Welcome to jockr’s 2009 Team Sales Report, where we will offer fans consultative outreach and analysis of the comprehensive, results-based solutions they can expect from each franchise this upcoming quarter. Today’s entry focuses on the Minnesota Twins.
Minnesota Twins
2008 year-end market position: 88-75 2nd place, AL Central
Lost 1-game division playoff to Chicago White Sox
New Hires: RHP Luis Ayala (free agent from Mets), RHP Jason Jones (Rule 5 pick from Yankees), 3B Joe Crede (free agent from White Sox)
Layoffs: SS Adam Everett (free agent, signed with Tigers), LHP Eddie Guardado (free agent, signed with Rangers), LHP Dennys Reyes (free agent, signed with Cardinals), DH Randy Ruiz (released, signed with Blue Jays)
Best Practices: I love this team. So much young talent all maturing at the same time. Even though C Joe Mauer is banged up to start the season, the Twins should be alright thanks to 1B Justin Morneau solidifying a lineup that includes Denard Span, Carlos Gomez, Alexi Casilla, and Delmon Young–all under 25 years old. With consistent time, DH Jason Kubel could blossom into a 30 home run guy, and if he’s healthy, OF Michael Cuddyer could force the enigmatic Young to the bench most nights. The pitching staff is also very young, with all five starters 27 years old or younger. LHP Francisco Liriano may finally be back to his 2006 form after two seasons lost to injury. In case you forgot, he was 12-3 with a 2.16 ERA and 144 strikeouts in 121.0 innings that year. Sick. Scott Baker, Nick Blackburn, and Kevin Slowey all return after posting ERAs of 4.05 or under a year ago. And solid lefty Glen Perkins rounds out one of the most balanced 1-through-5 rotations I think I’ve ever seen.
Pain Points: They might struggle to score runs sometimes, especially with Mauer out early in the season. Other than Morneau, they don’t really have another true run producer, so they have to rely on speed to manufacture runs. Down the stretch, Gomez was one of the most exciting players in the league. No one can leg out a triple or score from first like he can. The problem was that he only got on base at a .294 clip, which is completely unacceptable. Only 25 walks in 602 plate appearances is shockingly terrible, so he’s going to have to work on it if he wants to truly make his speed an asset. If Young has to be a part-time player, will he stand for that? He has drastically outplayed Span this spring, but Span is still tentatively the starter because he is far superior in the field. We’ll see what happens there. Other than that, this team is pretty solid all the way around. Exciting lineup, solid starters, and a quality bullpen led by Joe Nathan.
Key Thought Leader: Morneau. The pride of Canadian baseball, Morneau played in all 163 of the Twins’ games a year ago as they came up on the short end of an amazing 1-0 one-game playoff with the White Sox. He’ll probably have to improve on his 23 homers from a year ago, but his 129 RBI show that while he wasn’t launching bombs, he still was productive.
Enterprise Outlook: Not much more I can say. This team is good and should be a lot of fun to watch. 1st place, AL Central
Tomorrow’s Target: Chicago White Sox
