The Minnesota Twins finished their second disappointing season in a row on Wednesday with a loss against the Toronto Blue Jays. Despite having a losing record of 66-96, the Twins gave fans many reasons to keep cheering this season.
Joe Mauer provided a bright spot for the Twins this year with his .319 batting average, and career high of 147 games played. By splitting his playing time between catcher, first base, and designated hitter, Mauer was able to remain healthy and on the field. Mauer’s on-base percentage was the highest in the majors at .416, placing him in the running for what would be his fourth batting title.
After a frustrating 2011 season, Mauer worked hard in the offseason to improve his strength.
“I’m a very determined person. This is what I love to do, and I know I only get one shot at it, really. I’ve always said I want to be the best player I can be. I’m doing everything in my power to be that type of player,” Mauer told Star Tribune reporter Joe Christensen.
Another highlight of the season was the emergence of Trevor Plouffe as a solid third baseman. Plouffe struggled in 2011 at shortstop, but after the Twins sent Danny Valencia to the minors in early May, Plouffe was given the third base position. For much of the summer Plouffe thrived, both at third base and at the plate. Despite sustaining a deep bone bruise in his thumb and remaining on the disabled list for nearly a month, Plouffe had the second-most home runs on the team, with 24 during the course of the season.
Although pitching was the Twins Achilles’ heel this season, there were several pitchers who gave the Twins organization hope for the future. Scott Diamond was the ace of the starting pitching staff this year, with 12 wins and a 3.54 ERA. Glen Perkins emerged as a strong closer, with 16 saves in 20 opportunities prior to the Twins’ final series in Toronto. Jared Burton proved himself to be a solid reliever, pitching in a career-high 63 games and earning his lowest ERA in five seasons at 2.18.
New additions to the team this year, Josh Willingham, Ryan Doumit and Jamey Carroll all proved to be valuable members of the 2012 team. Willingham gave the Twins batting order a much-needed boost with his 35 home runs. Doumit also had a career-high number of home runs with 18 this season. Doumit was more than just a strong bat, however, as most of his value came from his ability to catch. The Twins had been looking for a solution to Mauer’s disappointing 2011 season, and the addition of Doumit to the roster gave the Twins a backup catcher they could trust when Mauer was playing other positions. Jamey Carroll was a constant in the infield and the batting order throughout the season, which was something the Twins were missing in 2011.
Ben Revere was a standout in the outfield, behind the plate, and along the base path. Revere had a .294 batting average, and an on-base percentage of .333. Not only was his hitting solid, but Revere was also impressive in the outfield, saving many runs from scoring with his diving catches and leaping saves. Revere’s speed was beneficial along the base path as he stole 40 bases this season.
During spring training Justin Morneau discussed the possibility of retiring if he was still unable to play due to concussion symptoms. Thankfully, Morneau seemed to return to his pre-concussion form, and remained healthy enough to play 134 games. Morneau hit 19 home runs this season and earned a .267 batting average.
Tsuyoshi Nishioka, the Twins infielder from Japan, didn’t make the starting lineup out of spring training. After a dismal season in the minor leagues, fans were shocked when Nishioka was called up to the majors in August. Predictably, Nishioka did not perform well after his call-up, and was quickly sent back down to the minors. On Sept. 28, Nishioka asked to be released from the Twins organization and his $3 million 2013 salary. This move frees up space in the payroll for the Twins to rebuild in the off-season and removes the albatross that was Nishioka from the Twins roster. In a statement released by the Twins, Nishioka said he has no regrets.
“I would like to thank the Twins organization for helping me fulfill my dream of playing in Major League Baseball. I take full responsibility for my performance which was below my own expectations. At this time, I have made the decision that it is time to part ways. I have no regrets and know that only through struggle can a person grow stronger. I appreciate all the support the team and the fans in Minnesota and Rochester have shown me,” Nishioka said.
The Twins finished in the basement of their division for the second year in a row. The team was plagued by injuries, cycled through 12 starting pitchers, made a total of 107 fielding errors, and often failed to produce runs for their starting pitchers.
But among the negatives were many positives. Veteran Twins such as Revere, Mauer, Morneau, and Denard Span stepped up to the plate and produced strong numbers for their team. New additions Doumit, Carroll, and Willingham proved that they were worth the investment, and young players like Plouffe, Diamond, and Samuel Deduno showed that they were ready to play at the major league level. Although the Twins’ record suggests a need for despair, the players gave fans reason to hope that next season will be different.