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Minnesota Twins fans have an unusual luxury that they have not enjoyed in quite some time.  Instead of sweating it out until the final week or final day of the season as to whether the Twins would get into the playoffs, Twins fans can sit back and enjoy some quiet time of reflection on the season.

In looking back at the season, one question that fans are going to argue and debate over their favorite beverage in the next few days is who was the most valuable player for the Minnesota Twins this year.

You can go with a pitcher or an everyday player and a compelling case can be made for your favorite player.

There is no easy answer to the question.

Several players put up good numbers worthy of most valuable player consideration.  However, no one player put up ridiculous numbers that makes the conversation pointless and no one player for the Minnesota Twins was consistent throughout the year. 

Below are the nine Twins that are most worthy for consideration as the Most Valuable Player for Minnesota.

Michael Cuddyer

Cuddyer is batting .272, with 14 homeruns and 77 RBIs on the season.  Cuddyer’s numbers are not eye-popping but if there has been a Twins player that has been consistent throughout the year it would have to be Cuddyer.  The real value Cuddyer has brought to the Twins is his flexibility and enthusiasm to play multiple positions throughout the season.  Cuddyer has played first base, second base, third base, right field and center field.  “He’s a warrior,” Denard Span said. “He epitomizes the Twins way. He just amazes me how night in and night out he’s ready to play, and he has the same energy level.”

Justin Morneau

The former American League Most Valuable Player appeared in the first half of the season to be ready to add another MVP trophy to his mantel.  Morneau was simply on fire before the all-star break with a .345 average, 18 homers, 56 RBIs, an on-base average of .437 and a slugging percentage of .618.   Justin almost single-handedly kept the Twins in the race during the first half of the season.  Unfortunately, Morneau has not been able to play since July 7 because he has been suffering concussion type symptoms. 

Jim Thome

The Big Man in the middle has provided the long ball threat that Twins needed to fill with Justin Morneau being unable to go during the second half of the season.  Thome’s titanic blats have drawn favorable comparisons to Harmon Killebrew who he passed on baseball’s all-time homerun list this summer.   In just 271 at-bats, Thome has 25 homeruns and 59 RBIs.   Jim has on-base average of .412 and a slugging percentage of .631.  In September when it was time to finish the White Sox, Thome stepped up his game batting .357 while hitting 7 homeruns and knocking in 14 RBIs.

Thome has also provided the classic veteran leadership that rubs off favorably on the young guys in a clubhouse.  Rookie Danny Valencia said of Thome that “he’s always prepared. I’ve never been around a guy who takes his job so seriously. I try to do what he does, because he’s been successful, and still is successful at what he’s doing.” 

Kevin Slowey

Slowey currently stands with a 13-6 record with a 4.18 earned run average.  Some will undoubtedly point to his slow start to the season and the fact he has given up 20 homeruns in 153 innings that he is not worthy but Slowey deserves some consideration for his control and what he has down the stretch of the season.  The most amazing statistic for Slowey is that he has 115 strikeouts to only 29 walks for a team leading strike out to walk ratio of 3.96.  Kevin is simply not going to give out free passes and beat himself.  Since the All-Star game, Slowey is 5-1 with a 3.38 earned run average.  Slowey also improved upon his strikeout to walk ratio in the second half of the season; he has 47 strikeouts against only 10 walks since the All-Star game.

Delmon Young

Many Twins fans felt that acquiring Young was a mistake and that the Twins should rectify the situation by trading Delmon as soon as possible for an arm that bolster the pitching staff.  Fortunately, the front office didn’t listen because Young put the Twins on his broad shoulders and carried the team during the month of July this year.   While some Twins fans will point to Delmon’s defense in the outfield as precluding him from being considered as the Twins most valuable player his numbers and importance to the team in July can’t be denied.  July was a critical month for the Twins as they lost Morneau and it would have been easy for the team to curl up in the fetal position without the big slugging first baseman.  No need, Delmon to the rescue.  In July, Young had 12 doubles, a triple, six homeruns, and knocked in 30 runs.  Young even had a stolen base.  Delmon also had a .434 batting average and a slugging percentage .736 in the month.  On the year, Delmon’s numbers are 18 homeruns, 105 runs batted in and a .299 batting average.

Carl Pavano

If there has been a workhorse for the Twins pitching staff it would have to be Carl Pavano.  Pavano’s ability to take the ball and go deep into games was very valuable to the team in that he gave the team an opportunity to rest the arms in the bullpen every fifth day consistently throughout the season.  Pavano has already pitched 210 innings in the season and tossed seven complete games.  In comparison, Twins starters Brian Duensing, Francisco Liriano, Kevin Slowey, Scott Baker, and Nick Blackburn between them only have two complete games.  In June and July, Pavano was nearly unhittable.   In June, Pavano limited opponents to a .186 batting average; and in July, Pavano limited opponents to a .235 batting average. On the year, Pavano is 17-11 with an earned run average of 3.60.

What is the secret weapon to Pavano’s success this year?  Pavano’s success has to be tied to the decision to go with his Mario Brothers’ mustache.

Brian Duensing

Duensing would be the lovable dark horse candidate to be the most valuable player on the team.  Duensing started the season in the bullpen and performed admirably in short relief with a 2-1 record, an earned run average of 1.62 and limiting opponents to only a .187 batting average.  When the Twins starters faltered during the days of summer, Duensing stepped up and took the ball and became a dominant starting pitcher.  Since the All-Star break, Duensing has been 8-1 in 11 starts with a complete game, compiled an earned run average of 2.48 while keep the opposition to a batting average of just .268.   The only drawback to Duensing’s claim to the MVP award is that he has only pitched 119 innings on the season.

Joe Mauer

It is difficult not to pencil in Mauer’s name as the Twins Most Valuable Player Award every year given that he will likely be on the short list for the American League Most Valuable Player Award for the rest of this decade.  Mauer’s numbers on the year are solid in that he is second in the league in batting with a .331 average, nine homeruns and 74 runs batted in.  Mauer “struggled” before the all-star break as he hit just .293.  Since the All-Star break, Mauer has a .383 batting average, a .459 on base percentage, and a .541 slugging percentage.  Mauer has also been Mr. Clutch for the Twins this year.  With runners in scoring position with two outs, Mauer is batting .391 with two homeruns and 24 runs batted in; further, his on-base percentage is .525 and his slugging percentage is .609 in those situations.  If Mauer had another five homeruns and 20 runs batted in on the season, the only question would be which player is the second most valuable player on the Twins.

Francisco Liriano – Team MVP

Yes, the knock on Liriano having a slow start to the season is legitimate.  However, when Francisco has been on his game he has been downright nasty and filthy as his team leading strike out total of 191 attests.   On the season, Liriano is a very solid 14-8 with an ERA of 3.44.   Since the All-Star break when the Twins made their big push to separate themselves from the Tigers and White Sox, Liriano has been crazy good with an 8-1 record and an ERA of 2.48.  Francisco has given Twins opponents little to hit in the second half holding opponents to just a .235 batting average.  The most impressive statistic for Liriano is that how rarely he gives the teams with the big bats an opportunity to change the game with a homerun, Franscisco has given up only five homeruns on the season.   In comparison, Duensing in 70 fewer innings has given up six more homeruns; Slowey and Pavano who have roughly pitched the same amount of innings have both given up more than 20 homeruns.

Liriano simply gives the Twins the best chance to win and has been rewarded by Manager Ron Gardenhire as the starting pitcher in the playoffs.  Why not also reward Liriano by awarding him the Minnesota Twins Most Valuable Player?

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The New York Times is reporting on its website today that federal authorities have decided to indict Roger Clemens on charges of perjury on the basis of statements he made to Congress about his use of performance-enhancing drugs.

The Times is reporting that a formal indictment is expected in the near future according to two people who were briefed on the matter.

Clemens and his former trainer, Brian McNamee, testified under oath at a hearing before a House committee in February 2008 and contradicted each other about whether Clemens had used the banned substances.

McNamee has told federal agents, baseball investigator George Mitchell and testified before the committee that he injected Clemens more than a dozen times with steroids and human growth hormone from 1998-01.

Clemens testified that McNamee was lying.

Specifically, the transcript of Clemens testimony in part before Congress provides:

I appreciate the opportunity to tell this Committee and the public—under oath—

what I have been saying all along: I have never used steroids, human growth hormone, or any other type of illegal performance enhancing drugs. I think these types of drugs should play no role in athletics at any level, and I fully support Senator Mitchell’s conclusions that steroids have no place in baseball. However, I take great issue with the report’s allegation that I used these substances.  Let me be clear again: I did not.

I have tried to model my baseball career, and indeed my entire life, on the

premise that “your body is your temple.” The suggestion that I would use steroids or other illegal drugs is totally incompatible with who I am and what I stand for. I have worked hard to succeed at every level. I have given speeches to young people all over the country about the dangers of taking shortcuts to reach your goals. Steroids are a dangerous shortcut. I have made no secret about my feelings on this subject, and I practice what I preach.

Rusty Hardin, Clemens’ lead attorney said he was unaware of a pending indictment.

“We’ve heard nothing,” Hardin said by telephone from Houston, “so I can’t knowledgeably respond at all.”

Earl Ward, one of McNamee’s lawyers, said he, too, “had no indication something was coming.”

Clemens could be sentenced to prison for up to 5 years if he is ultimately indicted and convicted of committing perjury before Congress.

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The last twelve months of baseball have given proponents of expanding the use of instant replay within Major League Baseball plenty of ammunition. 

The evidence to support instant replay is undeniably growing.  Many believe now that the question is not “if” but rather “when” major league baseball expands the use of instant replay in all facets of the game. 

In the one game playoff at the end of the year that was to decide the champion of the American League Central Division, the Detroit Tigers lost a run when the home plate umpire Randy Marsh failed to award Brandon Inge first base after the ball brushed against his shirt.

In the American League Division Series between Minnesota and New York, last year’s Most Valuable Player Joe Mauer lost a double when Umpire Phil Cuzzi called a ball foul that was clearly should have been determined to be a fair ball.

In the American League Division Series between Boston and Los Angeles, Umpire CB Bucknor appeared to miss two calls at first base in Anaheim.

In Game 4 of the American League Championship Series, umpire Tim McClelland somehow failed to see the Los Angeles Angels tag not one, but two New York Yankee runners off third base.

Earlier this year, Detroit Tiger Armando Gallaraga clearly lost a perfect game due to the blown call by first base umpire Jim Joyce.

These calls as well as several other calls this year are encouraging the chorus to sing loudly and clearly that instant replay is necessary.

The buzzards may now be circling on the issue as ESPN’s Outside the Lines just recently conducted a two week survey of umpiring calls during June 29 and July 11 of this year, and found that 20 percent of the calls made were incorrect.

Baseball however, does not need more instant replay. 

What baseball needs now is more Steve Palermo.

Most remember Palermo as the former umpire who came to the aid of two waitresses and foiling an armed robbery outside a Dallas restaurant in 1991; Palermo for his act of bravery was shot in the spinal cord.

Palermo, considered one of  baseball’s finest umpires prior to his injury, still works in baseball as a supervisor of umpires.

When Palermo was asked to give his reaction to the two blown calls in the American League Playoffs last year he pulled no punches; Palermo also gave insight into how baseball could get more calls right such that fans would not feel the need to expand the use of instant replay.

“We could have reversed [those calls]. You know what? We got six guys on the field.  One of those other five guys has got to see it.”

What Palermo is calling for is greater cooperation among umpires to help each other, and possibly confer with another on a potential controversial call.    

Palermo’s idea seems so simple that it would seem that no one would question his suggestion.

However, while what Palermo is calling for may not seem all that revolutionary, there is a code among some umpires within the fraternity that you don’t question another umpire’s call.

As a member of the umpiring fraternity, I can attest that there are some umpires who believe that not only is it wrong for coaches and players to question their decision it is wrong for another member of their team to ask them to review their call.

Palermo is not however an umpire who believes that it is wrong for an umpire to speak with another umpire about a call even when the other umpire is the crew chief.

“I don’t care.  I tell young (umpires), Look, this is your first year in the big leagues.  You respect the veterans, but you don’t defer to the veterans.  If you see something, you go in, because the crew chief will respect you for coming in there and helping out.  It’s part of your job to get  in there, and tell him to get the play right.”

There are some umpires in the baseball who believe as Palermo, and who aren’t afraid to call a conference in order to get a call right.

On June 4 this year, the umpiring crew working the game between the Washington Nationals and Cincinnati Reds reversed an initial call made by a member of the team in blue.

Nationals outfielder Ian Desmond slid hard going into third base late into the game on a play in which the Cincinnati Reds had tossed the ball around the diamond a couple of times.  

On the play it was undisputed that Desmond beat the throw to the base.  However, it was also fairly obvious that Desmond’s foot had momentarily come off the bag at the end of his slide.

Third base umpire Paul Schrieber ruled Desmond safe.  Cincinnati Reds Manager Dusty Baker came out to argue the call.

After the umpires conferred for a minute or two, the decision was announced by crew chief Joe West that Desmond was tagged out on the play.

The play was analyzed by several commentators through various media outlets, and all were in agreement that the umpires on the field got the play right.

Now, more conferences among the umpires on the field will not result in eliminating human error in every call made by the team in blue, but will significantly reduce the limited number of errors made by the umpiring crew.

On the pitched ball that struck the shirt of Inge, Home plate umpire Marsh might have made a different call had he had the input of his first base umpire.

The ball hit by Mauer against the Yankees had the umpires conferred would likely have resulted in the Twins having runners at second and third as Mauer’s hit bounced into the stands, and should have been a ground rule double.

Additionally, the tag play by the Angels that was missed by McClelland could have been reversed which likely would have resulted in the rally by the Yankees being thwarted.

Of course, convening umpire conferences will not result in a happy result occurring after every controversial call being made on the field.

Conferences however, may reduce the number of controversial calls to an acceptable number such that fans and players are willing to continue to accept the human element within the game.

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When Stephen Strasburg was drafted, the book on him was that he had unbelievable control, had command of four pitches, and had overpowering speed. 

Strasburg’s major league debut was a performance for the ages. Strasburg struck out 14 Pittsburgh Pirates and walked none. He fanned the last seven hitters he faced and eight of his final nine. Strasburg threw harder in the seventh inning that he did in the first inning. Amazingly, Strasburg 94th pitch of the day was clocked at 99 miles per hour.

In his second outing, Strasburg was very good, but not nearly as dominant, as he failed to go six innings and walked five batters. Strasburg did, however, strike out eight Cleveland Indians and was still throwing in the high 90s when he left the game.  

Washington Nationals fans believe that, in watching Strasburg, they are going to have a front-row seat to watch the career of a Hall of Fame pitcher. 

Several baseball commentators, however, have cautioned Nationals fans not to begin making Strasburg’s bust for the Hall of Fame as no first overall pick in the draft has ever made it to the Hall of Fame.

While it is true that no first overall pick has made it the Hall, the cold water being thrown on the enthusiasm of Nationals fans appears to be misplaced as there are five players who appear poised to break the jinx before Strasburg is ready to call it a career.

The five players that will likely end the jinx of the first overall player not getting to the Hall of Fame are:

Josh Hamilton – 1999

Hamilton is, once again, considered to be one of the premier outfielders in baseball.  In his first four seasons with the Rangers, Hamilton has 440 hits, 75 home runs, 274 RBIs and a batting average of .294.   Hamilton turned 29 earlier this year and his prospects for getting into the Hall of Fame will likely be dictated on whether he gets enough at-bats over the course of his career. 

Joe Mauer – 2001

Mauer is not only well positioned to get to the Hall of Fame, but is putting up numbers such that he could be considered to be the greatest player at his position.

In his sixth season, Mauer has 908 hits, 74 home runs, 425 RBIs, .a career 326 batting average, three Silver Slugger awards, and a Most Valuable Player award.  Joe has an incredibly strong arm, which limits the number of runners who take chances on the base paths against the Twins; Mauer has also been awarded two Golden Glove awards.

Alex Rodriguez – 1993

A-Rod is about join very elite company later this year, when he hits his 600th career home run.  Rodriquez will turn 35 in July and many wonder whether he will play long enough to become the all-time home run leader; he will likely play long enough to join the 3,000 hit fraternity.  A-Rod’s career numbers appears to be more than Hall of Fame worthy: 2,596 hits, 591 home runs, 1,749 RBIs, .304 batting average, three Silver Slugger awards, three MVP awards, four Hank Aaron awards and two Golden Glove awards from his earlier days at shortstop.

If Rodriquez does not make the Hall, it will be because voters believe that he did more than have a brief flirtation with steroids.

Chipper Jones – 1990

Jones has been one of the more prominent faces of the Atlanta Braves franchise.  Jones will not reach the magical milestones of 500 home runs or 3,000 hits, but it is difficult to see how his offensive career numbers don’t get him into the Hall of Fame at the end of the day. Jones’ career numbers: 2,444 hits, 429 home runs, 1,467 RBIs, a .306 batting average and a Most Valuable Player award.  If Jones does not make it to the Hall of Fame, it will be because voters believe his defensive skills fell short. 

Ken Griffey, Jr. – 1987

When he announced his retirement last week, almost all stories concerning Junior acknowledged that he was going to be a first-ballot Hall of Fame player. 

Griffey’s career numbers: 2,781 hits, 630 home runs, 1,836 RBIs, a .284 batting average, seven Silver Slugger awards, an MVP award, 13 All-Star selections and ten Gold Glove awards.  Griffey was also selected to Major League Baseball’s All-Century team in 1999.

Griffey will be the first player selected first-overall in the draft that will be elected to the Hall of Fame.

Strasburg will, therefore, not have to worry about the jinx of being selected first overall.  Of course, those who are superstitious and believe in the power of black cats will point out that the jinx concerning players drafted first overall still applies—to pitchers.

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Commissioner Bud Selig is going to have a very interesting press conference.

Commissioner Selig needs to address two issues.

First, Commissioner Selig needs to commend Armando Galarraga for how he conducted himself last night. Galarraga should have been heralded this morning for the perfect game he threw against the Cleveland Indians last night.

Instead, first base umpire Jim Joyce blew what should have been the last play of the game. Instead of calling Jason Donald out at first base, Joyce ruled that Donald beat Galarraga to first base on a toss made by Miguel Cabrera to the bag.

In Joyce’s own words, he “kicked the s*%t out of the call!”  

Galarraga didn’t curse Joyce out. Galarraga didn’t charge Joyce and get in his face. No, Galarraga smiled and shook his head.

After the game, Galarraga told the media that he thought that Joyce probably felt worse about missing the call than Galarraga felt about being denied a perfect game. Galarraga then reminded everybody that Joyce was human and that everyone makes mistakes from time to time.

Who is this guy? Doesn’t Galarraga know that we are talking about Major League Baseball?

Galarraga is acting as if he is playing a kid’s game for fun. Galarraga is acting if he understands that there is more to life than baseball.

What are we fans supposed to think about Galarraga in a sports era dominated by performance-enhancing drug-taking prima donnas?

How many of us in the same situation could have hoped to act with as much grace as Galarraga in the face of pitching a perfect game?

Galarraga exhibited a degree of class, humanity, and genuine charity toward umpire Jim Joyce last night that needs to be highlighted and praised by Commissioner Selig.

Commissioner Selig needs to take time to recognize Galarraga for how he played last night as a pitcher, but more importantly, Commissioner Selig needs to say something about Galarraga handled himself as a man.

Second, Commissioner Selig is going to need to say something about the need for instant replay in baseball. 

Commissioner Selig doesn’t need to say how the league is going to implement instant replay but he does need to say that the league needs to adopt instant replay. 

Jim Joyce was emphatic after the game that he looked at the instant replay and was convinced that he missed the call.

Joyce was upset for Galarraga because he took a great effort away from Galarraga. Joyce was upset because he took Galarraga’s place in baseball history away from Galarraga.

More importantly, Joyce, with tears in his eyes and emotion in his voice, said he absolutely felt sick about missing the call.

The Commissioner needs to remind baseball fans that the guy who was most upset about missing the call was Joyce. Baseball umpires do a fantastic job getting in the right position and getting calls right because they truly care about getting the call right.

Yes, there are calls that are missed, but fans need to appreciate that the reason why certain missed calls stick out in our memory is because missed calls happen so infrequently during the course of a season.

The Commissioner has an opportunity to build some goodwill among the players, umpires, and fans by extolling Galarraga and by reminding us that everyone involved in the game is emotionally invested in making sure that all the calls in the game are right.

Hopefully, Commissioner Selig won’t squander the opportunity.

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