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  • What End Result Will Signify Success for the Minnesota Twins in 2020?

    Matthew Taylor

    By Matthew Taylor

    The Minnesota Twins surpassed expectations in 2019 by blazing out to a 40-18 start and finishing the season with 101 wins, second most in team history. The end result to their legacy was complicated after they were swept by the Yankees. What end result will signify success for the Minnesota Twins in 2020?

    Image courtesy of © Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

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    For this article, I will be laying out the case for several different end results for the 2020 Minnesota Twins, and making a case for why each result would signify success for the Twins in 2020.

    Win the American League Central

    In baseball, there is still a ton of pride to be had in winning your division. Heck, at Target Field the Minnesota Twins fly pennants for each year that they won their division. Winning the division for a second year in a row and proving dominant over the four teams against which the Twins compete 76 times per year would definitely signify success. Additionally, playoff baseball is extremely random. Taking a 162-game season and parsing it down into a best-of-5 series isn’t the best way to determine superiority, and penalizing the Twins for losing such a short series in the playoffs would hardly be fair.

    Win a playoff series

    The Minnesota Twins have won the American League Central six times since 2002 without winning a playoff series. It’s time for the Twins to advance past simply making it into the tournament — they need to win a series. Every projection model has the Minnesota Twins winning the American League Central in 2020, but can they do more? If the Twins are able to get over the hump and win a playoff series after getting knocked out in the first round eight years in a row, that would show progress and signify a successful season for the Minnesota Twins in 2020.

    Win the American League pennant

    While winning a playoff series would be nice, expectations should be set higher for the Twins heading into 2020. The American League is already shaping up to be an easier road this year than it was last year, leaving the Twins with an opportunity. The Astros lost Gerrit Cole and are sure to be distracted by the controversy that will be surrounding them all season, and the Yankees have been plagued by injuries. With the waves parting for the Twins heading into next season, it’s their time to pounce, achieve real success, and win the pennant for the first time since 1991.

    Win the World Series

    The Minnesota Twins are entering the 2020 season with their highest payroll in team history. Their championship window will never be any wider than it is right now. Nelson Cruz is 39 years old and there’s no guarantee that he will be with the club next season. Jose Berrios is entering his prime age-26 season. Josh Donaldson and Kenta Maeda are on board and all of the chips are on the table. Anything short of a World Series championship would be a disappointment. Coaches and players are all talking about championship aspirations for this team, and following through on those aspirations would be the only thing that would signify success for the Minnesota Twins for the 2020 season.

    After reading the cases for each end result for the 2020 Twins, what result will signify a successful season to you? Leave a comment below and start the conversation!

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    Matthew Taylor has been a writer with Twins Daily since 2020. If you can't find him at Target Field you'll most likely find him at the movie theater.
    Follow Matthew Taylor on Twitter: MatthewTaylorMN

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    Dantes929

    Dantes929 4,529

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    • Posted

     

    Win a playoff series and don’t end the season at the hands of the Yankees.

    I want to say World Series or bust but that is always a tall order and takes a team peaking at the right time.

    With a fair dose of luck.    Three runs single late in the wild card game saved the Nats from elimination before they had a chance to get hot.    Same for the Royals in a wild card game before that.   The fact that the wild cards since the start have a winning record tells you SSS evens things out.   One of my favorite seasons ever was   2006 with 2008 and 2009 up there as well.   I have been a fan since the early 70's and what I want is what I always want.  Meaningful games through September.   Being out of the race in mid August makes for a long wait til next year.

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    theBOMisthebomb

    theBOMisthebomb 2,010

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    • Posted

    I will be the first to say winning the World Series is the only way for 2020 to be considered a success. There are many other elements and success points that would make the season enjoyable. Although, with this lineup and the money on the table with the free agent signings, it is hoist a World Series championship banner or bust.

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    Ruven

    Ruven 30

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    • Posted

    In a short series you never know. Get to the post-season and play well. That’s all that is necessary to call the season a success.

     

    Get to the post-season and play well and we’ll see what happens.

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    PDX Twin

    PDX Twin 4,474

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    • Posted

    Unpopular sentiment, but I'm prepared for disappointment. A couple of nagging injuries in spring training, a couple of bad bounces, and a couple of ineffective starts could leave us 0-10. There's a lot of luck in the game and the Twins were very lucky last year. I'm hoping it continues, but it might not.

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    Tibs

    Tibs 844

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    • Posted

    With the position the team seems to be in, it's hard to say anything less than a World Series is a success.

     

    In reality, winning the World Series is very hard. I'd say minimum for a successful season is playing in the ALCS.

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    TwinsFan2005

    TwinsFan2005 12

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    • Posted

    I’m happy as long as we can win a playoff series I think this year we go to the ALCS then next year if they can have another strong offseason and add more solid pitching and retain Nelson Cruz there will be no question we would have what it takes to win a World Series

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    TwinsFan2005

    TwinsFan2005 12

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    Win the World Series. That is the definition of success in major league baseball.

    Anything less can be enormously enjoyable, but cant be called success.

    I would 100% call last season a success and we didn’t even win a playoff series so I disagree

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    DocBauer

    DocBauer 14,431

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    • Posted

    I love baseball and baseball season. I especially love the Twins! Period! I think how one defines a successful season is very open to internal perspective.

     

    Good: Win the Central

    Very Good: Win a series and advance.

    Terriffic: Reach the WS

    Awesome: Win it all!

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