Minnesota Twins: 5 best starting rotations of all-time
By Nate Palmer
No. 4-2005 Starting Rotation
The success level was much different for the 2005 team when compared to the last Twins team we took a look at. In 2005 the Twins went 83-79 to finish third in the American League Central. Even if the team wasn’t able to make the playoffs, this Twins team had plenty of contribution from their rotation to reach those 83 wins.
That rotation’s success all started with its ace, Johan Santana. Looking back over Santana’s career it is incredible what he was able to do over the course of it and 2005 was no different. Santana threw 231.2 innings of baseball and maintained a 2.87 ERA as well as he led the league with a 9.2 K/9. 2005 also marked the first of four seasons in which Santana would be selected for the All-Star team.
Following Santana was Brad Radke who also topped 200 innings pitched 200.2 innings. In 31 starts, Radke went 9-12 with a 4.04 ERA. What was a bit of a surprise was the success that the Twins were able to get out of right-hander Carlos Silva. Silva was known to be able to induce ground balls and used that approach in 2005 to have one of his more successful seasons. He logged 188.1 innings, had a 3.44 ERA, while going 9-8.
The rotation was rounded out by Kyle Lohse who logged 178.2 innings to a 4.18 ERA. Joe Mays filled the fifth and final rotation spot as he pitched 156 innings and a 5.65 ERA. Due to the lack of success from the Twins as a whole, this group doesn’t look too impressive but as we start to look at their WAR the story changes.
Santana led the way as he registered a 7.2 WAR. That stands as his career third best WAR in a season and is tied for seventh in Twins history. The next three guys came in at Radke 2.8 WAR, Silva 3.5 WAR, and Lohse 2.5 WAR. Those four pitchers combine to have a 16.0 WAR for the 2005 season. Placing them here at number four on our all-time list.