Fansided

MLB: 5 sleeping giants who will be contenders soon

By Robby Sabo

May 22, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Matt Harvey (33) pitches against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning of a game at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
May 22, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Matt Harvey (33) pitches against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning of a game at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 4, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins manager Paul Molitor and general manager Terry Ryan addresses the media at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 4, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins manager Paul Molitor and general manager Terry Ryan addresses the media at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /

Minnesota Twins

  • Last Winning Season: 2010, 94-68
  • Last Playoff Appearance: 2010, Lost ALDS
  • Organizational Ranking: No. 4
  • Target Breakout: 2017

Perhaps no baseball venue was quite as loud as the old Metrodome back in 1987 and 1991.

When Kirby Puckett, Jack Morris, Tom Kelly, and the rest of the boys were winning World Series championships, the fans inside the “Homer-Dome” were completely nuts. The noise even felt deafening as we watched on television.

Although the franchise hasn’t been able to put together a championship team since then, the Twins represented a very solid small-market franchise for an entire decade. From 2001 to 2010, manager Ron Gardenhire and the powers that be in the Twins front office, fielded a club that won 90-games five times and reached postseason play on six occasions.

Since 2010, however, things have taken a turn for the worst.

The Twins have won 63, 66, 66 and 70 games respectively over the last four seasons. It is, no question about it, a terrible stretch that has to have Joe Mauer feeling like he’s stuck in the middle of a baseball wasteland.

However, it could easily be argued Mauer is in no position to complain based on his lack of production in recent years. Mauer struggled in 2014 with just four home runs, 55 runs batted in and a .277 batting average. This will not be okay with Twins should Mauer duplicate that horrid performance in 2015.

I know what you’re thinking. You now realize it is all gloom and doom in the land of the Twins. I mean, how could any small-market team turn such a terrible streak around and find themselves as a consistent bunch again.

Well, just like the Pirates showed us in recent years, the Twins will eventually turn things around as well.

After finally suffering through a few years of doing things wrong, the franchise has finally now gotten it very right.

In 2012 the organization decided to finally go back to the well. They convinced longtime general manager Terry Smith to come back into the fold.

Ryan served as Twins GM from 1995 to 2007. He was the man responsible for bringing in notables such as Johan Santana, Joe Nathan, Francisco Liriano and Kyle Lohse. His moves, which generally consisted of moving veteran players for burgeoning stars, led to much of the success the Twins enjoyed in the 2000s.

Ryan once again took the helm in 2012 and has slowly but surely built up the farm.

The Twins are currently loaded with positional talent.

Twins Everyday Prospects:

  • Byron Buxton, OF
  • Miguel Sano, 3B
  • Nick Gordon, SS
  • Jorge Polanco, MI
  • Eddie Rosario, OF/2B

This isn’t to suggest the Twins don’t have young pitching talent, this is only to highlight how loaded they are at in the everyday department.

Heading into 2014 Byron Buxton was the top prospect in all the land. Thanks to an injury towards the end of last season, and Kris Bryant tearing up minor league pitching, he falls to the No. 2 overall prospect in baseball.

Another reason the Twins will be heading for good things come 2017 will be due to the Hall of Fame player they recently tagged as manager.

Hiring Paul Molitor this past offseason will pay dividends in a couple of seasons. He’s the type of guy who can develop the positional wealth this club is currently equipped with.

Next: The Big Apple Is Changing Colors

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