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Twins thrive on affordable home cooking
In the early part of this decade, it was the Moneyball A's who held us in rapt attention, and these days it's Tampa Bay who gets the column inches. Still and yet, the Twins win and win often. There's a simple reason for that — the Minnesota Twins are the best organization in baseball.
Make the case for another club if you like. Red Sox? Two titles in four years. Angels? Without question, they're in the discussion. Yankees? That playoff streak is still alive. Cardinals? The NL's best in recent seasons. Braves? It hasn't been that long since they ruled the sport. The Rays? They're young and excellent. Diamondbacks? Ditto on the young and excellent thing. White Sox? They're right there, too. The A's? A strong track record and what looks like a successful rebuilding effort.
However, once you consider on-field success through the prism of organizational resources, there's no question that the Twins are tops. And the season in our midst proves it.
In 2007, the Twins finished a mediocre 79-83, and over the winter, they lost All-Star center fielder Torii Hunter and control artist Carlos Silva to free agency. Then they traded uber-ace Johan Santana to the Mets. Take that much production from a team that already had a losing record, and you're seemingly in "playing for a high draft pick" territory. Now throw in the lost first half of Francisco Liriano and the season-ending injury to reliever Pat Neshek, and Minnesota would surely be in for a disastrous 2008, right?
Well, we're five months into the season and the stripped-down Twins are on pace for 92 wins, and they're but one game out of playoff position. Oh, and they're doing it all despite being saddled with the sixth-lowest payroll in all of baseball (and the lowest in the AL Central — yes, lower even than that of the Kansas City Royals). The crowded field of contenders in the American League means that the Twins might miss out on the playoffs, but regardless of how the stretch drive unfolds, the 2008 season will stand as one of distinction for Minnesota.
What's also noteworthy is how they're getting it done. Take a glance at their roster and you'll find a stunning number of homegrown talents. Each member of the current rotation spent at least the majority of his developmental time within the Twins' minor-league system. Of the nine regulars presently atop the Twins' depth chart, four — Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Denard Span and Jason Kubel — have spent every second of their professional lives as Twins, and that's not counting the disabled Michael Cuddyer. Oh, and since the Twins are the youngest team in the AL this season, there's every reason to believe the winning will continue.
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| Justin Morneau and Jason Kubel are two of the best examples of the Twins homegrown talent. (Lisa Blumenfeld / Getty Images) |
Of course, it's been this way for years. For most of the last decade, the Twins have been winning on the cheap and winning with players cultivated from within. The Twins' current run began in 2001, when manager Tom Kelly, in his final season and coming off 93 losses in the prior year, led them to an improbable 85-77 season. In the coming years, the run continued under Ron Gardenhire. Over that span, the Twins earned four division titles and notched winning campaigns in seven of eight seasons (safely assuming that 2008 yields a winner) and a cumulative winning percentage of .548. That's a stretch that compares favorably with almost any other team in baseball, insofar as winning and winning regularly are concerned. And every time they've done it on a basement-level payroll. That success is a credit to Gardenhire, erstwhile general manager Terry Ryan, current GM Bill Smith and a scouting-and-development system that's as consistent as it is bountiful.
Take those aforementioned teams — the ones also in the running for "best organization" — and they don't quite stack up to what the Twins have done. The Red Sox, Yankees, Angels, White Sox and to a lesser extent, Cardinals, all have financial latitude that the Twins can't fathom. The Braves and A's can't match them in terms of recent glories, and the Rays and Diamondbacks haven't sustained it for as long. Once you account for all the full complement of challenges facing a major-league team, it becomes clear that no one does it as well as the Minnesota Twins.
Member Comments
When you look at the players the Twins would have received if they had traded Santana to the Yankees you have to be happy they didn't make the trade. Those players have not had good years.
Morland9/10/2008 15:10:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Sorry, Shake. I can agree with you on the appalling effort by the Pohlads to contract the team out of existence. But what sports owner hasn't tried to squeeze the public for a new stadium, with most of them succeeding? As far as Hunter, Silva and Santana, they were signed by the only teams willing to pay prices that are absurd at best. Silva's contract already is a burden to Seattle and Hunter's price tag will haunt the Angels within a year or two. Santana is great, but remember that even the Red Sox and Yankees were unwilling to pay his demands. The reality is that the Twins have been among the most successful teams since 2001 by signing key players to lucrative long-term contrracts, trading wisely and developing good, young talent. Frankly, other than David Ortiz -- a player no one wanted at the time -- what other free agent who has left the Twins would you want back?
Michael0723509/3/2008 11:08:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
As a lifelong fan of the Twins, I was very happy to see some attention paid to my favorite team. But I regretfully have to disagree with the article. When I think of a successful organization model in any realm, I always think of that success coming from the top. An owner that cares for the organization and does anything to cultivate its success. This is where the Twins fall woefully short. With Carl Pohlad as its owner, the Twins organization lacks what a successful organiztion requires. Remember, this is an owner that VOLUNTARILY offered his team up for contraction for the quick buck. Not only that, he has on several occasions held the state of MN for ransom for a new stadium and has threatened moving the team to any locale that would meet his demands. The Twins are often commended for their frugality, but it is not a choice rather a requirement for a front office that is rarely given any opportunity to spend money on free agents, trades, and facilities. There has been much talk of how we have two World Series titles, but one needs to remember that they were won in '87 and '91...an eternity ago in regards to baseball economics. The writer commends our bottom feeder free agent signings and any dearth of trade deadline activity, but it is for those exact reasons that the Twins have continually fallen short when it comes to post-season success. We've contiually been a team that's "just good enough"...and while that maybe good enough for some, it certainly falls short of any sort of "best organization" nominations. What scares me is how some fans believe that 2009 and 2010 will be different when it comes to spending. Remember, Pohlad already had his stadium when he let Torii Hunter and Carlos Silva walk, and traded away Johan Santana...and replaced them with journeymen infielders and aged veterans, many of which are not on the team as of today. Nothing tells me that this will change with the new stadium opens. Sorry, just too many things wrong with the top of the organization to make it the best.
Shake_N_Bake999/2/2008 13:49:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Perry is now calling the twins the best organization in baseball. After writing and bashing them all season sounds like he is a bit of a hypocrite.<br />msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8308750/Twin...<br /><br />Make up your mind about them Perry.
9/2/2008 13:26:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Yes, and if you're visiting the twin cities it's highly recommended--just don't expect it to be completely up to date
podtron8/30/2008 22:48:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Michael072350: Racism? I use no racial slurs, I'm just telling it like it is, Willard34 seems to think we have tall Norse women here. Sure, some, but the state of MN, along with the rest of the country will be mostly minorities before the century is up. Willard34 thinks we think we're smart, I'm just here as one Minnesotan to say: we're not. Why go to the expense of building a new stadium in MN if you're not going to have a retractable roof? It WILL snow in Apr., no radiant heat will stop that. The point being postponing a game here is not like postponing a game for most teams. The twins have fans-loyal, dedicated fans that travel great distances (ND, SD, IA, and farther) to see a game. As bad as the dome is--a fan can travel along way and know the game will be played, not true with the new stadium. You've not read the reports concerning the garbage burner, (I don't want anything to do with season tickets). As far as the comment about the signs go: just drive in and around downtown Mpls. I've been here 40 years so I know where things are but there's plenty of instances where you have to be psychic to know that a left turn here will take you to that hwy you want, there's no sign to indicate it.
podtron8/30/2008 17:18:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
What's worse? The racism in the last post or the idiocy? Norwegians never have been a majority or close to it in Minnesota. Germans and eastern Europeans predominate. People of color are about 10-12 percent. The burner doesn't emit hazardous fumes, or any fumes, for that matter. The new stadium will have climate control --radiant heat, included -- through most of the seating areas. And whatever road isn't posted for that idiot, perhaps that's a good thing
Michael0723508/30/2008 16:43:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Willard34: I live in Minnesota, there are no intellectuals here, (sure, some puesdo-intellectuals, but no real ones. Norse women? That's in the past, now it's mostly black, latino, somali, asian, you name it, the Norwegians will be a minority in MN in 20 years if they aren't already. And the best at everything? Have you seen the dome? It's a piece. And the new stadium is not going to have a retractable roof (sorry fans from ND, SD, IA coming to the games only to turn around and go home when its 20 degrees and snowing in Apr), and is being built next to a mercury and benzene emitting garbage burner. No matter, the fans won't be able to find the stadium because that road you're supposed to be on? they didn't bother to put up a sign at that turn you were supposed to take.
podtron8/30/2008 16:31:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
I would love to see the Twins play more interleague games, how about that eh? We deserve to play more
pt0688/30/2008 12:39:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
This is the kind of superficial reporting one gets when the media go along with the pack instead of doing some original research. Which of the players the Twins let go as free agents - Hunter, Santana or Silva - would you want given the price they commanded? In the meantime, the Twins locked up the players they really wanted to build on - Morneau, Mauer and Cuddyer - to long-term deals. Twins are very good at developing players, but also very good at keeping the players who actually can deliver a pennant. Anyone want to give Carlos Silva $48 million today? Anyone think that Hunter who is a mediocre hitter and has lost a step in the field will be worth $18 million a year for four more years? Do some decent reporting for a change
Michael0723508/30/2008 12:20:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Hey Willard34 - Maybe you should go to the library and read up on what a mote is. I guess us fat hairy Norse women need to clean up more since a mote is a speck of dust. D#####S! PS - I'm 115 pounds so your image of me must be the goodyear blimp.
bobblehead04118/30/2008 10:58:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
And silly me, I thought that success was measured by "winning it all" without breaking the rules. Now I understand success is being competitive and cheap. <br /><br />This article brings a whole new perspective to all of sports. Clearly the Red Wings aren't the most successful hockey team then. I wonder who is.
Bob_Curtin8/30/2008 6:59:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
yo willard, 2000 unemployed commediens and you still trying to be one. you are a funny guy, funny how that happens when you drink too much cheap beer that is sold at wriglyey field. Maybe we should dig a moat around chicago so you can keep all you dirt bag criminals in your city instead of flushing them out to all the surrounding areas like milwaukee, madison, waukeegon or god forbid the horrible moat circled minnesota. dumb ass
icedoc8/30/2008 2:40:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Levicro... first of all the cubbies haven't won **** in a hundred years so no they would not be considered one of the best orginazitons in baseball... they have bought 3 winning seasons wahoo big deal that doesn't mean there a good organization and the Twins last played the Cubs in late June 2006 and the Twins swept them outscoring them 28-4 so u can shut up and stop dissing a good team and the BEST organization in baseball oh and the Twins wont be leaving anytime soon and they wont fall into 10 year lossing droughts like the cubs
cadet308/29/2008 21:45:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
wow. this is kind of contradictory to that article you wrote back in June Dayn. I thought the Twins were going nowhere? "there's every reason to believe the winning will continue." I thought you said us Twins fans shouldn't expect them to keep winning? Now magically they're the best organization in not just the leauge, but the entire sport? I'm just curious, but how do you figure payroll plays any part in how well a team plays? You could pay some horrible player way more than he's worth, but it certainly won't help him improve his game. I love how you think that one article is going to cover up all the garbage you've written about this organization.
mnwild098/29/2008 20:45:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Wow.. Willard.. you are so smart.. I lost IQ points just be reading your crap... If you are so great.. dude.. move on.. I'm not sure if a lobotomy will help you.. or anger management! And not to forget the great levicro..... sounds like a male inhancement drug... the Twins are a team you resent because hmmm... they don't choke like your beloved Cubbies... our old GM Andy couldn't correct that team! Wow.. how samrt were we to draft Mauer over that other guy...ummm.. Prior. So before you bad mouth the great state of Minnesota.. learn more about it.. before you talk as blind as you are! I root for the small payroll clubs because I am so sick of the Bosox and Yankees trying to buy there way to a penant! The players on these smaller payroll teams have heart... and you can't buy that!!
cutthroatbastard8/29/2008 20:25:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
HELLO LEVICRO!<br />the Twins have owned the National League since inner league play began and, it's not even close. As for the Cubs...<br />you're a stadium first and a team second. Finally money has bought a pennant contender for you ala Yankees. It is pretty ivy I have to admit.
carpybacon8/29/2008 19:48:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Wow Dayn Perry actually said something positive about the Minnesota Twins. <br /><br />I said it two months ago, The Twins might not win the division, but who ever does win the central division will have to beat the Twins.
Stosz8/29/2008 19:28:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
you forgot to mention the cubs.. and I live here.. but I forget the twins all the time.. a boring waste of time... and money... the only game I ever saw they played and lost to the cubs.. just as I hoped they would... hopefully they will leave someday soon.. and a good NL franchise will show up here... <br />so go twins go... and please.. never return...
levicro8/29/2008 15:57:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
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