EVENTS
 Sportsman of the Year
 Heisman Trophy
 Swimsuit 2001

	MINNESOTA TWINS
	2000 Spring Training Schedule
	2000 Regular Season Schedule

1999 Record: 63-97 (last in NL Central, 33 GB)

1999 Payroll: $15.8 (28th)

1999 Team Statistics (NL rank) Batting Avg. .264 (11th)         Opp. Average .283 (10th) Runs Scored 686 (14th) ERA 5.03 (9th) Home Runs 106 (14th) Fielding Pct. .985 (2nd)

1999 Recap: The Twins became the poster children for the small-market blues. They used 17 rookies over the course of the season, often starting six at a time. At one point, the rookies (13) outnumbered the veterans (12). The offense was anemic, as Minnesota scored the fewest runs (686) and hit the fewest home runs (105) in the majors despite playing in the hitter-friendly Metrodome. The staff ERA of 5.03 was actually a bright spot for Manager Tom Kelly -- it could have been worse.

1999 Highlight: Lefty Eric Milton tossed a no-hitter on Sept. 11 against the Angels, walking two and striking out 13, and faced just one batter over the minimum.

1999 Lowlight: The team traded long-time closer Rick Aguilera on May 21 to the Cubs for two non-prospects in one of the worst deals of the decade.

Manager: Tom Kelly (986-1,074 in 14 seasons in Minnesota)

Coaches: Scott Ullger (hitting), Dick Such (pitching), Rick Stelmaszek (first base) Scott Ulger (third base), Rick Stelmaszek (bullpen)

Camp Site: Hammond Stadium, Fort Myers, Fla.

Reporting Dates: Pitchers and catcher on Feb. 20; full squads on Feb. 25

Additions: RHP Bobby Ayala, OF Butch Huskey, RHP Sean Bergman

Subtractions: OF Marty Cordova, C Terry Steinbach, 2B Brent Gates, RHP Mike Trombley

Spring Cleaning: Can any team expect to win when they have no money, and very little actual talent? It is no wonder that many Minnesotans didn't care if the Twins moved or not, and voted not to build them a better ballpark. The Twins did not re-sign team RBI leader Marty Cordova (70), so Kelly needs significant improvement from the overload of 1999 rookies, with 3B Corey Koskie, SS Cristian Guzman and LF Chad Allen most under the microscope.

Stability At The Helm Managers with the longest consecutive tenure with one team since 1950 Manager, Team  Years  Games  Walter Alston, Dodgers  1954-76  3,658   Tommy Lasorda, Dodgers  1976-96  3,050   Sparky Anderson, Tigers  1979-95  2,579   Earl Weaver, Orioles  1968-82  2,274   Tom Kelly, Twins  1986-pres.  2,060

First baseman David Ortiz (.315-30-110 at Triple-A Salt Lake) should contribute, although he's been in Kelly's dog house for two years. Doug Mientkiewicz and Mario Valdez will also compete for time at first base. With Terry Steinbach retired, Javier Valentin and 1996 Olympian Matt LeCroy will battle for the job behind the plate. Injuries cost Matt Lawton his breakout year, as he hit just seven homers after clubbing 26 in 1998. Lawton was hit in the face with a pitch in the early summer, and never quite recovered. The bullpen is improved with LHP Eddie Guardado, LHP Travis Miller, RHP Bob Wells and RHP Hector Carrasco, although the Twins have no closer since Mike Trombley signed with Baltimore. The starting rotation is again very soft, and may have to play without ace Brad Radke, who has once again spurned contract offers, and may be traded by Opening Day.

Key Acquisition: OF/DH Butch Huskey joins his third team in just over a year, but it has never been because of problems with his bat. Huskey hit 22 homers, and collected 77 RBIs while splitting time in Seattle and Boston. Those numbers would have led all Twins. Huskey will split time in left with Chad Allen and also at DH with Ron Coomer, the team's home run leader in 1999 (16).

The Future is Now: Christian Guzman, 21, has one full year of major league baseball under his belt. He did as expected as a rookie, hitting just above .220, but was solid in the field. The question remains if can he hit at the major league level, or should the team start looking at their other options at shortstop. Luis Rivas was at Double-A last year, and could get the call.

Opportunity Knocks: Corey Koskie was not the most highly touted Twin prospect in 1999, but he managed to prove his worth on the field. Splitting time between third base and the outfield, he hit .310, the only regular to top the .300 mark. But this year, he has to prove he can repeat, because the organization's top prospect is third baseman Michael Cuddyer, and the Twins wont hesitate to get him some major league experience. Koskie is a classic line-drive hitter who should show some more power in the Metrodome.

Prospects to Watch: 3B Michael Cuddyer, C Matt LeCroy, OF Michael Restovich, SS Luis Rivas, LHP J.C. Romero, RHP Jason Ryan

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