2010 Minnesota Twins season

The 2010 Minnesota Twins season was the 50th season for the franchise in Minnesota, and the 110th overall in the American League.

2010 Minnesota Twins
American League Central Champions
Major League affiliations
Location
Results
Record94–68 (.580)
Divisional place1st
Other information
Owner(s)Jim Pohlad
General manager(s)Bill Smith
Manager(s)Ron Gardenhire
Local televisionFox Sports North
WFTC (My 29)
(Dick Bremer, Bert Blyleven)
Local radio1500 AM ESPN Radio Twin Cities (KSTP-AM)
(John Gordon, Dan Gladden, Jack Morris, Kris Atteberry)
StatsESPN.com
BB-reference
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It was their first season in their new stadium, Target Field, which made its regular-season debut on April 12 as the Twins defeated the Boston Red Sox 5–2. This marked the return of outdoor professional baseball to the state of Minnesota for the first time since the end of the 1981 season, the last played at Metropolitan Stadium. 3,223,640 fans attended Twins games, setting a new franchise record.

The Twins clinched their sixth AL Central division championship in nine seasons on September 21 after a win against the Cleveland Indians and a Chicago White Sox loss. They were again swept by the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series to end the season.

Offseason

New uniforms

The Twins altered their uniforms for the 2010 season. Their new home outfits as well as their alternate uniforms feature a redesigned primary wordmark that was shown for the first time as a sign was hoisted into place atop the scoreboard at Target Field in May 2009. The team's colors remained unchanged (Red, navy and white) but the nameplate that had been in use since the 1980s on the uniforms was eliminated. The new road uniforms discards the navy pinstripes for a gray uniform with a script "Minnesota" on the front in navy with red and white trim. The franchise also wore a 1961 throwback uniform as part of the team's 50th season on Opening Day and all Saturday dates. The team donned a special Inaugural Season patch for Target Field on all home uniforms, and a Golden Anniversary season patch on their road outfits.

Roster moves

Before spring training, the Twins parted ways with 2009 trade deadline acquisition Orlando Cabrera, who would go on to sign a free agent deal with the Cincinnati Reds.[1] Also leaving the team was backup catcher Mike Redmond.[2] With Cabrera leaving, there were questions about the Twins infield.[3] General Manager Bill Smith addressed these questions by trading center fielder Carlos Gómez to the Milwaukee Brewers for shortstop J. J. Hardy,[4] and signing free agent second baseman Orlando Hudson.[5] Smith also added some power to the bench by acquiring free agent and former White Sox and Indians designated hitter Jim Thome.[6] With regular closer Joe Nathan out for the season after elbow surgery, Gardenhire named Jon Rauch the closer to begin the season. Later, the Twins traded catcher Wilson Ramos and Joe Testa to the Washington Nationals to acquire Matt Capps to bolster the bullpen. Other pitching changes included the late additions of Brian Fuentes and Randy Flores.

On March 22, catcher Joe Mauer signed a contract extension for eight years. The $184 million contract, paying him $23 million each year, is the richest ever for the Twins, and the fourth largest in major league history.[7]

Regular season

Finally, the Twins win a stadium opener at home. They'd lost the Home Openers at Metropolitan Stadium (April 21, 1961) and the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (April 6, 1982). At Target Field on April 12 this year, DH Jason Kubel drove in two runs and hit the stadium's first home run in a 5-2 win over Boston.

On April 28, third baseman Luke Hughes hit a home run in his first-ever major league at bat, joining four other Twins who've accomplished the feat: Rick Renick (1968), Dave McKay (1975), Gary Gaetti (1981) and Andre David (1984). They were joined by Eddie Rosario in 2015.

On July 3, new Twin Jim Thome homered in the first inning for his 574th career home run. With that four-bagger, he passed Twins legend Harmon Killebrew's 573 on the all-time career home run list.

July 13: At Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau represented the Twins at the All-Star Game. Mauer was the starting AL catcher and Morneau was not used as a reserve.

Kevin Slowey's win on September 12 was the club's 4,000th win, dating back to win no. 1 on April 11, 1961.

Ron Gardenhire was named American League Manager of the Year; he'd been the runner-up five times. Pitcher Francisco Liriano, who'd missed all of 2007 following Tommy John surgery, saw limited action in 2008 and 2009 due to injuries. In 2010, he threw the second-most innings of any pitcher for the Twins, led the team in ERA, and allowed the fewest home runs per nine innings of any pitcher in the AL (0.4). He was voted the American League's Comeback Player of the Year. (He'll win it a second time, as a 2013 Pittsburgh Pirate He's the first player to win it twice and the only one to win it in both leagues.)

Joe Mauer won his fourth Silver Slugger Award and his third Gold Glove Award.

Season standings

AL Central W L Pct. GB Home Road
Minnesota Twins 9468 0.580 53–28 41–40
Chicago White Sox 8874 0.543 6 45–36 43–38
Detroit Tigers 8181 0.500 13 52–29 29–52
Cleveland Indians 6993 0.426 25 38–43 31–50
Kansas City Royals 6795 0.414 27 38–43 29–52

Detailed record

TeamHomeAwayTotal
AL East
Baltimore Orioles2–23–15–3
Boston Red Sox2–10–22–3
New York Yankees1–21–22–4
Tampa Bay Rays1–32–23–5
Toronto Blue Jays1–32–33–6
7–108–1015–21
AL Central
Chicago White Sox6–37–213–5
Cleveland Indians6–36–312–6
Detroit Tigers7–22–79–9
Kansas City Royals7–26–313–5
26–1021–1547–25
AL West
Los Angeles Angels2–13–15–2
Oakland Athletics4–22–16–3
Seattle Mariners3–03–46–4
Texas Rangers6–01–34–3
15–39–925–12
National League
Atlanta Braves1–2N/A1–2
Colorado Rockies2–1N/A2–1
Milwaukee Brewers2–10–32–4
New York MetsN/A1–21–2
Philadelphia PhilliesN/A2–12–1
5–43–68–10
Month Games Won Lost Pct
April23158.652
May281612.571
June271215.444
July261511.577
August281810.643
September271710.630
October312.333
1629468.580

Roster

2010 Minnesota Twins
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

Designated Hitter

Manager

Coaches

Game log

2010 Game Log

Player stats

Batting

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; AVG = Batting average; SB = Stolen bases

Player G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI AVG SB
Scott Baker23000000.0000
Nick Blackburn21000000.0000
Alex Burnett400000000
Drew Butera49142122861213.1970
Alexi Casilla69152264274120.2766
Jesse Crain51000000.0000
Michael Cuddyer157609931653751481.2717
Brian Duensing51000000.0000
Matt Guerrier400000000
J.J. Hardy1013404491193638.2681
Brendan Harris4310811173014.1570
Orlando Hudson12649780133245637.26810
Luke Hughes27120011.2860
Jason Kubel143518681292332192.2490
Francisco Liriano12000000.0000
Ron Mahay500000000
Jeff Manship21000000.0000
Joe Mauer13751088167431975.3271
José Mijares100000000
José Morales1936472007.1940
Justin Morneau81296531022511856.3450
Carl Pavano26030000.5000
Trevor Plouffe2241761026.1460
Nick Punto882522460111120.2386
Wilson Ramos727283001.2960
Jon Rauch200000000
Jason Repko5812719296039.2283
Ben Revere1328150002.1790
Kevin Slowey32000000.0000
Denard Span153629851662410358.26426
Jim Thome10827648761622559.2830
Matt Tolbert488782043118.2301
Danny Valencia852993093181740.3112
Delmon Young1535707717046121112.2985
Totals1625568781152131841142749.27368

Pitching

Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; HR = Home runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts

Player W L ERA G GS SV IP HR ER BB K
Scott Baker1294.4929290170.1238543148
Nick Blackburn10125.422826016125974068
Alex Burnett225.29410047.26282337
Matt Capps202.00270162716821
Jesse Crain113.047101685232762
Rob Delaney009.0010011110
Brian Duensing1032.6253130130.211383578
Randy Flores004.9111003.22222
Brian Fuentes000.009019.20028
Matt Guerrier573.177401717252242
Francisco Liriano14103.6231310191.297758201
Ron Mahay113.44410034513825
Jeff Manship215.28131029317621
José Mijares113.31470032.2412928
Pat Neshek015.00110091589
Carl Pavano17113.7532320221249237117
Glen Perkins115.82131021.2314514
Jon Rauch313.125902157.23201446
Anthony Slama017.715004.21455
Kevin Slowey1364.4530280155.2217729116
Totals94683.95162162401452.21556383831048

Playoffs

The Twins were swept in three games by the New York Yankees in the Division Series.

Game 1, October 6

8:30 p.m. (EDT) at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Team123456789RHE
New York000004200690
Minnesota021001000480
WP: CC Sabathia (1–0)   LP: Jesse Crain (0–1)   Sv: Mariano Rivera (1)
Home runs:
NYY: Mark Teixeira (1)
MIN: Michael Cuddyer (1)

Game 2, October 7

6:00 p.m. (EDT) at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Team123456789RHE
New York0001102015120
Minnesota010001000260
WP: Andy Pettitte (1–0)   LP: Carl Pavano (0–1)   Sv: Mariano Rivera (2)
Home runs:
NYY: Lance Berkman (1)
MIN: Orlando Hudson (1)

Game 3, October 9

8:30 p.m. (EDT) at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York

Team123456789RHE
Minnesota000000010171
New York01130010X6120
WP: Phil Hughes (1–0)   LP: Brian Duensing (0–1)
Home runs:
MIN: None
NYY: Marcus Thames (1), Nick Swisher (1)

Other post-season awards

Farm system

Level Team League Manager
AAA Rochester Red Wings International League Tom Nieto
AA New Britain Rock Cats Eastern League Jeff Smith
A Fort Myers Miracle Florida State League Jake Mauer
A Beloit Snappers Midwest League Nelson Prada
Rookie Elizabethton Twins Appalachian League Ray Smith
Rookie GCL Twins Gulf Coast League Chris Heintz and Ramon Borrego

References

  1. "Reds formalize deal with Cabrera". MLB.com. February 1, 2010. Archived from the original on April 6, 2012. Retrieved February 14, 2010.
  2. "Tribe inks Redmond to one-year deal". MLB.com. January 15, 2010. Archived from the original on April 6, 2012. Retrieved February 14, 2010.
  3. "Twins mull options for infield holes". MLB.com. February 1, 2010. Archived from the original on February 6, 2010. Retrieved February 14, 2010.
  4. "Brewers trade Hardy to Twins for Gómez". MLB.com. November 6, 2009. Archived from the original on April 6, 2012. Retrieved February 14, 2010.
  5. "Twins, Hudson agree on one-year deal". MLB.com. February 4, 2010. Archived from the original on February 13, 2010. Retrieved February 14, 2010.
  6. "Twins agree to terms with Jim Thome on a one-year contract". MLB.com. February 5, 2010. Archived from the original on April 6, 2012. Retrieved February 14, 2010.
  7. "Mauer Signs 8-Year Deal". huffingtonpost.com.
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