Minnesota Twins - The Bush Years (2000-2009)

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2000

Decade

2000

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Titles:

Top Twins Players of the Oughts

2002 - Won Division (Lost ALCS to Anaheim)

2003 - Won Division (Lost LDS to Yankees)

Pitchers:

2004 - Won Division (Lost LDS to Yankees)

Joe Nathan (18.52) - 68

2006 - Won Division (Lost LDS to A's)

Johan Santana (35.7) - 63

2009 - Won Division (Lost LDS to Yankees)

Brad Radke (24.15) - 54

Carlos Silva (9.04) - 33

BallPark:

Kyle Lohse (6.64) - 28

Metrodome

Eddie Guardado (6.73) - 27

Eric Milton (8.52) - 27

Team Name:

Joe Mays (7.52) - 21

Twins

Scott Baker (10.05) - 20

LaTroy Hawkins (7.73) - 13

Owner:

Nick Blackburn (5.09) - 13

Carl Pohlad (2000-2008)

Francisco Liriano (4.8) - 11

Jim Pohlad (2009)

Rick Reed (3.6) - 11

Jesse Crain (4.41) - 5

General Managers:

Matt Guerrier (6.37) - 3

Terry Ryan (2000-2007)

Juan Rincon (5.75) - 3

Bill Smith (2008-2009)

J.C. Romero (4.46) - 3

Dennys Reyes (4.33) - 2

Managers:

Tom Kelly (2000-2001)

Catchers:

Ron Gardenhire (2002-2009)

Joe Mauer (27.3) - 60

AJ Pierzynski (9.3) - 22

No Hitters:

Matt LeCroy (0.42) - 17

None

First Basemen:

Hall of Famers:

Justin Morneau (16.75) - 38

David Ortiz

Doug Mientkiewicz (8.25) - 19

David Ortiz (2.38) - 10

Rookie of the Year:

None

Second Basemen:

Nick Punto (8.52) - 16

MVP:

Justin Morneau (2006)

ShortStop:

Joe Mauer (2009)

Cristian Guzman (10.04) - 34

Jason Bartlett (9.13) - 19

Cy Young:

Johan Santana (2004)

Third Base:

Johan Santana (2006)

Corey Koskie (19.88) - 37

Notable Events:

Outfield:

Torii Hunter (26.7) - 77

2000 - The Twins embark on the best decade in franchise history. Five

Jacque Jones (10.13) - 46

first place finishes, two seconds, two thirds, eight above .500 finishes.

Mike Cuddyer (10.25) - 25

Unfortunately, Minnesota really was quite bad in the five post seasons

Carlos Gomez (2.59) - 19

that they participated in, losing in the first round four times and second

Denard Span (8.16) - 18

round once.

Jason Kubel (4.31) - 15

Lew Ford (8.34) - 14

2000 - Even tho' the team had been bad for the previous seven

Matt Lawton (4.59) - 14

seasons and would be bad again in 2000, there was a lot of young

Dustan Mohr (2.48) - 12

talent on the roster that would ultimately reveal itself:

Shannon Stewart (4.87) - 10

□ Righthander Brad Radke, 27. 8th round pick in '91 draft

□ Lefhander Eric Milton, 24. obtained in trade from Yankees for Knoblauch

Notable Events:

□ Righthander Joe Mays, 24, obtained from Seattle for Roberto Kelly

□ Lefthander Johan Santana, 21, obtained in a trade from the Marlins

2004 - Catcher Joe Mauer comes up as a twenty one year old rookie. Talk

□ Catcher AJ Pierczynski, 23, 3rd round of '94 draft

about special talents. Mauer was the overall number one pick in the

□ 1B David Oritz, 24, obtained in a trade with Seattle for Dave Hollins

2001 amateur draft. Talentwise, he was as close as you could get to

□ 2B Todd Walker, 27, 8th overall pick in '94 draft

being the second coming of Johnny Bench. His 2009 season displayed

□ SS Cristian Guzman, 22, obtained in a trade from the Yankees for Knoblauch

his power potential, but he was never a big power guy outside of that

□ 3B Corey Koskie, 27, 26th round pick in '94 draft

season. A long series of injuries and ailments and the inevitable

□ Outfielder Matt Lawton, 28, 13th round pick in '91 draft

heavy legs of catching cut short his productivity in his later years.

□ Centerfielder Torii Hunter, 24, 1st round pick in '93 draft

□ Oufielder Jacque Jones, 25, 2nd round pick in '96 draft

2006 - the high water mark of the decade for Minnesota as they win

□ Outfielder Michael Cuddyer, 20, 1st round pick in '97 draft

96 games. A lot of stars at the heights of their careers:

□ Lefthander Johan Santana, 27, 19-6 2.77

2001 - The Twins jump 16 games in the standings into second place at

□ Lefthander Francisco Liriano, 22, 12-3 2.17

85-77. The young talent is beginning to assert itself.

□ Righthander Brad Radke, 33, 12-9 4.32 (a down year for him)

□ Closer Joe Nathan, 31, 7-0 1.58 36 saves

2001 - This is the first year of a ten year run where Minnesota averages an

□ Catcher Joe Mauer, 23, 13-84-.347

89-73 record, dropping below .500 only once.

□ First Baseman Justin Morneau, 25, 34-130-.321

□ Cenerfielder Toii Hunter, 30, 31-98-.278

2003 - Twenty two year old Justin Morneau joins the club. The first

□ Outfielder Mike Cuddyer, 27, 24-109-.286

baseman was a third round pick in the 1999 draft. Morneau was a

special talent, a big time hitter, whose top level productivity was

2008 - Free agent to be Johan Santana is dealt to the Mets for four players

unfortunately cut short due to the effects of concussions. He was on

who don't amount to much. You could consider this deal to be the beginning

his way to a Hall of Fame type career before the injuries.

of the end of the Twins run of success

2004 - Relief ace Joe Nathan, 29, is picked up from the Giants in

2009 - After a two year hiatus, Minnesota gets back into the post season by

return for AJ Pierczynski. It was a quality for quality trade, but the

winning a weak central division with an 87-76 mark. The Twins are no match for

Twins got more quality in this one. Thrown into the deal is nineteen year

the Free Agent filled Yankees in the ALDS, Minnesota had a strong lineup

old lefthander Francisco Liriano who will come up to the Twins in '06.

led by Joe Mauer (29-96-.365), Justin Morneau (30-100-.274), Mike Cuddyer

(32-94-.276) and Jason Kubel (28-103-,300), However, the pitching was weak.