Even the Losers Get Lucky Sometimes: Building a Winner Through the 2011 – 2018 Minnesota Twins

[Patrick Wozniak]

In difficult times, the last thing most people want is another challenge. However, if you’re reading this, you’re most likely a fan of the Minnesota Twins and followed the team through some difficult seasons in the previous decade. Today’s challenge should be fun and hopefully fulfilling: we get to build a winner!Let me explain. We’re going to use the entire player pool from 2011 – 2018 and attempt to build a winning team (I’m throwing the 2015 and 2017 teams in even though they were technically winners). But this is a civilized exercise so there are some rules to which we must comply. They are as follows:

• A player can be used only once and must be slotted in the position they played the majority of the time in the corresponding season (One player, one position, one season).
• Three players must be selected from each year (this makes 24) with the exception of one four-player year to get the team to 25.
• The bench will consist of four players and the bullpen will have seven slots.

Fairly simple. I’ll now unveil the team I came up with.

 

First the starting nine:

 

Download attachment: Building from Losers S9 pic.png

 

The three players to a year rule places some limitations on what you can do but I knew I wanted to build around Joe Mauer’s 2013 and Brian Dozier’s 2015. Mauer’s best years were obviously spent as a catcher so that left him out of first base consideration, which left me with a pretty uninspiring 2012 season from post-concussion Justin Morneau. But the pickings were slim and it wouldn’t feel right not to have the M&M boys on the team.

 

The DH choices also left a lot to be desired as we just miss Jim Thome’s epic 2010 and Nelson Cruz’s absurd 2019. But at least we are left with a decent but partial penultimate season from Thome (he was traded to Cleveland as the Twins fell out of contention and he split his final season between Philadelphia and Baltimore).

 

Danny Santana’s inclusion as center fielder might turn a few heads (I’m not sure why you’d turn your head if your staring at a screen, but you get the point). Byron Buxton’s 2017 and Denard Span’s 2012 seasons were also under consideration, but Santana’s offensive production was ridiculous (his .405 BABIP and future seasons suggest he was more than a bit lucky) and we may just be able to squeeze Span and Buxton onto the bench:

 

Download attachment: Building from Losers bench pic.png

 

One could certainly make an argument for Kurt Suzuki’s All-Star 2014 season for backup catcher (he also bats right-handed unlike Mauer and Castro), but I like Jason Castro’s defense more and 2013 Mauer significantly reduces the importance of backup catcher anyway. Plus, I already had three 2014 position players in my starting lineup and saved my one extra slot for a 2014 starting pitcher:

 

Download attachment: Building from Losers starters pic.png

 

I like this rotation a lot. Like Mauer and Dozier, 2014 Phil Hughes was a no-brainer to build around. The rest of the rotation is pretty solid. I was down to Scott Baker, an uninspiring 2018 Jake Odorizzi, and a very enticing blast from the past in 2012 Scott Diamond (the one-hit wonder) for the fifth and final spot. It came down to a battle of the Scotts and the diamond got baked (I know this makes no sense, but I couldn’t resist).

 

That brings us to the bullpen:

 

Download attachment: Building from Losers bullpen pic.png

 

I really like this ‘pen. 2013 Glen Perkins and 2018 Taylor Rogers were two bad dudes that were must adds. After that, the rest of the bullpen is really solid. I couldn’t decide who the second set-up guy should be, so I’ll leave that to the discretion of manager Raul Mardenhire (AKA Mardy).

 

Overall, I really like this team. The only real offensive weak spots are DH and 1B. The thought of running that defense out there is a little scary, but there are some solid defensive replacements on the bench (at least for the outfield). The rotation is strong and the bullpen is of the shutdown variety. Not bad for a team of losers.

 

What do you think of this Twins compilation? Could this team beat the 2019 Twins in a simulated series? Can you make that a reality with OOTP 21? (I just bought it two days ago. It’s the first video game I’ve played in 20 years. It’s amazing. I’m addicted. I really can’t stop playing it. Please help me.)

 

I challenge you to build a better team within the parameters of the rules. Go for it and share your team!

 

MORE FROM TWINS DAILY

— Latest Twins coverage from our writers

— Recent Twins discussion in our forums

— Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email

 

Click here to view the article

[theBOMisthebomb]

Gotta admit, Casey Fien was not in my memory so thanks for the flashback. I had purposely blocked Kevin Jepsen from my mind.

[Nick Nelson]

Nice. I took a shot at doing something similar a couple years back. Landed on some similar choices: http://twinsdaily.com/_/minnesota-twins-news/minnesota-twins/introducing-the-minnesota-twins-2011-2018-all-star-team-r7348

[Twins_Fan_For_Life]

Blocking Kevin Jepsen from your mind is a very good idea.

[Twins_Fan_For_Life]

Could you do the same thing, but create the worst possible team?

[Patrick Wozniak]

 

Could you do the same thing, but create the worst possible team?

There are a lot of things I could do but I don't know if I wanna put myself through that ! Plus I really hated making those tables!