How the Minnesota Twins Can Turn Around Their Last-Place Finish for 2012

This was not how the Twins' 2011 season was supposed to go.

Coming off consecutive AL Central Division titles, and on the 20th anniversary of their last World Series championship, this season was supposed to be the year they stepped up and finally made it past the divisional round of the playoffs.

Currently tied with the Kansas City Royals at 23 games behind the division-leading Detroit Tigers, the Twins are poised to accomplish the exact opposite in 2011—going from winning 94 games and finishing first in the AL Central in 2010 to finishing last.

Since Ron Gardenhire took over as manager in 2002, the lowest the Twins have finished in the division is third—in 2005 and 2007.

On Sept. 10, 1991 the Twins were 85-54 with an eight-and-a-half-game lead on the rest of the American League West. They would finish with the best record in the AL, at 95-67—second only to the Pittsburgh Pirates. This was a 21-game turnaround from the previous season when they finished last of the seven teams in the AL West.

I compared the rosters and the performance of the Twins to uncover what changed to propel them from the depths of the AL West in 1990 to the pinnacle of baseball in 1991. Surprisingly, there were only a few changes in the starting lineup and starting pitching rotation that would see the side catapult from last to first in a single season.

Can the Twins learn anything from that historical reference that might help turn around their dreadful 2011 season, and hopefully return to championship form in 2012?

Here's a look at what changed in 1991, and what the Twins could do for 2012.

A New Second Baseman Propels the 1991 Twins

A first-round draft choice of the Minnesota Twins in 1989, Chuck Knoblauch would make the jump from Double-A ball in 1990, where he played for manager Ron Gardenhire of the Orlando Sun Rays, to the Minnesota Twins in 1991.

That season, Knoblauch played in 150 games as the Twins second baseman. He hit .281 with 50 RBI and stole 25 bases on the way to being named American League Rookie of the Year.

This was an upgrade over Al Newman, who played 89 games at second for the Twins in 1990. Newman, who joined the Twins in 1987, was primarily a utility infielder, splitting his time between second, short and third. In 1990, Newman hit .242 with only 30 RBI.  

Just like the 1990 Twins, the current edition could use an upgrade at second base. Quick.

While Alexi Casilla was having a decent season before being placed on the DL he—like Newman—might better serve the Twins as a utility infielder. They are similar players, both switch-hitters with little power.

The question aroused now is who should be the Twins second baseman in 2012.

A current scan of the roster for the New Britain Rock Cats, the Twins Double-A  affiliate, does not list a second baseman, but does have three shortstops.

Brian Dozier, an eighth-round draft choice of the Twins in 2009, is currently hitting .318 with seven home runs and 11 stolen bases. While not currently on the Twins' 40-man roster, perhaps he could make the jump like Knoblauch from Double-A to the big leagues.

The Jettison of a Veteran Corner Infielder in 1991

Following the 1990 season, the Minnesota Twins parted ways with long-time third baseman Gary Gaetti.

Gaetti, a first-round draft pick in 1979, played 10 seasons with the team, including nine as the starter at third base.

Known as the "G-Man," Gaetti and first baseman Kent Hrbek were the cornerstones of the Minnesota infield from 1982 to 1990. He was a crucial part of the Twins' success in 1987 when the team won their first World Series title.

Gaetti would bat only .229 in 1990—the lowest in his career since becoming a starter in 1982. Still, Gaetti would lead the Twins with 85 RBI, and finish second on the team with 16 home runs.

Following the season the Twins would not re-sign Gaetti, allowing him to leave as a free agent. He'd eventually sign for the then-California Angels.

In 1991, the Twins signed free-agent Mike Pagliarulo—a seven-year veteran—to play third base.  Pagliarulo would hit .279 for the Twins, however he would hit only six home runs with 36 RBI.

For the 2011 Twins, there is another corner infielder whose career in Minnesota could be in jeopardy. With the lowest average in his career, Justin Morneau is batting only .227 at the moment.

Because of lingering effects of the concussion he suffered last season, Morneau has been limited to only 56 games at first this season. In an attempt to protect him, manager Ron Gardenhire has stated that Morneau will be limited to designated-hitting duties when he returns to the lineup.

A third-round draft choice of the Twins in 1999, Morneau has played in only 150 games over the last two seasons. There's a chance that he may never return to the career .281 hitter he was in the first eight seasons with the Twins.

One scenario could have Morneau becoming the Twins full-time designated hitter in 2012, with Joe Mauer shifting to first base.    

The Signing of a Veteran Designated Hitter Propels the 1991 Twins

In January of 1991 the Twins signed 10-year veteran Chili Davis to a two-year contract. In the Twins' championship season of 1991, Davis led the team with 29 home runs and 93 RBI. For the 153 regular-season games in which he appeared, 149 the appearances of were as the designated hitter.

With the trade of Jim Thome to Cleveland, the Twins should be looking to add some power in the lineup in order to backup the opposing outfield.

Some potential free-agent targets for the designated-hitter role for the Twins include Johnny Damon of the Rays, David Ortiz of the Red Sox or the Orioles' Vladimir Guerrero.

Of course, there are always the options of moving Justin Morneau there permanently, or re-signing Jason Kubel to fill the role. Not bad options if Morneau can return to form that won him the 2006 MVP, or if Kubel can duplicate the success he had the first half of this season. 

Sign an Ace To Show the Starting Pitching How To Win

In 1991, the Twins signed St. Paul native Jack Morris to a one-year free-agent contract.

Morris, a 14-year veteran with the Detroit Tigers, came to the Twins with a 198-150 record and a World Series ring from 1984.

He joined four starters from the Twins' 1990 pitching rotation that went 71-51 with a 3.77 ERA—a huge improvement over the 46-68 record and 4.38 ERA the staff had produced in 1990.

Morris would go 18-12 with a 3.43 ERA in his only season with the Twins.

While neither would lead the staff as second-year pitcher Scott Erickson would go 20-8, and third-year pitcher Kevin Tapani would finish with a 2.99 ERA, there was no doubt who was the ace of the staff.

In the postseason, Morris would go 4-0 with a 2.23 ERA in five starts, including the dramatic 10-inning, 1-0 complete-game victory in Game 7 of the World Series over the Atlanta Braves.

For the 2011 Minnesota pitching rotation, the problem has been consistency. Or to be more exact, the lack thereof.

They have used nine different starters this season, who've produced a combined 44-62 record and a 4.54 ERA.The only starter with a winning record is Scott Baker at 8-6—who is currently on the DL.

If the Twins are to turn things around like they did 20 years ago, they should look to move Brian Duensing back to the bullpen where he had success in 2010, and part ways with Nick Blackburn. In five seasons with the Twins, Blackburn has a 39-46 record and a 4.50 ERA.

Potential 2012 free-agent pitchers the Twins could pursue include Mark Buehrle, who is 159-118 in his career with the White Sox. Like Morris, Buehrle would come as the ace from a division rival.

There's also the brittle Rich Harden from Oakland with a career 59-36 record and a 3.71 ERA, or languid C.J. Wilson from Texas, who is 42-34 with a 3.68 ERA. 

The Twins may also consider someone like Red Sox starter Erik Bedard, a trade deadline acquisition who is making just $1 million this season. In seven seasons between Baltimore and Seattle from 2002 to 2009, he is 51-41 with an impressive 3.71 ERA.

There are options that the Twins could pursue, especially if they rid themselves of some high-paid players like Matt Capps, who is making $7.1 million, Michael Cuddyer with a $10.5 million salary and Joe Nathan at $11.25 million.

There's Still Hope That 2011 Is a One-Season Anomaly

The good news is that Ron Gardenhire has been able to pilot the Twins to the fourth-best record in the American League since 2002 when he took over as manager.

Not surprisingly, only the Yankees, Red Sox and Angels have won more games than the Twins in that span.

Perhaps the 2011 Twins were jinxed. After all, their three-time batting champion, Joe Mauer, was on the cover of MLB The Show 2011, and there could be a sophomore slump in the Twins second season playing in Target Field, or the baseball gods want to see how good Gardenhire is as a manager after finally being named Manager of the Year for the 2010 season.

Whatever the reason, the Twins have a precedence that provides them the framework to turn around the disaster that is the 2011 season.

With the acquisition of an ace for the pitching staff, a power-hitting designated hitter and an adequate replacement of one of the corner infielders, the Twins are on their way to another World Series title.

I'll just keep telling myself that all through the fall and winter until it sinks in and takes root.  

Besides, it's football season the Minnesota Vikings are poised for their own worst-to-first turnaround.