CNN/SI Preview: Minnesota Twins
Posted: Friday March 12, 1999 12:50 PM
| |
Radke has allowed an average of 31 homers in his four major league seasons. Harry How/Allsport |
By Greg Auman, CNN/SI
With a career record of 54-54, Brad Radke can go one of two ways in 1999 --
back to the success that saw him win 20 games in 1997, or back to the form
that saw him lose at least 14 games in each of his three other seasons in
the majors.
Radke's 1998 season was a disappointing dropoff -- forget his 12-14 record
and 4.30 ERA and consider that opposing batters hit .283 against him, after
hitting .257 against him in 1997.
Radke, just 26, can become a free agent after the 1999 season, and given
Minnesota's desire for a light payroll, he might be in a new uniform before
the season is over. Being on the open market should be incentive enough,
but Radke usually starts his seasons well -- he was 7-3 with a 2.83 ERA
entering June last year, and 15-5 at the end of July in 1997. A solid start
for Radke in '99 might end his stay in Minnesota, but might pay off in
other ways. 1998 Recap (70-92, 4th in AL Central)
Minnesota's sixth straight losing season saw the Twins hovering under .500
all season long. Once the team established it wasn't moving to Charlotte,
it also made it clear it really wasn't going anywhere in the standings,
either.
In August and again in September, the Twins endured 1-12 stretches that
made a tough season altogether frustrating. There were glimpses of promise
as young players played a more prominent role in the Twins' lineup.
Second baseman Todd Walker
emerged in his first full season, hitting .316 with 12 home runs and 62
RBIs. Outfielder Matt Lawton
raised his batting average 30 points from '97 and led the team with 21 home
runs and 77 RBIs. Promising young first baseman David Ortiz saw his season
end due to injury after just 86 games.
However, the team lacked power as a whole -- their 115 home runs were
second-worst in the American League -- while opposing batters hit .284,
with only the Rangers allowing more hits in the AL. 1999 Outlook
The Twins might not be better in 1999, but they'll certainly be younger
this year. Paul
Molitor has retired and Otis Nixon is
with the Braves, and once closer Rick Aguilera
is traded, the Twins won't have anyone over 35 on roster. That's a
refreshing change from last season, when Mike Morgan, 39,
and Bob
Tewksbury, 38, combined for 42 starts. Both are gone now, and young
mediocrity is always preferred to its aging counterpart.
Tom Kelly is the last remaining link to the 1991 World Champions, entering
an unimaginable 14th season in Minnesota. He boasts the longest active
reign with the same team among major-league managers, and if the team's
young talent can develop this season, that likely won't change this year.
| Roster roundup
|
Who's new
No major free-agent
signings Who's gone
DH Paul Molitor, OF Otis Nixon, SS Pat Meares, OF Alex Ochoa, P
Mike Morgan, P Bob Tewksbury, P Dan Naulty
| | | |
In addition to Radke, two other young pitchers each lost 14 games and
gained valuable experience last year. LaTroy
Hawkins, 26, needs to inherit Tewksbury's control, and Eric Milton, the
key prospect the Yankees gave up to get Chuck
Knoblauch last year, could be the team's future ace at just 23. Three
rookies -- Benj Sampson, Dan Serafini and Mark Redman -- will also battle
for a spot in the rotation.
If the Twins can pick up immediate help in trading away Aguilera and Radke,
they can make 1999 a more bearable year for Minnesotans, and if the young
prospects can step up like last year's surprising contributors did, the
Twins can turn potential into something more tangible in the league
standings in a few years.
|
