Twins Success Might Argue Against Competitive Balance

I want to tip my cap to Ron Gardenhire and the Minnesota Twins organization, not just for last night's amazing vault into the playoffs and the red hot streak that forced a 163rd game, but also to how they have built a consistent winner and become a model franchise.

Is there a better run franchise in MLB? It is astounding that the Twins have been able to put winning team after winning team together despite the limitations of the small/mid-market team. The Twinkies were 23rd in payroll this year, but made the playoffs for the 5th time since 2002 (and narrowly missing out last year in a one game playoff). They just aren't supposed to keep competing like this, not after losing Santana, Hunter, and other handfuls of other stars over the years. But here they are again, sneaking into October. Ron Gardenhire, aside from being one of the classiest men to manage a ballclub, might just be a genius. How else can you explain guiding a team with Scott Baker as its ace into the ALDS? Or losing an MVP down the stretch and then really hitting stride. I am just amazed.

As much as a franchise like Minnesota seems to argue against those who cry "unfair!" to payroll and market discrepancy, I think they may just be one more bullet in the gun. For all the success the Twins have had, they have still only managed to make it out of the first round of the playoffs once during this run and likely won't fair any better this year. While it is certainly an accomplishment to make the postseason, they have not been able to be truly competitive once they get there. Now, this is not to slam the Twins or claim they have choked. This is to say: if this is the most successful, well-run mid-market franchise and they cannot get over the hump, what hope is there for really seeing small- and mid-market teams compete at that level year in and year out?

If the Twins can hope for an appearance, but can't keep enough pieces together to make a sustained push in October, what good is it? Maybe the Indians looked good a couple years ago, but after losing Sabathia and then Lee, they are back to rebuilding. The Rockies are starting to look like the Twins after a couple great runs in three years, but couldn't keep Holliday (and maybe Hawpe? Tulo?) and we'll see how they develop over the next couple years. Winning with young talent is what smaller market teams do to have success, but what happens when that young talent becomes too good? They sign with a bigger market team for bigger market dollars. And if that young talent does not all mature at the same time you're left with pretty good teams that just can't quite make it. So teams end up hoping they can hit that perfect window before their talent becomes unaffordable.

This is the very thing that is not a problem with the Yankees...or the Red Sox...or Mets, Cubs, Dodgers, etc. When was the last time the Yankees had to worry about affording their young talent (when was the last time they brought up real talent?) or hitting that window? They will be a threat to win every year because they don't have to worry about it. Sure, teams like the Mets and Cubs prove you can't just buy your way into the playoffs, but they know they could be back there with a couple big signings. A team like the Twins has to do everything right just to make the playoffs, let alone win it all.

So, congratulations, Minnesota. You had another great year doing things the right way. I just wish you had enough resources to make that pay off with a ring.

There Are Two Teams In LA?

I'm not an Angels fan. Apparently not too many in the national media are either. While the Angels have been leading the AL West and putting up one of the best records in baseball most of the year, very little notice has been taken by national outlets...most noticeably ESPN, of course.

Now, I realize this may only be my perception and it could be taken as just one more stone thrown in against "east coast bias", but as an impartial observer I have wondered a number of times throughout the season why there is so little attention given to a team having an amazing year. As of today, the Angels have 95 wins, second most in the majors. That is in spite of Vlad and Kendrick missing big chunks, only getting 17 innings out of Scot Shields and Kelvim Escobar, and using 14 starting pitchers this year, including Nick Adenhart. Other than clinching recently, his death has been one of the few moments that has brought them into national focus. And that passed almost as quickly as it came.

Am I wrong? When I watch Sportscenter highlights or Baseball Tonight, or even read articles on the ESPN website, there seems to be little fascination with the "other team in LA". There is plenty of drama surrounding the team down the road. Perhaps there are no volatile or magnetic personalities on the team now that Vlad has slipped from superstardom...no Manny, no A-Rod, no Soriano, no Big Papi, no Pujols. Maybe it is that they have been a division front-runner so long it has become a given they will visit the postseason (6th time in 8 years). Maybe Scioscia is not as sexy a manager as Torre, maybe Torii Hunter needs to do steroids, bumble in the field, and quit on his team, maybe people don't know how to pronounce Chone.

Ok, they haven't been in a pennant race, they don't have one or two big stars, they haven't had a scandal. They have just been one of the classiest, most successful organizations in Major League Baseball.

I know that star power drives a lot of media coverage (although media coverage also creates star power, so...) and the Angels are a team of depth and balance, up and down. This is incredible: eight regulars in their lineup have hit between .295 and .306...Eight! And Juan Rivera isn't far behind at .284. They also have six players with 15 or more homers and six with 10 or more steals. Now, that is balance. This is just a team without stars. Sure we all know who Vlad The Impaler is, or Torii, or even Lackey and Brian Fuentes. But the first two are aging, Lackey is consistent but not dominant, and the most interesting thing about Fuentes is his funky delivery.

Kendry Morales is the real star on this team, but who has noticed? If he was a Met, Yankee, Dodger, Phillie, or Red Sox we would be hearing about him nightly. This guy has sick numbers since the break (.327, 19 HR, 58 RBI, .990 OPS), but who has heard about it?

So, what am I asking for? Just a little recognition for a great baseball team.