Hall of famer Harmon (“Killer”) Killebrew told Sports Headliners on Wednesday that the Twins have a great hitting and fielding team, but will be tested in their weekend series that starts tonight in New York against the Yankees.
Although the Twins won the Central Division championship last year, they couldn’t defeat the Yankees in a single game during 2009 including three playoff games. In regular season games the Twins are 14-41 against the Yankees since 2002 and 3-23 at Yankee Stadium.
Killebrew, who played 14 seasons with the Twins and remains close to the organization, doesn’t fuss over the past, emphasizing this is a new season and ballclub. He agrees, though, the weekend series with the Yankees, a return series in Minneapolis later this month and a May 19-20 series in Boston will let the Twins know more about their ball club.
“I think so because you have to look at the Yankees as a standard in the American League,” he said. “I think they know they (the Twins) can beat any club in baseball right now. If they can play well in this series coming up against the Yankees I think it will mean a lot for this season.”
Killebrew said “good pitching” usually bests “good hitting” and the Twins staff will likely determine how much this year’s team accomplishes. “We have a great defensive ball club,” he said. “We have a great hitting ball club, and we do have some really good pitchers.”
The Twins, 22-12, lead the Central Division, while New York has the same record and is in second place in the East. There’s much opinion that the 2009 World Series champion Yankees are still among the best teams in baseball. ESPN Power rankings list the Rays No. 1, followed by the Yankees and Twins. https://espn.go.com/mlb/powerrankings
Killebrew is impressed with the Twins’ depth and the club has won despite injuries that have sidelined several players including pitchers Joe Nathan (out for the season), Jose Mijares and Pat Neshek, plus catcher Joe Mauer, first baseman Justin Morneau, second baseman Orlando Hudson, shortstop J.J. Hardy (on the disabled list) and third baseman Nick Punto.