Twins Time Machine: 2002

Let's take a look back at the 2002 season. The season where the Twins finally made the playoffs again. The 2001/2002 Twins teams were the ones that really started renewed interest in the Twins, after a decade long slump. Let's take a look at where they were playing in 2008, since all have left the Twins.

Here was the common lineup, along with how they did in 2008:
LF Jacque Jones With Tigers/Marlins. a little over 100 AB. 1 HR. 7 RBI. .108 BA.
SS Cristian Guzman With Nationals. 9 HR. 579 AB. 55 RBI.
1B Doug Mientkiewicz With Pirates. 285 at-bats. 2 HR. 30 RBI. .277 BA.
DH David Ortiz With Boston. 23 HR, 89 RBI, 416 AB.
CF Torii Hunter With Angels. 551 at-bats. 21 HR. 78 RBI.
3B Corey Koskie Not in MLB. Last team: 2006 Brewers.
RF Dustan Mohr Not in MLB. He had 16 at-bats with the 2007 Rays.
C AJ Pierzynski With White Sox. 13 HR. 534 at-bats. .281 BA.
2B Luis Rivas With Pirates. 3 HR. 206 at-bats. 20 RBI. .218 BA.

The pitching staff:
Brad Radke Retired after pitching for Twins in 2006.
Johan Santana With Mets. 16-7. 234 IP. 206 K. 2.53 ERA.
Eric Milton Not in MLB. Last team: Reds.
Kyle Lohse Pitched for Cardinals in 2008. 3.78 ERA. 200 IP.
Rick Reed Retired after pitching for Twins in 2003.
Joe Mays Not in MLB. Last team: Reds.

Juan Rincon Dropped by Twins picked up by Indians. 5.60 ERA, 27 IP.
JC Romero Pitched for Phillies. 59 innings. 2.75 ERA.
LaTroy Hawkins With Yankees/Astros. Pitched 62 innings.
Eddie Guardado Traded back to Twins mid-season. Only pitched 7 innings with Twins.


Well there are a decent number who just don't matter in baseball anymore: Jones, Koskie, Mohr, Radke, Milton, Reed, Mays, Rincon.
There are a few doing great: Hunter, Ortiz, Santana, Lohse, Romero, Pierzynski.
And there are some who will likely be done soon: Guardado, Hawkins, Rivas, Mientkiewicz.

That was a great team but it wasn't good enough to win a World Series. The 2002 team would lose to the Angels in the ALCS. Now they are all gone. I wouldn't mind having Ortiz, Hunter, and Santana back in Twins uniforms.

Jazz/Twins similarities

I've noticed through the years that there are many similarities between the Minnesota Twins and Utah Jazz. In fact it sometimes makes it feel like I'm rooting for the same team in 2 different sports. I'd argue that the Twins are more similar to the Jazz than any other NBA team. Here are some similarities:

They both play at the loudest arena in their sport (HHH Metrodome and EnergySolutions Arena)

Both have abandoned one arena in the city (Metropolitan stadium, Salt Palace)

Both old stadiums have been converted to something else (Mall of America, Convention center)

Both are some of the best teams at home, away they are very mediocre.

They both are middle to small market teams.

They both are constantly underrated by the national media.

Few players thrive after leaving the team (exceptions: David Ortiz, Johan Santana, Mo Williams, Raja Bell. examples: Chuck Knoblauch, Doug Mientkiewicz, Cristian Guzman, Jacque Jones, Eric Milton, Eddie Guardado, Shandon Anderson, Greg Ostertag, Karl Malone, Bryon Russell, Gordan Giricek, etc.)

For a while they had the 2 longest tenured coaches with the same team: Jerry Sloan and Tom Kelly

Their best players are slightly underrated by the national media: Joe Mauer and Deron Williams

Neither team ever makes huge free agent signings or trades.

They both do above average in the draft

They both make some great trades every now and then (Pierzynski for Liriano, Nathan, Bonser.
Giricek for Korver. Jeff Malone for Jeff Hornacek.)

Both did very well when having one of the top 3 picks in the draft (Joe Mauer #1, Deron Williams #3)

Both are among the youngest teams in the league.

Both have been to the Finals/World Series 2 times in the past 21 years.

Both franchises moved to the current city from previous cities (New Orleans, D.C.)

Both have one of, if not the best 1-2 punches in the game (Mauer/Morneau, Williams/Boozer)

Last year both had one of the top scoring offenses in the league.

Both teams have 3 all-stars (Boozer, Okur, Kirilenko. Mauer, Morneau, Nathan)

Neither is very good at doing things fans generally love most (3-pointers, home runs) but both are very exciting teams.

Both play the sport the old-school way (picks, bunts, etc.)

Both teams have had a player win the MVP award in the past 12 years (Malone, Morneau)

Both teams collect good people. They avoid troublemakers in the clubhouse.

Both have announcers that get excited really easily but sound good when they do (Bremer, Bolerjack)

Anyways you get the point.