The Twins Just Won't Go Away

It’s been 32 days since the Minnesota Twins were in first place of the AL Central, but they returned there in heroic fashion, coming back from a 6-1 deficit to wrestle away the division lead from the shell-shocked Chicago White Sox. The 10-inning, 7-6 win at the Metrodome completed a three-game sweep of Ozzie’s Sox and has turned this pennant race upside down. Seventh-year manager Rod Gardenhire has won four division titles and won a playoff series, but he has performed his best work in 2008. Overseeing a team that was given no chance, Gardenhire’s Twinkies have fought their way past the Tigers, Indians, and now the White Sox without so much as a hiccup all year long. In a season where they have overachieved after losing two franchise stalwarts, the Twins could be taking this joyride into October.

Last night’s emotional victory was a microcosm of the Twins season, one in which they’ve shown tremendous resiliency from start to finish. Chicago raced out in front of Minnesota in the team’s final meeting of the season with a six-run fourth inning. Twins starting pitcher Kevin Slowey got knocked out of the game when he was hit in the wrist by a line drive. By that time, it looked certain Chicago would cut their magic number to three. Facing the White Sox best pitcher, 16-game winner Gavin Floyd, the inexperienced Twins did not give up. Carlos Gomez, the team’s new centerfielder, and Denard Span combined for seven hits and were responsible for all five runs that Minnesota scored to tie the game. Yes, that’s correct, Minnesota was led by two rookies in the team’s most critical stage, a game they would win on Alexei Casilla’s single.

The stirring comeback by the Twins ended a devastating series for the White Sox. On Tuesday, Chicago entered this series as division favorites with an opportunity to apply the knockout blow to a weaker opponent. Guillen’s team left without securing a single game in the Metrodome when it mattered most, losing back-to-back one-run games to close the series. Chicago has had a great season as division front-runners all year long, but their season turned sour in a hurry. They were dominated by a team that’s been methodically put together. Minnesota has 111 home runs, which is worst in the league, but they’ve scored 813 runs, the most ever in Gardenhire’s seven-year tenure. The Twins have done this by hitting .310 with runner in scoring position, mostly with guys you’ve never heard of.

Minnesota has used their $63 million payroll (24th in the MLB) effectively, signing franchise cornerstones Justin Morneau, Joe Mauer, and Joe Nathan to long-term deals that haven’t broken the bank financially. The three of them were All-Stars this season and are among the most underrated players at their respective positions. Morneau was AL MVP two years ago, but we remember that because everyone groans about how Derek Jeter got jobbed. This year, he leads the American League in RBI and won the Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium, but he still is rarely mentioned. Joe Mauer is only 25, but he’s already the first catcher to win an American League battling title. He’s about to make it two batting titles in three years if he can hang on to the five-point lead he has over Dustin Pedroia, an unprecedented achievement for a backstop. Nathan was a starter with the San Francisco Giants, but in his five seasons as a closer with Minnesota, he’s converted 89% of his save opportunities, totaling 199 of them over that span.

In maintaining one of the league’s lowest payrolls, the Twins have also been forced to make some tough cuts. They showed a tremendous amount of discipline in letting Johan Santana and Torii Hunter go despite considerable murmur from championship-hungry fans. There is no doubt the Mets and Angels have gotten a significant boost from signing them. Together, the two of them will make $227 million over the duration of their contracts, a figure the Twins simply can’t afford. Hunter and Santana are worth the money they are making now, but four, five years down the road they will be financial liabilities. Minnesota had to let them walk, but had a plan of action on how to respond and rebuild the team. With the organization sitting in first place and facing a three-game set at home to finish the season against the lowly Royals, general manager Bill Smith’s plan is working just fine.