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.

Gardenhire will be a favorite to win the American League Manager of the Year award.  His reaction?  “I don’t give a flying flip about (that) because that’s a coaching staffing of the year (award) as far as I am concerned and a team of the year,” he said.  He also said there is “no doubt” his staff is the most deserving in the league for recognition. 

While the manager of the year, most valuable player and Cy Young awards will require votes, Joe Mauer won the American League batting title with a .347 average becoming the first catcher ever to accomplish that in the American League.  He also is the first catcher ever to lead the major leagues in hitting, finishing ahead of Freddy Sanchez of the Pirates who hit .344. 

Morneau finished second in the league in RBI with 130 while batting .321 with 34 home runs.  He will gather a lot of support for the league MVP award. 

Gardenhire said last week the impressive seasons of Mauer, 23, and Morneau, 25, fit their profiles of hitting success in the minors but he admitted their accomplishments so early in their major league careers is “pretty amazing.”  The performances of the two hitters in their second full seasons demonstrate continued improvement, he added. 

Pitcher Johan Santana, 27, is likely to win his second Cy Young award in three seasons after finishing with a 19-6 record and 2.77 ERA. Santana is expected to pitch twice for the Twins in the opening playoff series if five games are played between Minnesota and the Oakland Athletics, winners of the American League West Division.

Timberwolves guard-forward Marko Jaric finished last season averaging 7.8 points and 3.9 assists per game, down from his career high numbers of 9.9 and 6.1 in 2004-05 with the Los Angeles Clippers.  After starting the first 46 game games, his minutes became more limited and he shot just 39 percent from the field.  At times he played like a player low on energy. 

This off-season Jaric, who at 6-7 gives the Wolves a versatile player at point guard, off-guard or small forward, didn’t play national basketball for Serbia-Montenegro.  What he did was spend almost three months every day working with one of the hot names among personal trainers in the NBA, Todd Troxel.  Earlier in the off-season Troxel had been in China working with star center Yao Ming of the Chinese national team and the NBA’s Houston Rockets. 

With Troxel’s input, Jaric focused on various aspects of his game including ball handling, shooting, becoming stronger and more effective in drawing contact.  “It helped me a lot. …Working out with him gave me self confidence,” Jaric said. 

He indicated Troxel was a steady influence, detail oriented and ready to spot mistakes.  Troxel has also tutored former Gopher Joel Pryzbilla, now with the Portland Trailblazers. 

Jaric said he didn’t know what position he will play for the Wolves. “I know this team is going to use me in the right way,” he said. “They will use me (and) that’s the most important thing for me. I am going to find my way and then we will see during the season which will be my major spot (position).”