Say Anything Blog

The Minnesota Twins are moving next year.  One thing they’re doing is to have an all-Metrodome team for the players that have played for them since the early 80’s. 

I thought this was an interesting exercise and thought I’d share my votes with everyone.

The first pick is First Base.  My pick was Kent Hrbek over Justin Morneau.  Justin’s young career has been great but I have to go with the two world series rings Kent has.  While the little incident with the Brave falling off of first base is fun, my favorite all time MLB moment is Hrbek’s Grand Slam in the 87 World Series.  Shutting Al Micheals up was just delicious.

Second base has got to be Chuck Knoblauch.  No other player came close to his career with the Twins at second base.

I had to go with Gary Gaetti was my pick for third base.  He was good

I had to go with Joe Mauer for catcher.  I was close to picking Brian Harper who was very good for a couple years there.  He also won a world series, something that Joe doesn’t have yet.  He also got in a fight when I was at a game way back then.  Still two batting titles for a catcher has to count for something.

My picks for the outfield were Kirby Puckett (of course), Torri Hunter (obviously) and the man from Glad, Dan Gladden.  Gladden’s playing lead-off for two world series made him stand above the rest of the field.  He was the final piece in the 1987 championship team.

I didn’t find an outstanding designated hitter.  I gave my vote for Chili Davis who was an important part of the 1991 championship team.  I guess my next pick would have been David Ortiz, but since he waited until he left to start hitting homeruns he doesn’t cut it. 

For starting pitchers I went with the two Cy Young winners, Frank Viola (1987 championship team) and Johan Santana.  My third pick was Brad Radke for being mister consistency on a lot of mediocre teams.  In other words he brought up some teams from BAD to Mediocre which is impressive.

My relief pictures were the closers from the two World Series games.  Jeff Reardon and Rick Aguilera.  I have a special respect for the job Reardon did in 1987 making a winner out of that team.

Call me nuts, but I struggled this one.  I think Gardenhire has done a great job making the Twins a consistent winner.  On the other hand Tom Kelly was manager for two World Series Championship teams.  But when I considered that Kelly brought the Twins franchise from a joke to the best small market program in baseball I had to go with Tom.

Those are my picks.