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Eric Milton has emerged as one of the top lefties in the AL. Allsport/Al Bello

By Lonny Krasnow, CNNSI.com

Has it really been 10 years since Kirby Puckett and Jack Morris led the Minnesota Twins to a second World Series title in five years? It probably feels like 20 to manager Tom Kelly, who has endured eight consecutive losing seasons.

However, the 2001 season holds more promise than recent years because Kelly has nearly a set lineup heading into camp.

"This year in spring training we don't have to have tryouts like we did in the past," Kelly said. "We can focus on making people better, without worrying about who's going to be in left field, who's going to be in right field, who's going to do this and that."

The Twins still resemble the young and often outmanned group that won an AL-low 69 games last season. But they have the potential to be a winning team in the near future.

The strength of the team is its starting pitching. The top of the rotation features Brad Radke (12-16, 4.45 ERA) and Eric Milton (13-10, 4.86), who is poised for a dominant season. Mark Redman (12-9, 4.76) was a pleasant surprise last season, but 2001 will show if he's for real. Rookie Matt Kinney, who has four quality pitches, is penciled in the rotation assuming he has a strong spring. Joe Mays (7-15, 5.56) has a tenuous hold on the No. 5 spot, with J.C. Romero and Johan Santana also in the mix.

Top Guns Twins 2000 team leaders Avg.  Matt Lawton  .305  HR  Jacque Jones  19  RBIs  Matt Lawton  88  SB  Cristian Guzman  28  Wins  Eric Milton  13  ERA  Brad Radke  4.45  Ks  Eric Milton  160  Saves  LaTroy Hawkins  36    Go Figure 15 Years at the helm for Tom Kelly -- the longest current tenure of any manager or head coach with one team in the four major pro sports.

One of the better defensive outfield trios remains intact with All-Star Matt Lawton in right, Torii Hunter in center and Jacque Jones in left. Lawton (.305, 88 RBI, 23 SB) is a complete player, while Hunter and Jones will only get better now that their roles are defined.

Up the middle, shortstop Cristian Guzman (53 extra-base hits, 28 SB) teams with Rookie of the Year candidate Luis Rivas to form the youngest keystone combination in the majors. Rivas is expected to win the second base job in camp.

Olympic hero Doug Mientkiewicz has the inside track on the first base job. He's a future Gold Glove winner if his bat doesn't keep him out of the lineup.

Meanwhile, third baseman Corey Koskie (.300, 9 HR, 65 RBI in 474 at-bats) and 1B/DH David Ortiz (.282, 10 HR, 63 RBI in 415 at-bats) should get more consistent playing time with Ron Coomer out of the picture.

General manager Terry Ryan was prepared to shop for free agents this winter but passed when he found few bargains. The only acquisitions were pitcher Brandon Knight, a Rule V selection, and catcher Tom Prince.

While the Twins are still young, they are more experienced than they were the past two seasons when they used 17 rookies in both 1999 and 2000. They might still be a year or two away, which is what Kelly wants people to think.

"We might jump up and surprise people," Kelly said. "I like to ambush."

Arrivals
Pos.	Player	From	Via
RHP	Brandon Knight	Yankees	Rule V Draft
C	Tom Prince	Phillies	Free Agency

Departures
Pos.	Player	To	Via
1B	Ron Coomer	Cubs	Free Agency
RHP	Jason Ryan	TBA	Released

Spring Cleaning

David Ortiz What ever happened to the Homerdome? The Twins have ranked dead last in the majors in home runs the past two seasons. Believe it or not, the last 30-homer Twin was Kent Hrbek in 1987. Gimme a break -- Roy Smalley played on that team! David Ortiz has 30-homer power (he's done it twice in the minors), but he keeps getting stuck in TK's doghouse. Maybe this is the year Ortiz, 25, finds his power stroke. Who's going to catch? Matt LeCroy was supposed to solve this problem last year, but he failed miserably and was banished to the minors. A.J. Pierzynski and Prince, a career backup, are expected to battle for regular duty, with Chad Moeller and Javier Valentin on the outside looking in. The Twins scored three or fewer runs 66 times last season. When they scored four or more, they were 56-40. Kelly plans to be more aggressive on the basepaths. Paul Molitor is in camp teaching the Twins how to get good leads, steal bases, advance runners and take the extra base. Was I dreaming or did LaTroy Hawkins convert all 14 of his save chances last season? Can the former mop-up man with the lifetime 5.76 ERA continue his success from 2000, or will it be another year of (gulp) Bob Wells and "Everyday" Eddie Guardado working the late innings?

Team Breakdown
Projected Lineup		Projected Rotation
SS	Cristian Guzman	RHP	Brad Radke
2B	Luis Rivas	LHP	Eric Milton
RF	Matt Lawton	RHP	Mark Redman
DH	David Ortiz	RHP	Matt Kinney
3B	Corey Koskie	LHP	Joe Mays
LF	Jacque Jones	Bullpen
CF	Torii Hunter	RHP	LaTroy Hawkins (closer)
1B	Doug Mientkiewicz	RHP	Bob Wells
1B	A.J. Pierzynski/Tom Prince	LHP	Eddie Guardado
Key Reserves		LHP	J.C. Romero
UT	Denny Hocking	LHP	Travis Miller
INF	Jay Canizaro	LHP	Johan Santana
OF	John Barnes	RHP	Brandon Knight

Prospects to Watch
3B Mike Cuddyer -- The 1997 first-round pick is coming off a disappointing season in Class AA, and he should return there in 2001. He's at least a year away from the majors. RHP Adam Johnson -- The No. 2 overall pick in the 2000 draft could rise to the majors quickly if he learns to pitch rather than get by on good stuff. Johnson, who turns 19 in April, went 5-4 with a 2.47 ERA in Class A last season with 92 strikeouts in 69 innings. Matt Kinney -- Acquired from the Red Sox in 1998 for Greg Swindell, Kinney throw mid-90's gas and also features a decent slider, curve and changeup. The 24-year-old looked polished in the Arizona Fall League and should win a spot in the rotation. OF Mike Restovich --A home state product, Restovich has the best raw power among Twins farmhands. He also swiped 19 bases last season in Class A. But he's raw, and at 22, won't be rushed to the majors. 2B Luis Rivas -- A converted shortstop, Rivas made the transition to second base last season. He's a gifted athlete with speed and gap power. Only a lack of plate discipline will prevent him from the Opening Day roster.
Best-Case Scenario
Secure with long-term contracts, Radke and Milton both win 20 games while Redman and Kinney combine for 30 quality starts. Hawkins proves last season was not a fluke and saves 40 games. Lawton has a 30-30 season, Jones and Hunter develop into five-tool studs, Koskie and Ortiz produce 20-homer, 100-RBI seasons, and Rivas earns AL Rookie of the Year honors. With the Twins in the wild-card race at the All-Star break, owner Carl Pohlad gives Kelly a lifetime contract. Minnesota finishes the season 82-80 -- its first winning season since 1992.
Worst-Case Scenario
More of the same: The Twins feature the most anemic offensive in baseball. TK grows frustrated with the lack of discipline and shoddy defense, sending Hunter, Mientkiewicz, Ortiz and Rivas to the minors. A lineup of full of Denny Hockings and Jay Canizaros finishes 26 games out of first place ... again. Kelly and the Twins part ways in October and plans for a baseball-only stadium are scrapped.
Bottom Line
The Twins could surprise people in 2001. The rotation is solid and the lineup is pretty much set. But until someone emerges as a power threat in the middle of the lineup, a .500 season is unrealistic.

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