When the Twins weren’t winning earlier in the season, manager Ron Gardenhire’s reaction was that the team lacked athleticism. The Twins were out of character from their style of aggressive base running and forcing other teams to make mistakes.
“As it (the season) went along we realized we just were not athletic enough,” Gardenhire said. “We just didn’t have enough speed to do those things (running the bases, forcing mistakes). When we made the changes, when we put speed in the lineup, I think it kind of set a tone for wrecking havoc on people.
“We’re a team that likes to run. …I sure like it when those guys are stealing bases and running around and diving all over the place. …I think once we did that the guys got into it and everybody took part in it. … You don’t see people jogging too many times around here. They’re hauling it and running and busting their tails.”
The Twins became better defensively and on the bases by exchanging third baseman Tony Batista and shortstop Juan Castro for Nick Punto and Jason Bartlett. The athleticism on the left side of the infield complemented the already effective right side defense with second baseman Luis Castillo and first baseman Justin Morneau. Batista and Ruben Sierra had been part of a plan to add more power that didn’t work.
On the morning of May 28 the Twins’ record was 22-26 and the team was 12.5 games behind the Central Division leading Detroit Tigers. The Twins won the division on the last day of the season, finishing with 96 wins, just one fewer than the two winningest teams in baseball the Mets and Yankees.
“I will remember this team for an amazing comeback and being a really, really close unit out there in the clubhouse, just like the 2002 team,” Gardenhire said. That club was Gardenhire’s first division championship team.