There is no denying the impact that Morneau has on this team. Just as I prefaced this column, one simply can’t overlook Santana’s consistence brilliance, Mauer’s high level performance, or Liriano’s insane numbers. However, there is one key on the Twins roster who’s success exactly mirrors that of his team and that is Morneau. His presence in the middle of the order is changing the entire complexion of games for Minnesota. They no longer have to scratch and claw for hits and max out their bullpen arms in an effort to squeak out one-run games.
Santana and Liriano aren’t worried about losing the game by making one mistake. The offense isn’t going days on end without home runs anymore. Most importantly, the Twins finally have a guy that takes opposing pitchers out of their rhythm. There might not be anything more important in baseball than getting a pitcher to stop and think. For what felt like an eternity, the Twins lacked that bat. Now they have one.
I’m not sure what is more surprising about this whole situation: the fact that Morneau is playing the way he is or that nobody seems to notice. You never hear his name mentioned, even when people are specifically discussing the Twins. It’s really kind of amazing. One thing is for sure though – if he plays the next two months the same way he played the last two, his numbers will read something like .335/46/140/.630 and you will probably be looking at the 2006 AL MVP.
I’m guessing that at that point, people will finally take notice of the Twins’ forgotten lefty.
Article comments
1 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Adam,
I haven't been watching the Twinkies for about five years now, given that I live a third of a world away. But my wife, the loyal fan and St. Paul native, keeps pressing me for stats - so in the past I looked in the Jerusalem Post (when you live in Israel, that paper is a real downer, as is Haaretz) or the major league baseball site.
The way I've seen it, the Twinkies, no matter how good they looked in the "Central Division" (whatever that is - this is baseball, not basketball!) of the AL, never really rose above the middle of the American League. If you look at all of the teams in the AL, do the Twins rise above the middle of the AL, or are they still sitting there?
2 - Matthew T. Sussman
Ruvy,
ESPN's Power Rankings should give you a good idea of who's playing the best right now. They update it every Friday:
1- Yankees
2- Tigers
3- Twins
Though personally I'd switch 1 and 2.
3 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Thanks Matt,
I just went to the AL standings at the same site - and it turns out that with a .591 average, the Twins are in the 4th ranking out of 14. Not bad, but still solidly towards the center of the standings in the league. Usually they have been in 5th or 6th place in the past.
Still, it is nice to see the Twins garner a little attention outside of Minnesota and the Dakotas...