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Twins growing up
With fewer youngsters in camp, Tom Kelly is optimistic
Posted: Monday March 05, 2001 6:12 PM
Throughout spring training, CNNSI.com will feature regular dispatches from
Sports Illustrated staffers assigned to scout camps in the Grapefruit and Cactus
Leagues.
By Mark Bechtel, Sports Illustrated
TEAM: Minnesota
Twins
SITE: Fort Myers,
Fla.
WEATHER: Warm and
windy
PLAYER I SAW WHOM I REALLY LIKED: Joe Mays. The righty, now
25, showed good stuff as a midseason addition to the rotation in 1999 (he had a
20 1/3-inning scoreless streak at one point), but struggled in 2000. Against the
Red Sox on Sunday, he threw two quiet innings, keeping the ball down
and allowing only a walk. If he can keep the ball on the ground in the
Metrodome, he should be able to step in and fill the No. 4 spot in the Twins'
rotation.
AROUND THE HORN
Every Twins player I talked to said manager Tom Kelly
has been far more optimistic and upbeat this spring. Theories as to why ranged
from the fact that he's dealing with more veterans and fewer rookies fighting
for a spot on the roster to the fact that the team finally has some direction
(in the past eight months they have locked up pitchers Brad Radke
and Eric Milton for four years apiece). Then again, it could be
because he knows if the Twins finish fourth or worse for the ninth consecutive
season, he might mercifully be let go. (He is only signed through the 2001
season.)
Kelly did seem rather chipper Sunday morning. Between drills on one of the side
fields, he walked over to the fence and started working the crowd of a dozen or
so people, running through the old, "Hi, how ya doin'? Anyone from out of
town?" routine. Some guy suggested that his daughter might make a good
pitcher for the Twins, and Kelly told him there were two requirements: That she
be left-handed and breathing. Then he told the crowd that he hoped to get out at
a reasonable hour because he's supposed to get his hair
cut.
First baseman Doug Mientkiewicz's nightmarish 1999
season had a silver lining. He spent all of the 2000 season in the minors, which
allowed him to play on the Olympic team, which in turn allowed him to hit two
game-winning homers and win a gold medal, which then allowed him to hobnob with
all manner of celebs over the winter. Mientkiewicz's favorite? His childhood
hero, Mike Eruzione.
And Mientkiewicz is an old-school fan. His family had season tickets to the
Toledo Goaldiggers, Eruzione's minor league team before the 1980 Olympics.
Mientkiewicz is, understandably, a whole lot more confident this spring. He had
a good year in Class AAA last year, and he should see substantial time at first
base in 2001 if he has a decent
spring.
The Twins don't have much pop in their lineup, so if they are
going to win they're going to have to do it with pitching and defense. Their
staff isn't half bad, and they have some great gloves. Mientkiewicz is a vacuum
at first, rookie Luis Rivas can flash the leather at second, and
Torii Hunter is a great center
fielder.
Sports Illustrated staff writer Mark Bechtel will check in periodically with
reports from his tour of spring camps.
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