- 2007 Minnesota Twins season
MLB yearly infobox
name = Minnesota Twins
season = 2007
misc =
current league = American League
y1 = 1901
division = Central Division
y2 = 1994
Uniform
ballpark =Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
y4 = 1982
city = Minneapolis,Minnesota
y5 = 1961
owners =Carl Pohlad
managers =Ron Gardenhire
television =FSN North WFTC (My 29)
radio = AM 1500 KSTP
espntn = min
brtn = MIN|The
Minnesota Twins ' 2007 season started off with the Twins trying to repeat as champions of the AL Central.Deaths
For the third year in a row, an important Twins personality died just before the beginning of the season. In 2005, long-time stadium announcer Bob Casey fell to heart failure. In 2006, Hall of Fame center fielder
Kirby Puckett died from a massive bilateral stroke brought on by hypertension. In 2007,Herb Carneal , the team's radio play-by-play announcer for 45 years, died from heart failure on April 1, the day beforeOpening Day . The Twins announced that they would dedicate the 2007 season to Carneal's memory.Offense
While the 2006 team was known for the "piranhas" -- gritty hitters lacking power but possessing speed and guile -- the 2007 team saw the continued the development of power hitters such as 2006 league MVP
Justin Morneau ,Torii Hunter , andJason Kubel . After the Twins swept a July 6 doubleheader with theChicago White Sox by a combined score of 32-14, White Sox managerOzzie Guillén , the man who coined the term "piranhas" in 2006, stated: "They're not piranhas no more. They're a shark attack now." [ [http://www.startribune.com/souhan/story/1289349.html Jim Souhan: Morneau's bat gives offense some big teeth ] ] In the second game of that doubleheader, Morneau became the first Twin to hit three home runs in a game sinceTony Oliva against theKansas City Royals on July 3, 1973. The Twins scored the most runs by one team in a doubleheader since theBoston Red Sox totaled 35 in a sweep of thePhiladelphia Athletics on July 4, 1939. [ [http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AoaO1Y7fk9XfVa1KzRVeJNgf0bYF?slug=ap-alrdp&prov=ap&type=lgns Yahoo! Sports - Sports News, Scores, Rumors, Fantasy Games, and more ] ]Nick Punto , as of August 22,2007 has the lowest batting average among qualified batters in the American League, at .201.Pitching
The Twins entered the season with a problem in the starting rotation after Twins staple
Brad Radke retired andFrancisco Liriano hadTommy John Surgery . The Twins signedRamon Ortiz andSidney Ponson to start. Ponson was released in May and was replaced by Scott Baker, Ramon Ortiz was moved to the bullpen shortly after and replaced in the rotation byKevin Slowey . However, Slowey was sent to the minors in early July, replaced byMatt Garza . Ramon Ortiz was traded in August to the Colorado Rockies. OnAugust 31 , Baker took aperfect game into the ninth inning against theKansas City Royals , before giving up a leadoff walk to catcher John Buck. His no-hitter also ended when he gave up a 1-out single toMike Sweeney in the 9th inning. The game was won by the Twins 5-0.Regular season
eason standings
Game log
Notable transactions
After their great amount of success in 2006, in which they came from behind to win the AL Central, the Twins wanted to be sure to lock up their 3-4-5 hitters (
Joe Mauer ,Michael Cuddyer , andJustin Morneau ) to multi-year deals. The Twins were able to sign Mauer to a four-year deal worth $33 million, but Morneau and Cuddyer only agreed to sign one-year contracts, worth $4.5 million and $3.575 million respectively.*
January 11 - Agreed to terms withRamon Ortiz on a one-year contract.
*February 2 - Re-signedJustin Morneau ,Lew Ford andJuan Rincon to one-year contracts andNick Punto to a two-year contract.
*February 11 - Agreed to terms withJoe Mauer on a four-year contract.
*April 9 - PlacedJeff Cirillo (medial meniscus tear in left knee) on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 9; PlacedRondell White (strained right calf) on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 5; RecalledAlexi Casilla from Triple-A Rochester.
*April 12 - RecalledGlen Perkins from Triple-A Rochester; optionedChris Heintz .
*May 1 - Activated Jeff Cirillo from the 15-day disabled list and optioned Alexi Casilla to Triple-A Rochester.
*May 6 - PlacedJoe Mauer on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left quad.
*May 8 - RecalledChris Heintz from Triple-A Rochester.
*May 13 - DesignatedSidney Ponson for assignment.
*May 16 - PlacedJesse Crain on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation and recalledJulio DePaula from Triple-A Rochester.
*May 18 - Recalled Scott Baker from Triple-A Rochester. and optionedGarrett Jones to Rochester.
*May 22 - PlacedGlen Perkins on the 15-day disabled list with a mild muscle strain in the back of his left shoulder; Purchased the contract ofCarmen Cali from Triple-A Rochester.
*May 24 - PlacedDennys Reyes on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 21, with inflammation in his left shoulder; Purchased the contract of Jason Miller from Triple-A Rochester and transferredAlejandro Machado from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list.
*May 30 - OptionedJulio DePaula to Triple-A Rochester; TransferredJesse Crain to the 60-day disabled list; purchased the contract ofKevin Slowey from Triple-A Rochester.
* June 28-29 - Heintz sent to minors;Matt Garza recalled.
*July 5 - Sent Slowey to minors; recalled Cali.
*July 22 - ActivatedRondell White from the disabled list and optionedGarrett Jones to Triple-A Rochester.
*July 30 - Traded Luis Castillo to theNew York Mets in exchange for minor leaguersDrew Butera andDustin Martin . RecalledAlexi Casilla .
*August 3 -Jeff Cirillo claimed by Arizona on waivers.
*August 8 - Called upTommy Watkins .Brian Buscher put on the 15 Day DL.
*August 15 - TradedRamon Ortiz to theColorado Rockies for minor league infielderMatt Macri [ [http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AmYE1w5a9NfM7B7w.Z0KzMiFCLcF?slug=txrockiestwinstrade&prov=st&type=lgns Rockies acquire RHP Ortiz from Twins - MLB - Yahoo! Sports ] ]Current roster
Miscellaneous
*The Twins' representatives to the
All-Star Game were Morneau, Hunter, and Santana. RelieverPat Neshek was chosen to be one of five players in the final vote for an All-Star player. However, this spot went toBoston Red Sox pitcherHideki Okajima , despite a campaign by Twins fans and national sports blogs to "Vote For Pat". [ [http://deadspin.com/sports/baseball/bad-day-for-neshek-275595.php Great The OTHER Japanese Red Sox Pitcher Won: Bad Day For Neshek ] ]
*The collapse of theI-35W Mississippi River bridge occurred prior to theAugust 1 ,2007 home game against theKansas City Royals at the Metrodome. Public safety officials told the team that canceling the game could hamper rescue and recovery efforts, since a cancellation would send up to 25,000 people back into traffic just blocks from the collapsed bridge (I-35W runs behind the Metrodome).cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2957912 |title=Twins postpone Thursday's game after bridge collapses near Metrodome |publisher="ESPN.com " |date=2007-08-01 |accessdate = 2007-08-02] Before the game, amoment of silence was held for the victims of the collapse. The team rescheduled theirAugust 2 game against the Royals to the afternoon ofAugust 31 . Traditionalgroundbreaking ceremonies for the team's forthcoming stadium (also located in downtown Minneapolis) had been scheduled to take place after the game, but were postponed toAugust 30 . [cite web |url=http://www.kare11.com/sports/sports_article.aspx?storyid=261145 |title=Twins postpone Thursday's game after bridge collapses near Metrodome |publisher=KARE11 |date=2007-08-01 |accessdate = 2007-08-02] [cite web| title =Twins ballpark groundbreaking rescheduled for Thursday, Aug. 30| publisher =MLB Advanced Media| date =2007-08-09| url =http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20070809&content_id=2139188&vkey=pr_min&fext=.jsp&c_id=min| accessdate = 2007-08-10]
*Johan Santana broke the club record for most strikeouts in a game, with 17 against the Texas Rangers onAugust 19 ,2007 .References
*Game Logs::1st Half: [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/teams/schedule?team=min&season=2007&seasonType=2&half=1 Minnesota Twins Game Log] on ESPN.com:2nd Half: [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/teams/schedule?team=min&season=2007&seasonType=2&half=2 Minnesota Twins Game Log] on ESPN.com
*Batting Statistics: [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/teams/stats?team=min Minnesota Twins Batting Stats] on ESPN.com
*Pitching Statistics: [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/teams/pitching?team=min Minnesota Twins Pitching Stats] on ESPN.com
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
2008 Minnesota Twins season — MLB yearly infobox name = Minnesota Twins season = 2008 misc = current league = American League y1 = 1901 division = Central Division y2 = 1994 Uniform ballpark = Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome y4 = 1982 city = Minneapolis, Minnesota y5 = 1961… … Wikipedia
2006 Minnesota Twins season — MLB yearly infobox name = Minnesota Twins season = 2006 misc = AL Central Champions current league = American League y1 = 1901 division = Central Division y2 = 1994 Uniform ballpark = Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome y4 = 1982 city = Minneapolis y5 … Wikipedia
2005 Minnesota Twins season — MLB yearly infobox name = Minnesota Twins season = 2005 misc = current league = American League y1 = 1901 division = Central Division y2 = 1994 Uniform ballpark = Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome y4 = 1982 city = Minneapolis y5 = 1982 owners = Carl… … Wikipedia
Minnesota Twins — 2012 Minnesota Twins season Established 1894 Based in Minnesota since 1961 … Wikipedia
2007 Cleveland Indians season — 2007 Cleveland Indians The Indians celebrate clinching the AL Central crown Major league affiliations American League (since 1901) Central Division (since … Wikipedia
2007 Milwaukee Brewers season — MLB yearly infobox name = Milwaukee Brewers season = 2007 misc = current league = National League y1 = 1998 division = Central Division y2 = 1998 Uniform ballpark = Miller Park y4 = 2001 city = Milwaukee, Wisconsin y5 = 1970 owners = Mark… … Wikipedia
2007 Oakland Athletics season — MLB yearly infobox name = Oakland Athletics season = 2007 misc = current league = American League y1 = 1901 division = Western Division y2 = 1969 Uniform ballpark = McAfee Coliseum y4 = 1968 city = Oakland, California y5 = 1968 owners = Lewis… … Wikipedia
Minnesota Twins minor league players — Below are the rosters of the minor league affiliates of the Minnesota Twins: Minnesota Twins pitching prospect Spencer Steedley 2 young fans Contents 1 Players … Wikipedia
Minnesota Twins award winners and league leaders — Contents 1 Award winners 1.1 Most Valuable Player 1.2 Cy Young 1.3 … Wikipedia
Minnesota Twins team records — A listing of statistical records and milestone achievements of the Minnesota Twins franchise. Contents 1 Single season records 1.1 Batting 1.2 Pitching 2 Single game records … Wikipedia