Now is NOT the Time
George Steinbrenner just doesn’t get it. Let’s say the Minnesota Twins were the New York Yankees and could spend a little of George’s money. Then George would be in the position to have the team he wants. But George has money, and sometimes that makes one impatient. The Twins’ owner has money but refuses to spend it on his team. It is ironic but that has made the Twins a stable team with a strong nucleus of players that have been together for a long time. George’s impatience will never allow the Yankees to be like the Twins.
The 2003 Twins catcher was A.J. Pierzynski who was drafted in the third round of the 1994 amateur draft. Pierzynski was traded to the Giants because the Twins claim they cannot afford to keep him. He can request salary arbitration, which means that he will earn substantially more than the $365,000 he made last season. Pierzynski batted .312 with 35 doubles, 11 home runs, and 74 RBIs. The Yankees would not have to trade him.
Doug Mientkiewicz is the first baseman. He was drafted in the fifth round of the 1995 amateur draft. Mientkiewicz batted .300 with 11 home runs and 65 RBIs last year. Of greater significance is that he walked 74 times with only 55 strikeouts. Mientkiewicz made $1,750,000, which is a lot less than Jason Giambi. George could keep Mientkiewicz as long as he needs him.
Second baseman Luis Rivas was drafted in 1995, shortstop Cristian Guzman was drafted by the Yankees and traded to the Twins in 1998, and third baseman Corie Koskie, who batted .292 with 14 home runs, was drafted in 1994. Utility man Denny Hocking was drafted in 1989.
The outfielders were acquired similarly. Jacques Jones, who has a .291 lifetime batting average, batted .304 and hit 16 home runs, was drafted in 1996. Torii Hunter was drafted in 1993 but Dustan Mohr was actually signed as a free agent. Cleveland released him and Minnesota signed him. Mohr made $315,000 last year. Matt LeCroy is the designated hitter and back up catcher. He was drafted in 1997, batted .287 with 17 home runs last year, and made $312,500.
Among the starting pitchers, Kyle Lohse was obtained in a trade with the Cubs, Joe Mays was obtained from the Mariners, Johan Santana came to the Twins from Florida, Rick Reed came over from the Mets and Eric Milton was part of the Cristian Guzman trade (we are ignoring Kenny Rogers). But Brad Radke was drafted in 1991, Eddie Guardado in 1990, LaTroy Hawkins in 1991, J.C. Romero in 1997 and Juan Rincon was signed as an amateur free agent in 1996. These guys have been together for a long time. They have matured and only need a little help to win it all.
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