Location: Minneapolis, Minn. | Ballpark: Metrodome (56,144) (Target Field opens 2010) | Spring Training: Ft. Myers, Fla.
Owner: Jim Pohlad / Twin Sports, Inc. | GM: Bill Smith | Manager: Ron Gardenhire | World Championships: 2
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POWER RANKINGS
Power Rankings
Date
Ranking
Previous
07/07/2009
11
12
The Twins might as well book non-refundable, non-transferable All-Star plane reservations for the Morneau/Mauer/Nathan trio nine months in advance ... Maybe I'm only seeing what I want to see, but it sure seems that Delmon Young has had more of a clue at the plate in recent weeks. I still get the impression that he's gone as soon as the Twins can get something good for him, though.
06/30/2009
12
13
They've won three straight road series, which is a big deal for this collection of homebodies ... I don't get why the Twins were lauded for their intrepid fearless lionhearted bravery in pitching to Albert Pujols in the ninth inning on Friday night. Joe Nathan, ostensibly their ace, was on the mound with nobody out, a two-run lead and a man on second. Who in his right mind would put the tying run on base in that situation?
06/23/2009
13
14
I'm seeing a lot to like here, both in the Mauer-fueled lineup and in the 'pen. Minny relievers have figured out what most other late-game staffs still don't get: namely, that it's harder for the other guys to score runs if you don't ever walk them ... According to the press notes, Justin Morneau sat on Sunday owing to "general soreness." Kudos to the Twins for saying "jeez, the guy's just tired, OK?," rather than attributing his absence to a muscle pull or anxiety about Canadian foreign policy.
06/16/2009
14
17
For a team that doesn't like to travel, returning home from a 10-game road trip right around .500 counts as a success ... Alexi Casilla complaining about being sent to the minors is like a kid who just dumped ammonia in his kid sister's fish tank complaining about being sent to his room ... I started reading an item that involved Mike Redmond and the superstitious abandonment of underwear. I stopped before I reached paragraph two.
06/09/2009
17
17
Last year the Twins batted something like .692 with runners in scoring position. This year, they can't get a hit when it matters. All together now: regression to the mean, regression to the mean, regression to the mean.
06/02/2009
17
15
My favorite highlight of the week was watching Jose Mijares damn near impale himself on the pitching rubber while attempting to track a popup that glanced off the Trop Field catwalk. He resembled nothing if not a whale trying to execute a pirouette. ... After a series against the Indians, they go on the road for most of the month -- and long road trips have been known to torpedo the home-happy Twins. If they're on the north side of .500 after their St. Louis/Milwaukee/Kansas City jaunt, they should be set up nicely for July and beyond.
05/26/2009
15
16
He's not totally completely 100 percent beyond all doubt recovered from his elbow apocalypse. I get that. But Francisco Liriano sure seems to be serving up more homers than a "guy who knows how to pitch" should ... Justin Morneau is underrated? Says who? He won the American League MVP during a year when he was the third most valuable player on his own squad.
05/19/2009
16
15
The Twins shouldn't come to New York, ever, not even if they're given free tickets to see Shrek: The Musical. After this weekend's sweep, they're 3-23 in the Bronx since 2002. ... Games in May count as much as games in September, but that's not reason enough to trot Joe Nathan out there four days in a row. On Friday night, he looked as if he'd spent the previous nine hours stacking heavy boxes.
05/12/2009
15
14
If Ron Gardenhire ever gets tired of the day-to-day managerial grind, he ought to be installed as MLB's first-ever VP of Common Sense. Whenever he raises a ruckus, he does so with good reason -- like in the aftermath of last week's four-times-delayed Twins/O's game, which should've been junked before the first pitch ... Of Delmon Young's 23 hits, 21 are singles. He's like Ichiro minus the speed, defense, instincts and zen temperament.
05/05/2009
14
15
They're only a game under .500 despite getting bupkis from Francisco Liriano and Scott Baker and playing without Joe Mauer. If you're a Twins fan, you've gotta be thinking that the worst is behind you ... With a single quip about the results of his recent MRI -- "They found a Bud Light in there" -- Mike Redmond has catapulted himself into consideration for a judging slot on America's Got Talent ... That crowded outfield is starting to become a headache. Denard Span has hit the most so far, but he's more of a fill-in sort than the other three dudes.
Preseason Power Rankings
Date
Ranking
Previous
02/16/2009
15
-
I don't like the look of their offense. Then again, I never like the look of their offense, owing to my frustration with the team's stubborn refusal to hire an actual third baseman. ... Last year, their hitters put up a .305/.380/.446 line with runners in scoring position, as opposed to a .279/.340/.408 line overall. Good luck replicating that. ... Carl Pohlad's three kids, who have taken the helm following their father's death, promise to be as hands-off as dad was. That should thrill Twins fans sick of rooting for a cheapwad team, even though ownership can afford more turtlenecks than George Steinbrenner ever could.
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