This is the Year

It is baseball’s most common phrase, a piece of lingering optimism. For the Chicago Cubs, it has become a part of their spring training routines. Wrigley Field’s ivy has grown sick of hearing it. For years, the fans packing the seats at Fenway Park were heard uttering the same words. Magically, the words held truth in 2004. For Indians fans, they haven’t had their year since 1948. They’ve had close calls, good seasons, winning seasons and great players, but not their year. In Pittsburgh, the Pirates have had successful triumphs, but baseball fans my age haven’t even seen the Pirates post a winning season (well 1992, but at age 2 I’m not remembering that). To be the bearer of bad news for Pirates fans, this year isn’t the year either. Yankees fans are never heard saying, “This is the year.” It’s a sense of confidence that New York fans have in their ball club and their inevitable conquests. As a Twins fan, it’s a natural reaction to let that sad phrase eek from my mouth. “This is the year” has a hopeful, wishing tone to it. It doesn’t represent confidence, but it represents hope and the notion that “we have a chance…” Yankees fans don’t have hope; they have assurance. ESPN First Take’s Skip Bayless said he liked the Twins to win it all, that it was their year. But I won’t. I will not let myself succumb to the weakness. I will not be fooled by what these words mean. I will possess the confidence of a Yankees fan (dear god…). I don’t need to tell my friends, “This is the year.” It just hurts too much.

Let us observe what the Twins have this season.

Joe Mauer is safely secure for the better part of the next decade. Twins fans throughout the tightly-knit Twins territory can all exhale in relief to hear that Joe Mauer will never (ever, ever) leave Minnesota. Former MVP and early 2010 MVP candidate Justin Morneau is fighting back strong from his concussion. Remember Morneau is a former hockey player from Canada; he has obtained toughness hard to rival in all of sports. Liriano is well removed from the Tommy John surgery that stole his entire 2007 season. In fact, I believe I heard Tim Kurkjian say that Liriano is a Cy Young candidate this year. It’s great to have star players. Few teams in the league have a cornerstone of players quite like the Twins.

If I remember correctly, the last time the Twins had an import from Japan it was 3B Tony Batista, goofy batting stance and all. The Twins are giving it another try with infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka, a 26 year old with great potential for a Gold Glove in the field. Nishioka also has the potential to be a .300 hitter and help the Twins fill the vacancy of Nick Punto (in some opinion’s, Punto is no loss whatsoever). To add to the short list of newcomers, this newcomer is actually no newcomer at all - former closer Joe Nathan is back, fresh off surgery and ready to reassume the role of the shutdown man in Minneapolis. Here lie two impact players new (and returning once again) to the Twin Cities.

As for returning role players, Danny Valencia is poising himself for a great sophomore season at the hot corner. Left fielder Delmon Young had an excellent season last year and he is still considered one of the most talented players in baseball. People within the baseball world are buzzing about this finally being Delmon’s breakout year. Prior to the summer of 2010, the Twins organization took a chance on an aging left-handed slugger, Jim Thome. Now prior to the summer of 2011, the Twins find themselves seeing how much more Thome has left in his tank. Jim gave his praises for Minnesota after last year’s experience as he loved his teammates, the fans and the Twin Cities area. Jim’s noted as being one of the nicest guys in baseball, so he fits the mold here in Minnesota. Jim isn’t the only veteran on this ballclub. Michael Cuddyer again returns to the Twins as a key outfielder and clubhouse leader. Add in outfielders Denard Span and Jason Kubel and starters Nick Blackburn and Scott Baker, the Twins have a team full of chemistry returning to Target Field; a returning team that makes many teams in baseball envious.

In baseball (fantasy at least), much has been said of the 27 year-olds. Players in the season’s in which they turn 27 are considered in the midst of their primes. The idea is that 27 year-old ball player’s still present youthful exuberance while also being veterans in the league; more good news for the Twins. They have 4 key players who will be of the age of 27 at the start of the season (Matt Capps, Liriano, Mauer, Denard Span) with another 4 turning 27 during the course of the season (Kevin Slowey, Alexi Casilla, Nishioka, Valencia). The Twins have a strong core of players all perched on the edge of career seasons, another area of optimism…

Finally, I’ll observe a little history (albeit, recent history). The Twins have won the AL Central for the past two seasons and made the post season 6 times in the 2000s. Ron Gardenhire has only one losing season with the Twins (2007, where he was 4 games under .500) and won the AL Manager of the Year in 2010. Even with the success his teams have had, this could be the strongest roster he’s had thus far. The Twins may have the formula.

Maybe this is the year.

 

-Troy Klongerbo