Rick Osentoski-US PRESSWIRE

How high should we set the bar for the 2012 Twins? What do they have to accomplish this season for us to sit back and say “that was a good season?”

There are many baseball fans who feel that no season is a success for a team unless that team wins the World Series. I understand this view, since the World Series is the ultimate goal for all teams, but I disagree with it. There are 30 teams in MLB, and every year 29 of them fail to win the World Series. If none of those 29 teams could be considered successful, I doubt that there would be tens of millions of fans lining up to buy their tickets and merchandise. If success meant a World Series win, the Twins franchise would have only three successful seasons in its 110 year history.

How about the playoffs? Getting to the postseason seems like a tangible mark of a successful season. It means your team won more games than it lost, and it also vanquished its division rivals to claim its spot as one of baseball’s eight best teams (actually, 10 best teams, since there will be two extra playoff teams this year). I am generally happy with using the playoffs as a measure of success. Unfortunately, even that milestone might be a little too much to expect from the 2012 Twins. (more…)