That's amazing. In this day and age, the average Dominican shortstop is hitting 30. Good field, no hit indeed.

The problem, obviously, is that the only Twin on the "juice" is on of our pitchers.

I'm not going to hold my breath waiting for a 30 dinger season this year.

ok, so I've had a few tonight... that should be "...one of our pitchers." but you get the point.

Even more amazing is that only a couple ex-Twins have even hit the 30 HR milestone. Ortiz, for sure, and Casey Blake (?), but it took most of those 20 years before even 1 Twin or ex-Twin crossed that milestone.

Batting fourth, DH, Fraaaaaank Thomas!

Good article, read it a couple days ago. The Twins made a conscious decision from the manager that trickled down to the minors to focus on swinging for the opposite field. Couple that with a general inability to sign those marquee free agent mashers, and you're left with plucky scrappers looking for BA above all else.

But hey, you won 3 years in a row this century, so it's not THAT big a deal apparently, just a "huh."

Too bad bout Big Papi though, eh?

I think if Morneau goes out and drops 30 bombs this year (provided he's healthy this offseason), then I think we can just let it go, Maybe it was bad prospects, maybe it was bad luck, who cares, we won a World Series and 3 ALCS.

If Morneau doesn't, however, then I think the organization needs to radically change it's approach to hitters. Because that would make me think he's on his way to being Ortiz 2. And that would make me cry, because if the Twins took a guy who HIT THE SCOREBOARD AT MILLER PARK and made him into a 15-25 HR guy, well, that just wouldn't be right.

Dear Mr.Crikket -

Please stop picking on Boo -

WW

I think it's definitely a philosophy throughout the organization that's a vestige of the Tom Kelly era. Ortiz, Torii, and - I think - others have mentioned that they were strongly discouraged from trying to pull the ball over the fence. When Ortiz left MN and started swinging for Fenway's right-field corner... well, you saw what happened. Now that TK has been more or less out of the picture for 4 or 5 years now, his impact might be fading, since most of our prospects were not in the system until TK left, right?

The idea that a team would be better off with a bunch of opposite-field swingers than with one or two pull-ball mashers has always been a curious one in my mind. Why not opt for a balanced attack? Mostly small-ball with one or two big-ball guys?

...heh, heh...

The optimistic part of me says that Mauer or Morneau (or both?!) could do it in the next few years. The cynical part of me says that our players will only hit 30 homers after they leave the Twins. If we got Thomas, he'd probably hit dingers on pace for 30+, but he'd only play in nineteen games before breaking his hip. Don't forget, he was drafted in the same year as Chuck Knoblauch.

30 homers in one season? Bradke has done it 4 times since '87.

Oh...HIT 30 homers.

Dear TBird-

Que?

I seem to remember winning 2 World Series and 2 ALCS in my lifetime...

Neil

I must say, I am surprised that I haven't seen the age-old "Mauer to third" arguments crop up (is frightwig on vacation during the offseason?).

Maybe Piazza as a catcher is a bad idea (and I believe it is a bad idea) but as a stop-gap, wouldn't Piazza behind the plate 4 days a week and Mauer at 3rd be better than most alternatives? Is it just that Mauer can't/won't play third? Is it health-related?

Something to think about.

YankeeFan

Justin could hit 30 next year. Then again, he might not. I don't think Mauer will, but then again, he might. However, if all the guys play well and all of them hit well, then I don't care if individual players don't reach a certain number of home runs.

Dear Mr. Fan,

The Mauer to third was fueled out of speculation that he couldn't catch due to injury. But his health has proven just fine. While, with training, he probably could play third (or do whatever he wanted, including compete on Project Runway) he hasn't played it. He's a catcher, and a darned good one.

Helpfully,
Batgirl

Dr. Morneau has called in a perscription of Long Ball(tm) (Amanwillcrushsphere HCl 5 mg capsules) to cure what ails the Twins.

Long Ball(tm) is a non-steroid pharmacuetical that grants patients the six-million dollar man "nah-nah-nah-nah-nah" super-slow motion sound and speed effect. Thus, patients jump on the inside fastball more efficiently and become less prone to swinging at sliders outside and in the dirt. Side effects include; squinty eyes, unmovable hair, and a penache for jump suits. Talk to your physician today about how Long Ball(tm) can work for you or your favorite Twin.

Common side effects of Long Ball(tm) include excessive amounts of cool, Sore fore arms due to team mate celebrations, and increased batling fan mail. Use only as directed.

Caution!: Do NOT taunt Long Ball(tm)

Maybe this is cock-eyed optimism, but I predict that both Dr. Morneau and Torii will hit over 30 homers this coming year. Further, Mauer, Stewart and Cuddeyer will all hit 20.

Now, let's get either Hank Blalock or Nomar to help make this happen. Either of them could also hit 30.

Beeg,

Totally understood. My speculation was garnered out of viewing the available free agents (and potentially available trades for the Twins) at both positions, and I see a net gain by playing the best catcher at 3rd, and the backup catcher behind the plate. Then, the utility infielder of the moment can spell Mauer at 3rd and Mauer can spell Piazza behind the plate, with Piazza moving to DH, etc. In that way, someone gets either a day off or a day off from fielding.

I guess I think that at this point it is more likely to get a serviceable catcher than a serviceable third baseman. I was just surprised that this option hasn't been discussed. I definitely didn't mean that it was a good approach by any means :)

YF

I too read the article when it came out a day or two ago--I still feel that Twins winning with pitching and defense works--we'll ignore last year. I dont worry about 30 HR guys--how many rings to Barry and Griffey JR have??

BTW: According to USA Today--Nomar is supposed to sign with Yanks or Dodgers or Stros soon.

YFan: Piazza is a very weak defensive catcher--if Mauer goes to 3B--put NBP at catcher--keep Piazza (if we sign him) at DH.

DAM - makes sense to me. At least that would be another option. I guess that is the type of discussion I assumed to see at some point this offseason -- scenarios IF Mauer were to move to 3rd. I mean, NBP at catcher, with his off-days at DH (Piazza is a way-below average defensive catcher, but can call a game and presumably still hit the snot out of the ball, but can still play the position once a week) sounds like a better alternative than 7 utility infielders taking turns at DH and 3rd with Mauer behind the plate...

Helpfully,
YF

I doubt Morneau will get to 30, but if he's healthy in 2006 and doesn't do it, he'll never do it. As for Hunter, projecting any sort of significant numbers is dipping into a sort of whimsical, dreamy zone best saved for those minutes of semi-consciousness that arrive just before one gets up, takes a shower, and goes to work. He's a good outfielder. On almost any other team, he'd be regarded as a capable No. 6 or No. 7 hitter. I have tried in the past to turn that young man into Willie Mays at the dish and he's not going there whether he tries to pull the ball or not. I'm committed to improving my whole Twins experience by calling a season of .260, 20 hr, 80 rbi a great year for Torii Hunter. If he hits those numbers in 06, it probably borders on overacheiving for him. He's never going back to that All-Star season. He will never hit as high as .280 again, and if he reaches 30 hr it will be because he's given up on ever becoming a decent all-around hitter. Resign yourself to that, enjoy the way he plays the field, and hope they find somebody in or outside the organization who is capable of filling the 3, 4, 5 spots. While you're hoping for that, hope also that the evergreen behind your house begins producing solid gold pine cones next spring, and your eaves spout pours out portions of a pirate's treasure every time it rains.

30 home runs? We all try to forget them, but we had five post-Kirby seasons, '96-'00, where almost nobody hit 20 homeruns. (The exception: Lawton had 21 in 1998.) Last year we had two guys hit over 20, and the Twins just waved good bye to one of the one who isn't messed in the head. I should be able to stretch out in the Dome this year...

When I saw the headline, I was hoping to see a Photoshopped Mt. Rushmore with the faces of Jacque, J.C., Corey and Restovich, with Old English lettering with the birth and death the dates of this recently completed era of Twins baseball. Preferrably on a T-Shirt. I haven't finished my XMas shopping yet. Oh well.

Neil,

That was a sleep deprivation induced typo. I meant three AL Central titles, not 3 ALCS titles. Though that would be cool if we had won the ALCS those three years. Maybe we would have if we'd had a 30+ HR cleanup hitter?

Sorry for the confusion,
TBird41

I think that the Doctor, inspired by patriotic fervor from representing team Canada in the WBC, will remember that he's an awesome hitter. If he just does his thing, he shouldn't have any trouble hitting 40, much less 30.

One of his troubles this past season was pulling out too early on his swing, because he was trying to pull the ball. TK is absolutely right to preach taking the ball the other way. If a hitter takes that approach, he has a chance of making contact on an off-speed pitch. And Morneau & Torii have terrific power to the opposite field - remember, the Miller Park shot the Doctor hit was to center.

What the Twins 30-HR drought suggests to me is that the Metrodome isn't the homer-happy venue that it's cracked up to be. True, we haven't been able to afford any prodigious sluggers in their prime. But look at the dimensions of the park: 343 is a much deeper left field than most places - how many flies balls die at the wall? 327 is already an average right field distance, and then we make a hitter go 18 feet over that with baggy. There are a lot of home runs in Yankee Stadium or Fenway that would be outs in the Dome, and vice versa.

Won't it be ironic if Jacque gets 30 this year?

I believe it will JJ's turn to get a WS ring this year?

Assuming the Twins don't of course!!

Ok - maybe I was hearing things - I hope so - someone mentioned we signed Tony Batista to play third?? I was listening to the radio singing so I hope this was not what I heard -

much love
Wonder Woman

Yep, we got Batista. Click on my name for the official press release.

"Since 1999 (excluding his Japanese League stats), Batista has hit 186 home runs and driven in 597 rbi for an average of 31 homers and 99.5 rbi per-season"

Doesn't sound too too bad...

Huh - and Shawn Wooten to a minor league contract - I think I'd rather give Michael another shot at 3rd - he did only play 96 games there -

Well we didn't get a guy with a funny last name - just a funny batting stance -

I am confused -

WW

Batista might be getting us to 30 HR this year, but overall he isn't a very good player. Although if cheap and used sparingly, he may be a fine addition. Hope this isn't it though.

Sounds to me like Nomar dropped TR a hint that he doesn't feel like freezing his gigantic nose off in the great white north. Not too sure about Batista, but he would be the second former All-Star added to the infield. Also, depending on countries of origin, we could be headed towards League of Nations 2: The Revenge.

As for a bomber, if it isn't the good Doctor, than it isn't happening.

I have a hard time getting excited about Batista. I never understood how he could put up those power numbers with that goofy stance and rubbish batting average. Well, he's ours now so I guess I better figure out how to talk him up as the best 3B in the AL. Welcome to Minnesota, Tony B.

"Batista might be getting us to 30 HR this year, but overall he isn't a very good player."

Compared to Blalock? Probably not (although his BA last year was in the same range as Batista's career average). I don't think it's fair to say he's not a very good player. Check this out from the press release:

"Since 1999 (excluding his Japanese League stats), Batista has hit 186 home runs and driven in 597 rbi for an average of 31 homers and 99.5 rbi per-season."

If you want pop at 3rd, and don't want to give up ridiculously valuable pitching to get it, this is a GREAT bargain.

I've always liked this guy and thought he was underrated, mostly because he kept getting exiled to Montreal, Arizona and places like that were general team suckage and lack of media exposure kept people from really paying attention. I mean, it's hard to get exiled further from here than Japan without going on Survivor. People get caught up in the funny stance, but if you look at his swing mechanics they're really solid *because* of the stance. Plus, he's better defensively than people realize.

He's up there in age, but looks like he put up pretty good numbers in Japan last year:

"He batted .263 (147-559) with 78 runs scored, 29 doubles, one triple, 27 homers and 90 rbi in 135 games."

He may not match that here, but even if he's close, that's pretty good production from the 3B position. Good pickup, TR. Way to pull one out of FAR, FAR left field. ;)

- Freez

Let me step up and guarantee that the good Doctor will, indeed, hit at least 30 in 2006. And the Chairman will get at least 20, along with Torii and our new favorite, Tony B. And let me once again state that I under no circumstances - and I mean under NO circumstances - have the desire to see Frank Thomas' gigantic arms filling up a sleeveless Twins jersey (or a sleeved one, for that matter). He has just been too vile for too long, and all whilst wearing that hideous black and white Sox nastiness, for me to be able to cheer for him. I just can't. The Boone was painful enough...let's not go back to that agony again. Please. I'm begging here.