(By the way, the trend of Top 10 Bum lists seems to be sweeping Fansided’s MLB network like wildfire. Does this mean we can look forward to a Top 10 Twins Bums list in the future? Perhaps.)

Jones was a big part of the early-2000s Twins revival. A free-swinging lefty with power, he saw his first Big League action in 1999, when he hit .289 in 95 games. The next year, 2000, he became Minnesota’s starting left fielder, and he didn’t relinquish that title until he departed for Chicago after 2005. His 19 homers in that first full season led the powerless Twins, and he improved on that total afterwards, topping 20 or more round trippers three times from 2002 to 2005. During his Twins career, he hit a respectable .279/.327/.455 with 132 homers, 476 RBI, and 189 doubles. (more…)

This is part eight in a series examining every Twins team that has made the playoffs. Whether the current version of the Twins is 20 games over .500 or stuck in last place, fans can always hold onto memories of successful teams past.

Previous articles in the series: 1965, 1969, 1970, 1987, 1991, 2002, 2003

The 2004 Twins faced little competition within their own division. They spent 145 days in first place, clinched the division with 12 games remaining, and ultimately won by 9.0 games over the second place Chicago White Sox. While the 2002 and 2003 Twins won with a roster full of unknowns, 2004 saw the emergence of four true superstars: Johan Santana, Joe Nathan, Joe Mauer, and Justin Morneau. Never since have the Twins been a stranger to national media attention. Unfortunately, the Twins have not won a playoff game since 2004 either.

The biggest news story of 2004 was one of the greatest tragedies in recent human history. In the closing days of the year, a magnitude 9.3 earthquake under the Indian Ocean launched a tsunami that ravaged coastlines fom Australia and Indonesia to India and even Eastern Africa. More than 230,o00 people were killed, and countless more were left homeless. In the Ukraine, the presidential election was so hotly contested that opponents poisoned eventual winner Viktor Yuschenko. The United States had a contentious election, too, as incumbent George W. Bush defeated Senator John Kerry by 3 million votes. Fortunately, nobody was poisoned during that race.

Minnesota voters paid close attention to the presidential contest, but many of them cared even more about another election: the American League Cy Young balloting. In 2004, a Twins pitcher finally emerged as a true ace, capable of shutting down any opponent at any time. Santana had his best year, leading the AL in ERA (2.61), WHIP (0.92), strikeouts (265), and numerous other pitching categories. He was especially unhittable after the All Star break, with a perfect 13-0 record, a 1.21 ERA and an unbelievable .78 WHIP. Unlike Presidnets Bush and Yanuschenko, Santana won his election in a landslide, receiving all 28 first place votes. (more…)

Previous articles in the series: 1965, 1969, 1970, 1987, 1991

The Minnesota Twins were reborn in 2002.

The championships of 1987 and 1991 failed to usher in a generation of prosperity for the team, and it suffered through eight losing seasons in the mid and late 90s. Fan interest waned along with team talent, and by 2000, a dismal campaign in which the Twins finished 69-93, barely one million people (just over 12,000 per game) bought tickets to sit in the Metrodome’s seats.

And suddenly, the turmoil ended. In 2001 the roster full of young unknowns actually managed to be competitive in the AL Central. And in 2002, manager Ron Gardenhire’s first year in control, the Twins captured the Central Division crown with 94 wins. It was the first of many playoff runs for Gardenhire, and the end of bad baseball in Minnesota. Soon the Twins would be perennial contenders in the American League, and Minnesota fans would no longer be embarassed by their Major League squad.

(more…)