Minneapolis Star Tribune’s LaVelle Neal gives an assessment of the Minnesota Twins as the spring training begins. Unlike last year, when most players were talking about whether the Twins would be contracted, the team is optimistic about their chances this year. The team reacted to the threat of contraction by winning the American League Central Division Championship and coming within a few games of playing in the World Series.
CATHY WURZER: I'm Cathy Wurzer. Its Morning Edition on Minnesota Public Radio. Minnesota Twins' pitchers and catchers are hard at work at spring training in Florida this week. Unlike last year, when most players were talking about whether the team would be eliminated, the team is optimistic about their chances this year. Joining us on the phone, LaVelle Neal, who covers the Twins for the Star Tribune. Hi, LaVelle.
LAVELLE NEAL: Hello, Cathy.
CATHY WURZER: Well, what is the mood among the Twins this spring?
LAVELLE NEAL: It's a little less hectic. Last year, when they came to camp, there was so much talk about, how can they-- how are they going to prepare for this season, coming off all the contraction and distractions of the year before?
This camp is a little more relaxed. Guys have just been going about their business. And I was talking to somebody yesterday. And there really wasn't a throng of people waiting for them yesterday, when they went through their first workout, which surprised some people. But you know what, things should pick up before the game starts.
CATHY WURZER: What questions are the Twins going to try to answer about their team in spring training?
LAVELLE NEAL: Well, first of all, I want to make sure their starting rotation is totally healthy. And as everybody-- all the Twins' fans realize, over the course of the last calendar year, each of the Twins' starting pitchers came down with some sort of injury. And three pitchers had surgery-- Eric Milton on his knee, left knee-- Kyle Lohse in his right knee-- and Joe Mays on his right elbow for the second time in the last three years.
And Mays has looked good in camp. Lohse is not up to running at full strength, following his offseason knee surgery, but they don't think it's going to be a hindrance to him. They are a little bit concerned with Eric Milton's lefty because he has surgery in August.
He was healthy in September, pitched in the playoffs. And apparently, he had a little-- some sort of twinge or something during this off season and had to have an MRI exam. I have that looked at, and they came back negative.
But in early workouts so far in Florida, his knee is puffed up at the end of the day. And that's been a concern to the coaching and medical staff with the Twins. But Milton has made us sure-- has assured everyone that he's going to be fine by the time the season begins. So that's something we're watching during camp.
The second question is, is the infield going to hit better than it did a year ago? Nobody in that is starting infield-- of Corey Koskie-- Cristian Guzmán, who's a shortstop-- Luis Rivas, the second baseman-- Doug Mientkiewicz, the first baseman.
None of those four gentlemen drove in over 80 runs last year, which is surprising because in baseball these days, a lot of your power and run production come from your first and third basemen. So Corey Koskie at third and Mientkiewicz at first, really have the notice placed on them this season to produce more.
CATHY WURZER: So one question I hear my friends up here asking, those who know baseball-- why didn't the Twins pursue more free agents this past season to fill some of the gaps?
LAVELLE NEAL: Oh, Cathy. That's a typical fans' demand. They always want the big, splashy, elaborate, free-agent signings during the offseason, especially for a club that has a chance to win. To me, it was just a celebration, a reason to celebrate the fact that the Twins were able to keep all the players from last year.
There was some concern at the end of last year and during the offseason that some players may have to go because the Twins cannot afford them. But Owner Carl Pohlad, who enjoyed being in the clubhouse after the Twins were successful in the postseason when they beat Oakland-- I guess he enjoyed that moment to the point where he wants to give this team a chance to win.
And he authorized the payroll to go up to $53 million in order to keep everybody. They were able to sign Torii Hunter to a multi-year contract. They were able to sign Jacque Jones. They were able to keep Rick Reed. A lot of people thought Rick Reed was going to be a goner because he's making over $7 million this year.
But the Twins were able to keep all these guys. And the payroll is going over $50 million. And the ownership knows that it's going to lose money this year. Because for them to support a $50 million payroll, they'd have to draw like 2.8, you know, 3 million fans to the Metrodome. And realistically, they don't think that's going to happen.
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