau's team now. Who would join them in taking the lead? Team MVP: Johan Santana (SP) Other Contenders: Jason Barlett (SS), Joe Mauer ( C ), Torii Hunter (CF), Joe Nathan (RP) Santana's final year as a Twin was another excellent one, though undoubtedly his worst since becoming a full-time starter in 2004. Actually, "worst" is too harsh. Let's say "least amazing." While his ERA (3.33), FIP (3.82), and WHIP (1.07) were all the highest in four years, as was his league-leading total of 33 homers allowed, Santana still topped the team in fWAR (4.0) and bWAR (5.0). He was an All-Star for a third straight time, finished fifth in the Cy Young voting, and was awarded his first and only Gold Glove. By now the 28-year-old left-hander was firmly established as one of the very best pitchers in baseball. For him to pitch this well even in a down year almost reinforced just how good he was. The Twins carried some leverage into offseason trade talks as a result, though it was tempered by his one remaining year of control, and a looming monster long-term contract. 3 Most Pivotal Games April 23rd: Lost vs. Cleveland Indians, 7-3 The Indians came to town on April 23rd trailing Minnesota by 1 1/2 games in the standings, and looking to overtake sole possession of first place in a two-game series. They did just that. In the first game they scored four runs against Jesse Crain – who'd soon be shelved for the rest of the season due to shoulder issues – in the 14th inning to close within a half-game. Veteran reliever Roberto Hernández was credited with the win for Cleveland. The next day, the Indians completed a two-game sweep at the Dome, with a different Roberto Hernández picking up the W. Except at that point, he was known as Fausto Carmona. The Twins would never again see first place. August 5th: Won vs. Cleveland Indians, 1-0 To their credit, the Twins did hang around in the AL Central, balancing out losing spells with winning streaks to stay within range of .500 and on the fringe of a race playing out between Cleveland and Detroit ahead of them. Heading into the third of a four-game home series against the Indians in early August, Minnesota had won five of its past seven – including three against Cleveland – on the strength of great pitching, whittling their deficit in the Central from nine games to 5 1/2. On this date, Baker hurled eight shutout innings and Nathan slammed the door as the Twins won to move back within five games of first. The three-way race was on. August 29th: Lost @ Cleveland Indians, 4-3 Or was it? Unfortunately the Twins followed that triumphant victory by dropping seven of eight, and when late August rolled around they'd failed to gain any more ground. Still, when the Twins headed to Cleveland for a series against the frontrunners, they were 5 1/2 games behind with a chance to move within striking distance. Instead, they dropped the first two games behind Silva and Boof Bonser. And in the finale, as they sent their ace Santana against the eventual Cy Young winner Sabathia to try and avoid a sweep, the Twins were sunk by a four-run first inning from Cleveland. This left Minnesota 8 1/2 behind. They'd finish 17 games out after an 11-16 September. Unforgettable Highlights Doubleheader Derby By this point the rivalry between the Twins and White Sox was white-hot. So it was extra-satisfying when Minnesota enjoyed one of the greatest doubleheaders ever on July 6th, scoring 32 runs across the day-night twin bill in front of Chicago's home fans. In the first game, a 20-14 win, the Twins pounded out 21 hits with Jason Kubel driving in seven runs and Mauer five. The nightcap was a 12-0 laugher, fueled by six shutout innings from Garza and three home runs from Morneau. Jason Tyner Finally Goes Yard As he stepped to the plate for his first at-bat of the day in Cleveland on July 28th – the 1,319th of his major-league career – Tyner still had yet to hit his first MLB home run. The dry spell became a bit of a running joke among Twins fandom (and in the clubhouse, I'm sure). But on this fateful day, Tyner finally got his first one, a meager 352-foot shot against Jake Westbrook. The slap-hitting outfielder's baton for longest home-run drought was handed to his teammate (for a couple more days at least), the second baseman Castillo. Johan Santana Sets Twins Single-Game Strikeout Record While this season wasn't Santana's best as a Twin, it did feature his most dominant performance. On August 19th, facing the Texas Rangers at Target Field, Santana was at the height of his effectiveness, logging an astounding 17 strikeouts over eight shutout innings. That's a Twins franchise record, as is the 19 totaled in the nine-inning contest, with Nathan adding two in his save. Making this outing all the more impressive is that Texas was always within one swing of tying or taking the lead, as Minnesota scored once in the second and never provided further run support. Target Field Breaks Ground In the midst of an ongoing land dispute, a ceremonial groundbreaking was held at the site for Minnesota's then-unnamed new pro baseball stadium on August 30th. Located across downtown from the Metrodome, this new facility was to be built upon a strikingly small patch of land. Plenty of creative planning and architecture would be required in bringing its bold vision to life. While Target Field would become a marvel of modern engineering, its groundbreaking – originally scheduled for August 2nd – had been delayed by a haunting failure of engineering one day prior, when the Interstate 35W bridge collapsed just blocks away from the Metrodome. Baker Flirts with Perfection Postponed along with the Target Field groundbreaking on August 2nd was the Twins' home game scheduled for the same day, against Kansas City. It was instead played on August 31st, as part of a doubleheader. In the second billing that day, Baker pitched the best game of his career and one of the best in Twins history, carrying a perfect game into the ninth inning before John Buck drew a leadoff walk and Mike Sweeney snapped the no-hitter with a one-out single. Since the 1980s, only two Minnesota pitchers have posted a higher Game Score than Baker's 93 in this start: Eric Milton in his 1999 no-hitter, and Santana in his 17-strikeout game 12 days earlier. One Detail You Probably Forgot Tommy Watkins is familiar to current Twins fans as Rocco Baldelli's affable first base coach, but he did have a very brief and successful career as a major-league player. A 38th-round draft pick in 1998, Watkins worked his way through the minors for nearly a decade – more a likable organizational soldier than a legitimate prospect. In August of 2007, he received his first big-league promotion at age 27, much to the delight of people throughout the organization. In 28 at-bats, Watkins collected 10 hits (all singles) before suffering an abdominal injury late in the month. He wouldn't appear again in the majors, retiring with a .357 batting average, but his impact on the organization was far from over. Fun Fact When he dropped a force-out throw from Bartlett in the first inning of a June 6th contest against the Angels, Castillo snapped a streak of 143 straight games without an error. It was an MLB record for a second baseman, although Detroit's Placido Polanco was already in the midst of surpassing him with a 186-game streak that lasted into 2008. Castillo was a streaky guy in general; his 35-game hitting streak with Florida in 2002 also set an MLB record for second basemen, later tied by Chase Utley. ~~~ Previous Installments: The 2000 SeasonThe 2001 SeasonThe 2002 SeasonThe 2003 SeasonThe 2004 SeasonThe 2005 SeasonThe 2006 Season Click here to view the article

I would add Morneau's home run off a 100 MPH heater from Joel Zumaya to the list of unforgettable highlights. That was the one moment that sticks in my memory above all others from his four-month MVP run full of huge hits.

Option 3: Press "Like This" on this comment (or voice your support below) if you want us to switch to this regular batting order: 1. Luis Arraez, 2B 2. Byron Buxton, CF 3. Max Kepler, RF 4. Miguel Sano, 1B 5. Josh Donaldson, 3B 6. Jake Cave, LF 7. Mitch Garver, C 8. Nelson Cruz, DH 9. Jorge Polanco, SS

Option 2: Press "Like This" on this comment (or voice your support below) if you want us to switch to this regular batting order: 1. Luis Arraez, 2B 2. Jorge Polanco, SS 3. Mitch Garver, C 4. Miguel Sano, 1B 5. Josh Donaldson, 3B 6. Max Kepler, RF 7. Nelson Cruz, DH 8. Jake Cave, LF 9. Byron Buxton, CF

Option 1: Press "Like This" on this comment (or voice your support below) if you want us to stick with this regular batting order: 1. Luis Arraez, 2B 2. Josh Donaldson, 3B 3. Miguel Sano, 1B 4. Max Kepler, RF 5. Mitch Garver, C 6. Jorge Polanco, SS 7. Nelson Cruz, DH 8. Jake Cave, LF 9. Byron Buxton, CF