Fox Sports North and the Minnesota Twins sponsored a two-hour fan press conference or, as they called it, Town Hall Meeting.
First up were Ron Gardenhire, Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau. Mauer and Morneau contributed the usual professional athlete speak. They were feeling good physically, expected the team to contend and were working hard in anticipation of a good year.
Gardenhire was his usual affable self until questioned about the re-signing of Matt Capps. He grew emphatic as he defended the Capps signing, stating the reliever was a good man and provided a good presence in the clubhouse. He strongly maintained that Capps was injured, but kept taking the ball when called upon and going out and pitching when needed. It looked to me that one of the reasons Capps was signed this year was a reward for last year — which is not in keeping with the Twins and all of baseball’s philosophy about money.
Speaking of money and the spending of it, the second hour of the Town Hall Meeting had Twins’ President Dave St. Peter, owner Jim Pohlad and General Manager Terry Ryan on the podium. The first question from the floor was, "Why were the Twins able to spend $115 million last year on team payroll and only $100 million this year?" Pohlad’s answer was that last year was an aberration.
St. Peter jumped in to mention the Twins were in the top 10 in Major League Baseball payrolls last year and are only able to spend $100 million this year. Not knowing whether to believe St. Peter about last year, I looked it up. He was right.
The Twins were tenth in baseball’s payroll list. If they were paying this year’s $100 million, they would have ranked 15th in 2011. This amount is particularly impressive when television contracts are considered. The Yankees receive around $80 million as do the Texas Rangers. And it is thought the Los Angeles Angels may be around $150 million per season. In comparison the Twins just signed a contract for $29 million a year. That is a big deficit to overcome and explains some payrolls larger than the Twins. Never thought I would be defending the Twins’ spending or lack of it, but there it is.
The discussion did not stray far from money, which could be expected as the money men were on the podium. When I first thought about this column, I was leaning toward writing how money dominated baseball and the Twins. But after thinking about last year and the re-signing of Capps this year, I have revised my thinking to a degree.
The Twins spent $15 million over their normal limit last year. They did it because they had hopes of winning it all, not to make more money. Granted, that would have generated additional income, but it also would have driven up players’ salaries. The Twins’ administration got caught up in finally getting out of the playoffs and winning the World Series. That’s why the abysmal showing last year compounded the disappointment for Twins’ fans, administration and players.
The Twins organization did its best to reach a goal. To put it in a romance mode, they "shot for the stars." They didn’t succeed. In fact, they were far from it, but the attempt is really all we can ask.
Nevertheless, I still believe there is romance in the game all the way from the young fan in the left field stands with his or her cap on backwards hoping for a rally, to Dave St. Peter at his desk.
We can look forward to Spring Training with its promise. Take your son, daughter or any youngster to see the Twins and pass on your love of the game to the next generation. This summer can again be about romancing the Minnesota Twins.
