The Minnesota Twins are just half game behind the first place Kansas City Royals in the American League Central Division. Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer talks with Star Tribune’s LaVell Neal about the chances that the Twins can take the lead.
The Twins came out of the MLB All-Star Break in good shape, but recently lost three of four to Cleveland at the Metrodome. After the last game in that series, Manager Ron Gardenhire said their level of play was "embarassing."
HOST: The Minnesota Twins are just a half game out of first place with division leader Kansas City limping into the Metrodome for a big four-game series that starts tonight. The Twins won yesterday against the Cleveland Indians. The final score was 4 to 3 The Royals arrived from New York where the Yankees swept their three-game series with an 8 to 7 win.
Now, a week ago, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire spent his news conference after a game apologizing to fans, saying the team's performance was embarrassing. Well, joining us now to talk about the team's turnaround is La Velle Neal who covers the Twins for the Star Tribune. How are you, La Velle?
LA VELLE NEAL: I'm fine. How are you today?
HOST: I'm doing great. Thanks for joining us.
LA VELLE NEAL: No problem.
HOST: How did the team turn this thing around?
LA VELLE NEAL: Well, as you mentioned, I think Ron Gardenhire apologized to the fans last week. And I think the team has apologized to the fans with their play over the last several days. Gardenhire, he's done that before earlier this year when they weren't hitting. He came out and told the media that the club needed to do something offensively and step up and start hitting like a team that's capable of making the playoffs, and they responded.
So I think this is another timely remark from Gardenhire that really got the club going. And you see them. They're hitting well, they're getting good starting pitching, and they're playing very good defense.
HOST: Now, we should tell folks you're at the airport, by the way. That's why they're hearing some of that in the background. You mentioned pitching, La Velle. Let's talk about Johan Santana. How has he put together such a successful transition from the bullpen to the starting rotation?
LA VELLE NEAL: Well, you know what? That's been one of the issues during the course of the season. A lot of people thought Santana should be in the rotation for spring training. The club, I think, felt that Santana would help make their bullpen strong and Santana did that last year.
And he's been able to dominate lately. He's barely given up a couple runs a game. He has very good control. And he keeps hitters off balance and makes them swing at pitches that they think are fastballs but they're really changeups.
And he's really a bulldog. And he's the type of guy also that if he gets in a lot of trouble in the game, if there's runners on base, he can rear back and find something extra on his pitches to strike somebody out or get a key out. So it was really a timely move for the Twins because they've played well since he's returned to the rotation.
HOST: Now, over the all-star break, we made a trade for outfielder Shannon Stewart. How has that worked?
LA VELLE NEAL: That's worked very well. Shannon Stewart's batting around 340 for the Twins since coming over from Toronto. And the thing with Stewart is that he gives the Twins a legitimate leadoff hitter and that's helped out their offense overall. And he doesn't have a strong throwing arm as a defensive player, but he's very fast. And he's gifted as a hitter and that's what the club needed. And it's really helped our offense out.
HOST: Now, you're at the airport coming back home.
LA VELLE NEAL: Yes.
HOST: Kansas City is coming into Minneapolis to the Metrodome for this big series. But the Twins haven't played that well at home. Are you worried?
LA VELLE NEAL: No, not now. I think that the club has responded to Gardenhire getting on their case last week and apologizing to the fans. And I think right now, every facet of this team is working well and it's not going to matter where they're playing at. I think the Twins are going to play very well this weekend against the Kansas City team that's really struggling.
HOST: The other team in this mix, though, is the Chicago White Sox. How does their presence in the race affect the Twins?
LA VELLE NEAL: Well, I really believe that the Royals and the Twins are the two best teams in the division. I know the White Sox are hanging around. But see, the White Sox rely on the home run a lot and that they use that to cover up their shortcomings pitching wise and defense wise. And eventually, that's going to catch up with them. So I think it's going to be the Twins or the Royals winning this division.
HOST: Oh, you heard it here first, fans. La Velle, get on your plane and come home.
LA VELLE NEAL: Thanks a lot.
HOST: All right. La Velle Neal covers the Twins for the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
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