Minnesota Twins All-Time Team

We're wrapping up the American League Central with a stop in Minneapolis. Let's take a look at the Twins All-Time Team.

The Twins won two titles while playing home games at the Homer Dome, in 1987 and 1991. The epic battle between Jack Morris and John Smoltz in Game 7 of the '91 World Series was the last time a Minnesota team won a major pro sports championship.

Tom Kelly guided the 1987 Twins to the title and the worst-to-first squad four years later. Here's his All-Time lineup:

 

Kelly's top six is set in stone, with five Hall of Famers and a potential HOFer in Joe Mauer. Gary Gaetti edged out Eddie Yost with four Gold Gloves and more power at the plate. The Red Sox' managerial switch means Hall of Famer Joe Cronin is now free to push for the Twins/Senators starting shortstop spot:

	Twins stats	WAR	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+
	*Cecil Travis	30.4	0.314	0.370	0.416	0.786	108
	Joe Cronin	36.9	0.304	0.387	0.455	0.842	118

Cronin comes out on top. Cecil Travis will have to content with Chuck Knoblauch for a seat on the bench.

	Twins stats	WAR	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+
	*Chuck Knoblauch	38.0	0.304	0.391	0.416	0.807	114
	*Cecil Travis	30.4	0.314	0.370	0.416	0.786	108
	Buddy Myer	42.4	0.303	0.393	0.408	0.801	108

Knobby holds on - barely.

The Twins have a very deep and talented outfield, with several options for Tom Kelly to consider.

Hall of Famer Heinie Manush slipped through the cracks in the original series; his .330 lifetime average and 2,524 career hits deserves a home somewhere. Is Minnesota the best fit for him?

	Twins stats	WAR	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+
	*Bob Allison	34.1	0.255	0.358	0.471	0.829	127
	Torii Hunter	26.4	0.268	0.321	0.462	0.783	103
	Heinie Manush	21.6	0.328	0.371	0.478	0.849	121
	Clyde Milan	40.0	0.285	0.353	0.353	0.706	109

If we're comparing careers Manush would win easily. He finished top-5 in MVP voting four times and led the league in hits twice. Based on production with this franchise alone, it's much closer.

It's a tough call for Tom Kelly, but Manush makes the team.

Fun fact: Hall of Famer Jim Kaat compiled less WAR for the Twins/Senators franchise in 15 seasons than Camilo Pascual accumulated in 13 seasons. Yet it's Pascual fighting to keep his spot in the Twins' All-Time rotation:

	Twins stats	WAR	ERA	ERA+	K/BB	WHIP
	*Camilo Pascual	33.2	3.66	106	2.07	1.295
	Frank Viola	27.0	3.86	111	2.33	1.295
	Brad Radke	45.6	4.22	113	3.30	1.260
	Jim Perry	26.3	3.15	113	1.89	1.196

Radke was one good season away from passing Kaat in career WAR, but that ERA is too high for an All-Time team (even for a PED-era pitcher.) All four hurlers are flawed in different ways, so there's no real need to make a change.

There is room to upgrade the Minnesota bullpen, as pioneering closer Firpo Marberry and "Everyday" Eddie Guardado battled to keep their spots on the team.

	Twins stats	SV	ERA	ERA+	K/BB	WHIP
	*Firpo Marberry	94	3.59	117	1.17	1.323
	*Eddie Guardado	116	4.53	105	2.26	1.340
	Matt Guerrier	5	3.40	127	2.05	1.254
	Taylor Rogers	50	3.15	139	4.75	1.150

What was I saying about Radke's ERA being too high? Guardado might have the highest of any All-Time team reliever. Taylor Rogers takes his spot, leaving Glen Perkins as the only southpaw in the Minny 'pen.

Looking ahead, the Twins have drafted six shortstops in the first round since 2011 including #1 overall pick Royce Lewis in 2017. None have panned out so far, but that could change with 2022 first-rounder Brooks Lee, who is already starting at double-A.

Oh, and they're all currently blocked by the highest-paid player in franchise history.

TL; DR: Three changes from the original roster. Travis, Allison, and Guardado out. Cronin, Manush, and Rogers in.

 

The Twins are the 15th of 30 All-Time Teams so we're officially at halftime. The NL Central starts next week but before that I'm going to give away 300 cards. I hope you'll join me this weekend for The Collector's 600th TCDB Transaction Celebration Extravaganza!!!

 

Thanks for reading!

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