Who Are the Top 5 Starting Pitchers in Minnesota Twins History?

[Nash Walker]

The top five Twins hitters in history seem to be fairly straightforward, with a few marginal quibbles. The best starting pitcher debate, however, is riddled with more questions and maybe more heat. How much is a great stretch worth over many years of consistent production? I tried to find a balance.Here are my five, ranked:

 

5. Jim Kaat

 

Games started for Minnesota: 422

 

No has started more games for the Twins than Jim “Kitty” Kaat. He pitched 200 or more innings in 10 seasons for Minnesota, a team record. He ranks second to only Bert Blyleven in strikeouts (1,824). Before being dropped to waivers after a poor start to the 1973 season, Kaat had racked up almost 3,000 innings pitched and a 3.28 ERA for the Twins. He was an above average pitcher in 11 of his 12 full seasons in Minnesota. On average, he was 12% better than the typical pitcher during this stretch.

 

Kaat started games two, five and seven in the 1965 World Series against the Dodgers. He threw a complete game with only one earned run in game two and allowed five runs in 5 ⅓ combined innings in games five and seven. Kaat’s banner season was in 1966 when he led the American League in wins (25) and innings pitched (304 ⅔). He also paced the AL in walks per nine (1.6) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.73).

 

Kaat produced 31.7 WAR in 422 starts for the Twins, ranking fourth. He is a Twins great for his counting numbers, but his ERA+ of 112 ties him with Dave Goltz and Jim Merritt for ninth best in team history. We now get to hear his great analysis on a periodic basis on FSN North with Dick Bremer.

 

4. Frank Viola

 

Games started for Minnesota: 259

 

Viola produced a wide variety of seasons for the Twins. In his first two years in the big leagues, he posted a brutal 5.38 ERA. He broke out in 1984 with a 3.21 ERA and the sixth most Cy Young votes in the American League. He regressed a bit in 1985 and was almost exactly a league average pitcher for the next two years (101 ERA+). He ended up clicking in his age-27 season, and at the perfect time in Twins history.

 

Viola was a complete star on the 1987 World Series team, pitching to a 2.90 ERA and once again finishing sixth in the Cy Young race. A newly developed changeup helped him turn the corner and get righties out consistently. The Twins went 4-1 in Viola starts that postseason and turned to him in game seven of the World Series. He threw eight sparkling innings, striking out seven, allowing only two runs, and helping the Twins capture their first title at the Metrodome. He was named the World Series MVP.

 

Now on top of the world, Viola rode the momentum into his first and only Cy Young award in 1988. In those two seasons combined, Viola led baseball with a 157 ERA+ and tied for first with Dave Stewart in wins (41). From 1984 to 1988, Viola was the league’s outright leader in wins (93). The man dubbed as “Sweet Music” was traded to the Mets during the 1989 season for Rick Aguilera, Kevin Tapani, Tim Drummond, David West, and Jack Savage. He currently ranks fifth among Twins pitchers in WAR (27).

 

3. Brad Radke

 

Games started for Minnesota: 377

 

Much less dominant or electric than your typical elite arm, Radke put together a great career with a mediocre fastball. His command and consistency remain underappreciated in a time full of high 90s heat and hard sweeping sliders. From 1996 to 2001, only three pitchers threw 210 or more innings in every season: Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and Radke. During that span, a few things became clear for Twins fans on a yearly basis: Radke was going to start at least 30 games with an ERA firmly below league average.

 

In fact, Radke’s only two seasons where he posted an ERA above league average were his rookie year in 1995 and his injury-shortened campaign in 2002. Because of this consistent production, Radke ranks second to Blyleven in WAR (45.4) and third to Blyleven and Kaat in innings pitched for the franchise (2,451). He pitched 180 innings or more in 10 of his 12 seasons and never played without wearing a Twins uniform.

 

Radke’s consistency didn’t wear out in October. He pitched in six postseason games and posted a 3.60 ERA in 35 innings. In usual Radke fashion, he struck out 17 and walked just eight. Radke led the league in walks per nine (1.0) and the American League in strikeout to walk ratio (5.27) in 2001. Radke threw strikes and manufactured outs like clockwork. His durability caught up to him and he retired after his age-33 season in 2006. He's truly a Twins legend and one that isn’t mentioned nearly enough.

 

2. Johan Santana

 

Games started for Minnesota: 175

 

By beginning his career as a reliever (thanks, Terry) and signing with the Mets in 2008, Santana barely reaches the top 10 for games started in the Twins’ record books. That’s about the only stat where Santana isn’t ranked in the top five among Twins pitchers with at least 100 starts for the club. He leads the franchise in ERA (3.11), WHIP (1.039), strikeouts per nine (9.6), strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.30), opponent batting average (.216), opponent OPS (.631), and win percentage (.679).

 

Santana’s potent four-season stretch from 2004 to 2007 was truly outstanding. He led the American League in almost every category. Wins (70), ERA (2.89), strikeout rate (27.4%), you name it, Johan probably led in it. He won the Cy Young Award in 2004 and again in 2006. He finished third in 2005 and fifth in 2007. Santana pitched to a 1.35 ERA with 20 strikeouts and five walks in 20 playoff innings between 2004 and 2006. The Twins scored a combined nine runs in those three games.

Santana’s career was cut short due to a major shoulder injury, but his pure dominance as a Twin was Hall of Fame worthy in itself. In his first four seasons for the Twins, Santana started in only 35% of his appearances and averaged under 100 innings pitched.

 

“What if?” is a key question for Johan. What if he stayed healthy into his 30s? What if he remained a Twin? What if he would’ve been a true starter earlier in his career? Nevertheless, he was a true joy to watch and an incredible pitcher in his prime in Minnesota.

 

1. Bert Blyleven

 

Games started for Minnesota: 345

 

Blyleven’s Twins career is split into two parts. In the first part, he pitched six full seasons from 1970-1975 and posted an incredible 2.78 ERA in 1,611 ⅓ innings. Blyleven ranked behind only fellow Hall of Famers Tom Seaver and Jim Palmer in ERA+ (133) and strikeout rate (20.3%) during that span. In 1973, Blyleven led baseball in FIP (2.32) and ushered the American League in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.85), ERA+ (156), and WAR (9.7). The right-hander was traded to the Rangers for a package that included Roy Smalley at the 1976 deadline.

 

Blyleven bounced around from Texas, Pittsburgh and Cleveland before the Indians traded him back to Minnesota in 1985. Blyleven picked up right where he left off for the Twins, posting a 3.00 ERA and finishing third in the American League Cy Young race to finish the season. He started 120 more games for the Twins after the trade and, while no longer elite, remained a solid pitcher with an ERA+ above league average (103). Blyleven was a key cog during the 1987 World Series run, going 2-0 in a sweep over the Tigers in the ALCS and posting a 2.77 ERA in his two World Series starts.

 

Any way you cut it, Blyleven simply has the fullest resume. He leads all Twins starters in WAR (49.1) and strikeouts (2,031), contributed toward a championship, and put together a dominant six season stretch where he was a top three pitcher in baseball. For those reasons and more, he resides in the Hall of Fame and is circled as the top starting pitcher in club history.

 

What do you think? Who are the five best starting pitchers in Twins history?

 

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[strumdatjaguar]

Those are my top five. Jim Mudcat Grant and Jim Perry are two to consider

[mikelink45]

I love Mudcat but he really only had a three year period of dominance for us,  but Jim Perry would be the one that really needs to find a way into the top five, but I am not sure where.  from 1969 - 74 he won 105 games for the Twins.  He really was our Ace.  

 

Camilo Pascual is another that deserves to be on the list.  in the first four years that the Twins were in MN he won 15, 20, 21, and 15 games.  

It is amazing that in almost 60 years Blyleven is our only HOF pitcher (not counting the Twins own HOF) other than the less than stellar time with Steve Carlton.  

 

If we go back in Franchise history we have number one all time - Walter Johnson, Early Wynn in the HOF 

[Steve J]

I'm going to be one of those guys....there should be no question, Walter Johnson is #1.

[Dantes929]

The question again of quality vs quantity.    Flip Viola and Radke.   

[Doctor Gast]

All have a dear spot in my heart. Although Johnson was the greatest, I think Nash wanted to limit the list to Twins. Camilo was a Twin, including his time in the organization he had a ton of SO w/ his nasty curve & pitched great in the Twins 1st WS. I`d substitute Brad Radke w/ Camilo

[ashbury]

WAR was mentioned in a few of these mini-bios. While I appreciate the analytic side, when it comes to discussing the "top" of anything I feel that WAR rewards longevity at the expense of career peak. WAA (wins above average) is an alternative measure, valuable and flawed in similar ways to WAR but with little credit given for racking up seasons of averageness. (There is something to be said for longevity being remarkable, but for thinking about "top" players I personally don't give it as much weight.)

 

Kaat doesn't get much love by this metric - lots of games/starts but at a consistently lower level of performance.

 

A glance at b-r.com's list of top WAA by Twins pitchers gives the same top 4 as this article, with a sharp dropoff after the top 3, but suggests a few names, mentioned already in the comments, for consideration at #5: Jim Perry, Dave Goltz, Kevin Tapani, and Camilo Pascual.

 

Perry looks to me like the choice when considering both WAA and WAR. He was a little before my time as a local Twins fan, so I don't have a lot of conviction in suggesting him. But at #5, the pickings are starting to get a bit slim, in terms of real luminaries.

 

For a close decision I happily add intangibles like fan appeal, and I'm not sure anyone among these ranks higher on that than Kaat. Any metric represents just a starting point for discussion, in my book.

[terrydactyls]

Kaat's fielding should move him up. No pitcher in baseball was a better fielder during his career.

[TopGunn#22]

I have a problem with Radke even being on the list. He's got longevity numbers but everything about Radke was "average."  He was "solid" but he was never "great."   For me, Jim Perry is #5 and move Kaat and Viola up.  Perry won a Cy Young in 1970, and was our #1 or #2 for much of the 60's.   Kaat should have wona Cy Young in 1966 (there was only one award for AL/NL then and who was going to beat Sandy Koufax) ??  And I agree with the idea that if you're talking "Franchise" Walter Johnson is #1.  But I think this article was meant "TWINS only."   

#5 Jim Perry

#4 Jim Kaat

#3 Frank Viola

That's what makes #1 so tough.  Blyleven has the longevity numbers and a lot more.

Santana wasn't just the twins Ace in his prime, he was one of baseball's top 2 or 3.  

I look at Santana as the Twins version of Sandy Koufax (without the World Series appearances) so I'll put Santana #1 and Bert #2. 

[PDX Twin]

And also a highly competent hitter in an era when that mattered.

 

Kaat's fielding should move him up. No pitcher in baseball was a better fielder during his career.

 

[Ruven]

1. Bert

2. Johan

3. Kaat

4. Frankie

5. Jim Perry

[Rigby]

1 - Blyleven

2 - Santana

3 - Kaat

4 - Perry

5 - Pascual

6 - Viola

[mlhouse]

While if we use the entire franchise record obviously Walter Johnson is #1 ranked, I think we should only look at era around Twins start. 

 

And, that puts Camilo Pascual in the top 5.   In his prime from 1958 through 1964 (ages 24 through 31) he had ERA+ seasons of 121, 149, 132, 122, 123, 148, 109, and 107.    He led the league in strikeouts three consecutive years 1961-1964.  He led the league in shutouts in 1959, 1961, and 162.

[jmlease1]

 

I have a problem with Radke even being on the list. He's got longevity numbers but everything about Radke was "average."  He was "solid" but he was never "great."   For me, Jim Perry is #5 and move Kaat and Viola up.  Perry won a Cy Young in 1970, and was our #1 or #2 for much of the 60's.   Kaat should have wona Cy Young in 1966 (there was only one award for AL/NL then and who was going to beat Sandy Koufax) ??  And I agree with the idea that if you're talking "Franchise" Walter Johnson is #1.  But I think this article was meant "TWINS only."   

#5 Jim Perry

#4 Jim Kaat

#3 Frank Viola

That's what makes #1 so tough.  Blyleven has the longevity numbers and a lot more.

Santana wasn't just the twins Ace in his prime, he was one of baseball's top 2 or 3.  

I look at Santana as the Twins version of Sandy Koufax (without the World Series appearances) so I'll put Santana #1 and Bert #2. 

 

I think you need to take a closer look at Radke, who was probably better than you remember, and a better pitcher than Jim Perry to beat.

 

Radke compiled 45.6 bWAR for the Twins in 12 seasons; Perry only reached 26.3 bWAR in 10 seasons with the Twins. The ERA+ is the same, but Radke did it over an additional 575 innings pitched, and while doing it in an era where pitchers were already not going as deep into games. Perry's Cy is nice, but a) his best season was probably '69, not '70 and he didn't deserve a Cy in either year.

 

Radke's best season ('99) was as good as anything Perry ever put up, and he was just as good in '00. Radke put up 4-6 seasons that were all-star quality (Perry had more 2); how exactly is that average?

 

Radke's rep gets pushed down because he played in a high scoring environment for some pretty rotten Twins teams. Take 1999: he was terrific, but went 12-14 on a rotten team with an incredibly anemic offense (Koskie & Cordova were the only ones who were even above league average; Coomer led the team in HRs with 16. Good lord, only 16. on the 2019 Twins that puts him in 9th place, barely jumping ahead of Marwin). A putrid squad overall, but Radke was great. It's hardly his fault the Twins squandered his best years with such awful teams around him. Even then, he clawed out a 20 win season in '97 on a team where the next 3 starters combined for 22 wins.

 

Bottom line: Brad Radke was a heck of a pitcher.

[TopGunn#22]

JLease.  Good Points !  I will not change my mind, and would probably even place Pascual ahead of Radke, but I see the points your making and accept your argument to a certain degree.   

[prouster]

I think you need to take a closer look at Radke, who was probably better than you remember, and a better pitcher than Jim Perry to beat.

 

Radke compiled 45.6 bWAR for the Twins in 12 seasons; Perry only reached 26.3 bWAR in 10 seasons with the Twins. The ERA+ is the same, but Radke did it over an additional 575 innings pitched, and while doing it in an era where pitchers were already not going as deep into games. Perry's Cy is nice, but a) his best season was probably '69, not '70 and he didn't deserve a Cy in either year.

 

Radke's best season ('99) was as good as anything Perry ever put up, and he was just as good in '00. Radke put up 4-6 seasons that were all-star quality (Perry had more 2); how exactly is that average?

 

Radke's rep gets pushed down because he played in a high scoring environment for some pretty rotten Twins teams. Take 1999: he was terrific, but went 12-14 on a rotten team with an incredibly anemic offense (Koskie & Cordova were the only ones who were even above league average; Coomer led the team in HRs with 16. Good lord, only 16. on the 2019 Twins that puts him in 9th place, barely jumping ahead of Marwin). A putrid squad overall, but Radke was great. It's hardly his fault the Twins squandered his best years with such awful teams around him. Even then, he clawed out a 20 win season in '97 on a team where the next 3 starters combined for 22 wins.

 

Bottom line: Brad Radke was a heck of a pitcher.

This is a great post. I’ll always admire the way Radke pitched through intense pain when his shoulder was injured in 2006. He made a meaningful contribution to that team’s playoff run despite having an injury that disrupted his daily life.

[mlhouse]

 

WAR was mentioned in a few of these mini-bios. While I appreciate the analytic side, when it comes to discussing the "top" of anything I feel that WAR rewards longevity at the expense of career peak. WAA (wins above average) is an alternative measure, valuable and flawed in similar ways to WAR but with little credit given for racking up seasons of averageness. (There is something to be said for longevity being remarkable, but for thinking about "top" players I personally don't give it as much weight.)

 

Kaat doesn't get much love by this metric - lots of games/starts but at a consistently lower level of performance.

 

A glance at b-r.com's list of top WAA by Twins pitchers gives the same top 4 as this article, with a sharp dropoff after the top 3, but suggests a few names, mentioned already in the comments, for consideration at #5: Jim Perry, Dave Goltz, Kevin Tapani, and Camilo Pascual.

 

Perry looks to me like the choice when considering both WAA and WAR. He was a little before my time as a local Twins fan, so I don't have a lot of conviction in suggesting him. But at #5, the pickings are starting to get a bit slim, in terms of real luminaries.

 

For a close decision I happily add intangibles like fan appeal, and I'm not sure anyone among these ranks higher on that than Kaat. Any metric represents just a starting point for discussion, in my book.

 

The reason to not rate Jim Perry in the top 5 STARTING pitchers in Twins history is that for most of his career with the Twins he was more of a relief pitcher/spot starter than a starting pitcher.  This is why his overall stats are much better than Brad Radke's, but his WAR value isn't: he did not pitch 200+ quality innings.  IN fact, for the from 1963-68 he basically split between being a starter and reliever, never pitching more than 200 innings when 200 innings wasn't anything for a starting pitcher.

 

In 1969 Perry finished 3rd in Cy Young balloting in his first year as a front line starter, but even in that season he made 10 relief appearances.  In 1970 he won the AL Cy Young award making 40 starts and pitching 278 innings.

 

The other issue that we should also factor in when looking at these pitchers from the 1960s and 70s era is arm fatigue.  It didn't just injure pitcers and end their career.  If you look at the career of Jim Kaat, there are peaks and valleys over his long career.  

 

He had solid years in 1966, but in 1966 he pitched 304 innings (Can you imagine).  Then he declined over the next couple of seasons, still good but not at that level.  Then in 1972 he was having his best year ever and was injured running the bases (he was a reasonable hitter for a pitcher) the year before the DH rule came into effect.   

 

Then he was  a really good pitcher for the White Sox in 1974 and 1975, but in 75 he pitched 303 innings and then faded away from there.  Of course, he still had 8 more seasons, pitching to the age of 44.  But he wasn't a high quality pitcher.

[Nine of twelve]

 

Kaat's fielding should move him up. No pitcher in baseball was a better fielder during his career.

Kaat was also a very good baserunner. He was sometimes used as a pinch runner on his days off.

[LylesCrocodiles]

5 Radke

4 Kaat

3 Viola

2 Blyleven

1 Santana

 

Pascual and Perry honorable mention. I also think of Kevin Tapani as a Radke type starter who didn’t have as long of a career.

[etwink]

 

I have a problem with Radke even being on the list. He's got longevity numbers but everything about Radke was "average."  He was "solid" but he was never "great."

Completely agree - Perry over Radke.

 

Other than the one good year, Radke spent the rest of his career losing by 1-2 runs and claiming that he “did his part” in post-game comments.  If this list was for “most-durable” or “most consistent”, then sure, but for the best pitcher, no way.  Radke just looked a lot better because he was on such horrible teams and then was the elder statesmen on the contending 2000s teams.  He clearly wanted to be doing something other than competing on the baseball diamond....then did exactly that when he abruptly retired to go fishing.

[ashbury]

He clearly wanted to be doing something other than competing on the baseball diamond....then did exactly that when he abruptly retired to go fishing.

Prefer Perry's body of work to Radke's, if you want. (Both accumulated ERA's 13% better than their respective league averages during their tenures with the Twins.)

 

But yours is an incredibly bad take, concerning Radke's character. Read this contemporary report at the end of his 2006 season.

 

He did the exact opposite of spitting out the bit. He pitched courageously.

 

[etwink]

 

But yours is an incredibly bad take, concerning Radke's character. Read this contemporary report at the end of his 2006 season.

 

He did the exact opposite of spitting out the bit. He pitched courageously.

Ashbury, sorry no, my take was my opinion in response to an article that was 100% opinion.  If you’ve an issue then I’m not sure if you understand how this site works.  The readers job is not to simply agree like a bunch of homers.

 

Besides, I watched Brad Radke pitch.  For 12 seasons I read the articles quoting him after losing games, many times, that he “did his part”, essentially throwing the position players under the bus.  And in the end was completely stunned when he decided to quit.  Sure, as it turned out, per your quoted article, he had loads of arm problems that likely should have been dealt with - and probably would have extended his career if he had.....maybe that would have been a better decision.

 

In the end, I think Radke is overrated due to the team pitching generally being pathetic during much of his tenure.  My opinion.

[prouster]

Ashbury, sorry no, my take was my opinion in response to an article that was 100% opinion. If you’ve an issue then I’m not sure if you understand how this site works. The readers job is not to simply agree like a bunch of homers.

 

Besides, I watched Brad Radke pitch. For 12 seasons I read the articles quoting him after losing games, many times, that he “did his part”, essentially throwing the position players under the bus. And in the end was completely stunned when he decided to quit. Sure, as it turned out, per your quoted article, he had loads of arm problems that likely should have been dealt with - and probably would have extended his career if he had.....maybe that would have been a better decision.

 

In the end, I think Radke is overrated due to the team pitching generally being pathetic during much of his tenure. My opinion.

Radke’s feeling about pitching are not a matter of personal opinion. He was either passionate or not. His actions indicate he was.

[etwink]

 

Radke’s feeling about pitching are not a matter of personal opinion. He was either passionate or not. His actions indicate he was.

Fine.  Can we please move on from my opinions about Brad Radke???

You’d think I was talking about Cy Young...

[Twodogs]

I think Radke's numbers would be way better had he pitched on those late 60's early 70's twins teams because those teams were really good. I'm pretty sure Perry's numbers wouldn't be so hot had he pitched on those late 90's teams that almost got contracted. But better than both of those guys in my opinion is Camilio Pascual. He had like over 100 complete games which wasn't necessarily that big of a thing back then as a lot of pitchers completed their games but he had like 30 shutouts, so that's not just completing a game that's total domination. He had a lot of strikeouts etc.... He was Johan Santana of the 60's.

[Nine of twelve]

 

I think Radke's numbers would be way better had he pitched on those late 60's early 70's twins teams because those teams were really good. I'm pretty sure Perry's numbers wouldn't be so hot had he pitched on those late 90's teams that almost got contracted. But better than both of those guys in my opinion is Camilio Pascual. He had like over 100 complete games which wasn't necessarily that big of a thing back then as a lot of pitchers completed their games but he had like 30 shutouts, so that's not just completing a game that's total domination. He had a lot of strikeouts etc.... He was Johan Santana of the 60's.

To be more accurate, he was the Bert Blyleven of the '60's.

I remember going to see the Twins with a friend of mine in Milwaukee in 1979. Camilo was the pitching coach at the time, and he was goofing around in the outfield during BP. He picked up a ball and threw a deuce to one of the players. Even then he could still put a big bend on it.