For Postseason Success the Twins Need Better Starting Pitching

Frank Viola has shown firsthand what 

what great starting pitching can for a

team's post season run.

(By the way this is best Frank Viola card of

all-time. I own multiple copies of it, one

of which was autographed by the man himself.)

Tom Kelly managed the Twins to a 16-8 post season record. The Twins won World Championships in 1987 and 1991 under his command winning all four post season series they played in. Rod Gardenhire has managed the Twins to a post season record of 6-21. His teams are 1-6 in post season series. Both men have managed roughly the same amount post season games yet the have almost totally opposite win-lost records. Why?

It comes down to elite starting pitching. In his 24 post season games Tom Kelly had a starting pitcher who pitched seven or more innings in a game 9 times. The Twins won all nine of those games. In his 27 post season games Ron Gardenhire has a starting pitcher who pitched seven or more innings in game 5 times. The Twins won only 3 of those games.

What if Gardenhire’s Twins could have got just 4 more starts of 7 innings or more? It might have turned a couple of those lost series (four of which were best of 5 ALDS’s) into series wins. Then again Gardenhire’s teams did a poor job of winning the 7 + inning outings they did get. Still it likely would have lead to at least a couple more wins and a series or two going the Twins way.

What Kelly had that it seems Gardenhire does not is elite pitchers to toss those 7 + inning games. Below is the list of all the pitchers to pitch 7 + innings in a postseason game:

Tom Kelly’s Twins:

Frank Voila (87 ALCS Game 1, 87 WS Game1, 87 WS Game 7)

Bert Blyleven (87 ALCS Game 2, 87 WS Game 2)

Jack Morris (91 ALCS Game 4, 91 WS Game 1, 91 WS Game 7)

Kevin Tapani (91 WS Game 2)

Ron Gardenhire’s Twins:

Eric Milton (2002 ALDS Game 4)

Joe Mays (2002 ALCS Game 1)

Johan Santana (2004 ALDS Game 1, 2006 ALDS Game 1 which was a loss)

Carl Pavano (2009 ALDS Game 3 which was a loss)

Three pitchers (Viola, Blyleven, and Morris) accounted for 8 of Kelly's Twins 9 7+ plus inning games. It was by no accident that they did. Bert Blyleven is likely going to be a Hall of Famer. Jack Morris might make the Hall of Fame as well, and he has a history of pitching well in big games. Frank Voila was regarded as one of the best pitchers in baseball during his time with the Twins, and rightfully won the Cy Young Award in 1988. Viola and Morris were the World Series MVP in 87 and 91 respectfully.

You can rightly point out that the Twins again exited the playoffs again in 2010 because they did not hit, but they lead Game 1 3-0 at one point. A strong pitching performance would have made that lead hold up against any lineup. The Twins failed to get that pitching performance and they are out of the playoffs again because of it.

The Twins pitching rotation for 2011 likely looks to be Francisco Liriano, Scott Baker, Brian Duensing, Nick Blackburn & Kevin Slowey. Liriano has the potential to be a Viola, Blyleven, and Morris, but the Twins need more. Baker has always had the talent, but has not delivered the results. Herald prospect Kyle Gibson is showing promise, but has yet to see action in the big leagues.

The Twins need some starting pitchers to step up. If not, the Twins are likely to be swept out of the first round of the playoffs again in 2011 if they make the playoffs at all.

Former Twins via for Baseball Hall of Fame

Harmon Killebrew, Kirby Puckett, and Rod Carew are the former Minnesota Twins who are in the Baseball Hall of Fame (HOF). HOF members Paul Molitor, Dave Winfield, and Steve Carlton also played for short periods with the Twins. Now as every year at this time the Baseball Writers of America (BWA) are voting on candidates for the HOF.

There are no clear cut choices for the HOF this year, and two players with connection to the Twins are under consideration. Bert Blyleven spent about 10 years pitching with the Twins; helping them to a World Series victory in 1987. His 287 wins and 3701 strikeouts are among the all-time leaders in those categories.

Jack Morris (see left image) spent 14 years pitching in Detroit. In 1991 he returned to his native Minnesota to pitch for the Twins leading them to a World Series win in 1991. His 10 inning shutout win in Game 7 of the 1991 World Series is greatest one of the greatest World Series pitching performance ever. Morris won more games than any other pitcher in the 1980’s, and was the ace pitcher on three different World Series winning teams.

Despite their successes neither player has come close to making the HOF. Basically BWA voters say Blyleven was never a dominate pitcher during his career and his win – loss record is too close to .500. Morris meanwhile has a career ERA of 3.90 which would be the highest of any pitcher in the HOF. Both men were also not the most accommodating with the baseball writers, who now decide their fate, back when they played.

I watched both Blyleven and Morris pitch for years for and against the Twins. Morris definitely belongs in the HOF. He was the best pitcher of his era, and never seem to fail in a big game. Blyleven I go back and forth on. He definitely was a great pitcher, but I don’t know something just nags at me about his career. I think neither will be voted into the HOF by the BWA. Morris will likely get in via the veterans committee. It is sad that Jack Morris will have to wait so long for a honor he was clearly earned.