All Metrodome Team
July 28, 2009
To commemorate the final year in the Metrodome, the Twins are putting together the All-Metrodome Team which is voted on by fans, media and a veterans committee. The team will be announced on Tuesday night and I am going to take a moment to state who I think will be on the team and who I voted for.
First Base
Nominees: Ron Coomer, Kent Hrbek, Gene Larkin, Doug Mientkiewicz, Justin Morneau
This should be a no-brainer for the most part. Since moving into the Metrodome the Twins have had two memorable first basemen, which are Kent Hrbek and Justin Morneau. While Morneau has developed into a star and perennial MVP contender, Hrbek gets the honor of being on the All-Metrodome Team based solely on his two World Series Championship rings. Plus, he is the local boy.
All-Metrodome Team Prediction: Kent Hrbek
My Vote: Kent Hrbek
Second Base
Nominees: John Castino, Chuck Knoblauch, Steve Lombardozzi, Al Newman, Todd Walker
Steve Lombardozzi puts up a strong case as he tallied the highest batting average in the 1987 World Series, but the second base position has to go to the 1991 Rookie of the Year, Chuck Knoblauch. At second base, Knoblauch earned a Gold Glove plus led the team in batting average in 1995 and 1996. He didn’t leave the team on the best of terms, but his playing on the field made up for it.
All-Metrodome Team Prediction: Chuck Knoblauch
My Vote: Chuck Knoblauch
Shortstop
Nominees: Jason Bartlett, Greg Gagne, Cristian Guzman, Pat Meares, Ron Washington
Only seven Twins players were on both the 1987 and 1991 World Series Champion teams and Greg Gagne was one of them. Gagne was never known as a power hitter, but his great defense more than made up for it. Even so, Gagne could hit in clutch moments such as the 3-run home run in Game 1 of the 1991 World Series and a two out RBI single to give the Twins the lead in Game 7 of the 1987 World Series.
All-Metrodome Team Prediction: Greg Gagne
My Vote: Greg Gagne
Third Base
Nominees: Gary Gaetti, Corey Koskie, Scott Leius, Mike Pagliarulo, Nick Punto
The G-Man has to get the nod at third based on his list of accomplishments when compared to the rest of the nominees. Gaetti played with Twins for 10 years and racked up a World Series Championship, four Gold Gloves, two All-Star appearances and was named the American League Championship Series MVP in 1987 where he hit two home runs in his first two at-bats. All of this plus an astounding 360 career home runs in a career that nearly spanned two decades.
All-Metrodome Team Prediction: Gary Gaetti
My Vote: Gary Gaetti
Catcher
Nominees: Brian Harper, Tim Laudner, Joe Mauer, A.J. Pierzynski, Terry Steinbach
If there is one position that gets the overall vote in a landslide victory it will be at catcher. Sure, there will be some who vote for Laudner and probably even a few more for Pierzynski, but the fact is Joe Mauer will walk away with this one. Mauer has become the face of this franchise and, pending a contract extension, will hopefully be the face of the team until the day he retires. In six season with the Twins he has been selected as an All-Star three times, won a Gold Glove and not one, but two, AL batting titles with a very good chance at a third one this season.
All-Metrodome Team Prediction: Joe Mauer
My Vote: Joe Mauer
Outfielders (3 Selections)
Nominees: Tom Brunansky, Randy Bush, Marty Cordova, Michael Cuddyer, Dan Gladden, Mickey Hatcher, Torii Hunter, Jacque Jones, Jason Kubel, Matt Lawton, Shane Mack, Kirby Puckett
Two of the 12 nominees should be easy to pick out as both of them roamed the confines of center field for a good majority of the years the Twins played in the Metrodome – Kirby Puckett and Torii Hunter. My other choice, though, may fall short but I have to pick the Dazzle Man, Dan Gladden.
Puckett is deserving of the honor as the first ballot Hall of Famer played all 12 years with the Twins and is one of the five Twins players to have his number retired by the team. Not to mention the two World Championships, the 10 All-Star selections, the six gold gloves and all of the memories on both offense and defense that he gave to the Twins fans through the years. Whether it was hitting a game winning home run in Game 6 or making a huge catch off the plexi-glass, Kirby was the man to watch on the Twins.
Much like Puckett, Torii Hunter was the man to watch on the Twins in the late 90′s and into the new millennium. Hunter earned seven Gold Gloves while with the Twins with his amazing catches in the outfield. Hunter also showed power at the plate with six seasons of 20+ home runs and was a driving force in getting the Twins to four AL Central Titles. Unfortunately, Hunter would leave the club after the 2007 season and head for Los Angeles after being offered a 5-year $90 million deal.
Dan Gladden’s career was sandwiched between the two championship years of 1987 and 1991 and also was one of the seven to play on both teams. Gladden made his mark on history by hitting a grand slam in Game 1 of the 87 Series and scoring the winning, and only, run in Game 7 of the 91 Series. Since retiring from baseball in 1993 (unless you count his time in Japan), Gladden has been active with the Twins as a scout before heading into the radio booth to provide color commentary.
My selection of Dan Gladden, though, is a dark horse in my mind. Out of all of the nominees, I could see Tom Brunansky being the third selection instead of Gladden.
All-Metrodome Team Predictions: Kirby Puckett, Torii Hunter, Tom Brunansky
My Votes: Kirby Puckett, Torii Hunter, Dan Gladden
Designated Hitter
Nominees: Chili Davis, Paul Molitor, David Ortiz, Roy Smalley, Dave Winfield
Out of all of the choices for the All-Metrodome team, the designated hitter position was the hardest to select. This is mainly due to the fact that the nominees, with the exception of Roy Smalley, spent little time with the club. I have a good idea that my selection won’t make the team, but I have to go with Chili Davis.
David Ortiz flourished with the Red Sox and even though both Paul Molitor and Dave Winfield are local boys, I have to say that Davis’s role in 1991 greatly helped the Twins go from worst to first and win the World Series. Davis was a switch hitter that led the Twins in home runs, SLG, OBP and OPS. Davis also had two home runs during the 91 Series.
All-Metrodome Team Prediction: Paul Molitor
My Vote: Chili Davis
Starting Pitcher (3 Selections)
Nominees: Allan Anderson, Bert Blyleven, Scott Erickson, Joe Mays, Eric Milton, Jack Morris, Brad Radke, Johan Santana, Mike Smithson, Kevin Tapani, Frank Viola
I wish we were allowed to choose more than three starting pitchers because there are a few that are deserving of the honor but obviously won’t make the cut. Out of the 11 nominations, I feel Blyleven, Erickson, Morris, Radke, Santana, Tapani and Viola all have a good case for being selected. Since only three can make it, I have to go with Santana, Viola and Radke.
Johan Santana is a solid selection just due to his sheer dominance. Santana never won a World Championship with the Twins but was a Cy Young Award winner in 2004 and 2006 that attacked batters with his fastball and changeup. Santana racked up nearly 1400 strike outs with the Twins with a 93-44 record and four shut outs. Santana even won a Gold Glove on the mound in 2007 before leaving for the bright lights in the big city of New York.
Frank Viola was a mainstay in the Twins rotation for a good portion of the 80s and picked up 112 wins with the club. Viola did not put up the strike out numbers that Johan Santana did, but Viola was a workhorse who pitched 54 complete games with 10 of them being shut outs. He also won a World Series with the Twins in 1987 along with the World Series MVP and a Cy Young Award in 1988 when he led the league with 24 wins.
Brad Radke may not be a popular choice but he was the embodiment of what it meant to be a Minnesota Twin. Radke grew up just across the border in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and played his entire 12 year career with the Twins. Part of his career with the club was during the lean years but that didn’t stop Radke from being one of the best pitchers in the league. In 1997, when the Twins went 68-94, Radke had a record of 20-10 with four complete games and a shutout. The 20 wins includes a 12 game win streak that help put Radke in the running for a Cy Young Award along with the likes of Roger Clemens and Randy Johnson. Radke finally retired after the 2006 season with a final record of 148-139.
All-Metrodome Team Prediction: Johan Santana, Frank Viola, Bert Blyleven
My Votes: Johan Santana, Frank Viola, Brad Radke
Relief Pitcher (2 Selections)
Nominees: Rick Aguilera, Juan Berenguer, Ron Davis, Eddie Guardado, Mark Guthrie, LaTroy Hawkins, Joe Nathan, Jeff Reardon, Juan Rincon, J.C. Romero
There are a lot of good names in the list of relievers, however, since I can only choose two, they have to be the closers Rick Aguilera and Joe Nathan.
Rick Aguilera came over for his first stint with the Twins in a trade for one of the star pitchers in Frank Viola in 1989. Aguilera was dominant in his closing role and picked up a team record of 42 saves in the 1991 championship season, plus three saves in the 91 World Series. To this day, Aguilera holds the Twins team record in saves with 254 and was an All-Star three times in 1991, 1992 and 1993.
Joe Nathan has picked up where Aguilera left off and has become one of the best closers in the game. Nathan dominates batters with a fastball and slider and has racked up 476 strike outs and 226 saves with the Twins in just over five years. Nathan is also a perennial All-Star candidate with a total of four appearances in the years of 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2009. Nathan is likely to break Aguilera’s record of team saves to further cement his legacy as a part of Twins baseball.
All-Metrodome Team Predictions: Rick Aguilera, Joe Nathan
My Votes: Rick Aguilera, Joe Nathan
Manager
Nominees: Ron Gardenhire, Billy Gardner, Tom Kelly
This selection is one of the easiest to choose and that is Tom Kelly as the All-Metrodome Team manager. Kelly’s time as the manager lasted nearly as long as the Metrodome itself with him being in charge of the Twins from late 1986 to 2001. It was with Kelly that the Twins won both of the World Series Championships, however, if you look at the numbers, the Twins were 1140-1244 with Kelly at the helm. Even with the sub-500 record, TK is more than deserving of the honor of All-Metrodome Team manager for his hand in developing Twins baseball.
All-Metrodome Team Prediction: Tom Kelly
My Vote: Tom Kelly
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