JRod from Two Big Boobs stops by to give us a look at the last 7 years of success in Minnesota. Though the Yankees absolutely own the Twins, it hasn’t lessened how impressed I am by them. I also love Joe Mauer.

Small Market, Big Success.

The Minnesota Twins. The title says it all. They are the epitome of small market, big success. Unfortunately, it seems that throughout the decade they have played second fiddle, and been overlooked because of the phenomenon known as “Moneyball”. However, people are finally starting to see through Billy Beane’s system, due largely to the fact that they have only one playoff series win to show for all the hype, and are starting to appreciate what the Minnesota Twins have done this decade to make the organization a perennial contender in the American League Central.

As this decade winds down, let us take a look back at one of the more refreshing teams in baseball and see what lies ahead in their future. Of course I may be slightly biased.

Where They Have Been

Unfortunately, I was born at just the right time to have no recollection of either of the Twins’ World Series championships (‘87 & ‘91), so as I child my favorite team was similar to what the Kansas City Royals are today. Sure we had some young guys (Matt Lawton, Marty Cordova, Chuck Knoblauch), and a couple of veterans (Puckett, Aguilera and Tapani), but the end result was down right ugly. So please forgive me for fast forwarding to the 2000-2002 era when the Twins began building a contender.

This is the era where the Twins became known for building from the farm system up. The early teams were essential a jumble of no namers (Jacque Jones, Torii Hunter, Corey Koskie, Doug Mientkiewicz, and my personal favorite Luis Rivas). Of course these no namers would develop into all-stars, including a Rule Five pickup named Johan Santana. The Twins were built around defense and pitching. Offense came via small ball, playing station to station. The Twins suffered through a stretch of nearly 20 years with no single player hitting 30 homers in a season (Justin Morneau finally hit over 30 in 2006). Despite the lack of an explosive offense the end result was four division championships in this decade, including three straight from 2002-2004.

Unfortunately, the ownership has also earned a reputation of being quite stingy with their money, which has cost the organization key players and possibly opportunities at building a champion.

Where They Are Now

The Twins are what I would describe as a stalemate at this point in the decade. Every year experts eye the Twins as a threat for the AL Central and a dark horse candidate for the World Series; and every year they seem to challenge, but are never a serious threat. The team that began the turn around at the beginning of the century is completely gone now, replaced by another even younger team, the youngest in the league. Hunter and Santana are gone, replaced by Francisco Liriano, Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau and Denard Span.

The Twins are currently a nice team to watch and their speed and athleticism can provide some very exciting moments, but their youth makes them unlikely to challenge the likes of Boston and New York this season or even next year. Their key positions are dependent on players who still need to mature. Carlos Gomez can’t seem to take a pitch and Liriano is still trying to regain his rookie season form, or something close to it. In the mean time players like Morneau and Mauer will be the only ones challenging for hardware this year, Mauer potentially setting the all time high average for a catcher.

Where They Are Going

One of the main reasons the Twins have been such penny pinchers when it comes to contracts is the fact that they do not currently have their own stadium. They are reliant on ticket sales and sponsorships in the Metrodome. They make nothing off concessions or suite sales because each is owned by the Minnesota Vikings. That will all change next year, when the Twins move into their very own home, Target Field. This is where the young Pohlads will have to put up or shut up. There will no longer be any excuse for why stars can no longer remain with the team, and the first challenge approaches quickly with the expiration of hometown star Joe Mauer’s contract after the 2010 season. Arguably the best player in the AL will be up for hire. If the Twins decide to start paying stars what they are worth, the organization will continue to be a contender every year, with the added benefit of youngsters maturing. Essentially the next handful of years will be the Twins’ window of opportunity to bring home a third championship.

Of course this is all moot if the younger Pohlads take after their father and continue to keep the checkbook closed. If this is the case, you could see the Twins slowly slide into the Kansas City Royals category once again. A team with a lot of young players who don’t pan out, because eventually the Twins will run into a streak where not every prospect excels, the law of averages seems to say the Twins cannot keep up this streak of rebuilding and playing for the future and expect to surpass where they are now.

In the end, I have no idea where the Twins will eventually end up. They certainly have the potential to play with the best of them, but their chances are dependent on the owners to spend money to keep the core of the team together for the long haul. What I do know is that it will be great to finally experience my first outdoor baseball starting next season.

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