2003 Minnesota Twins Season Recap

2003 Minnesota Twins Season Recap

2003 Minnesota Twins: Return of the Homer Hanky

The Minnesota Twins made a deep run through the 2002 postseason before falling to the Anaheim Angels, the team that went on to win the World Series that year. The 2003 Minnesota Twins looked poised to build on that momentum and make a similar run. However, April, June, and July proved unfriendly, as the club dipped below .500 in each of those months.

A Return to Contention

The 2003 Minnesota Twins finished 90-72, winning the American League Central division by four games over the Chicago White Sox. The Twins fared well against the White Sox, going 10-9 against the team from the south side of Chicago in head-to-head play. The Twins went 48-33 at home and 42-39 on the road.

Twins Lineup Firepower

Infield and Designated Hitter Production

Catcher Anthony John Pierzynski, better known by his initials A.J., batted .312 with 11 home runs and 74 RBIs off 152 hits, 35 doubles, and 3 triples. First baseman Doug Mientkiewicz batted .300 with 11 home runs and 65 RBIs off 146 hits and 38 doubles. Third baseman Corey Koskie batted .292 with 14 home runs and 69 RBIs off 137 hits, 29 doubles, and 11 stolen bases. Designated hitter Matt LeCroy batted .287 with 17 home runs and 64 RBIs off 99 hits and 12 doubles in 107 games. Shortstop Christian Guzman had 143 hits, 15 doubles, 14 triples, and 18 stolen bases, while second baseman Luis Rivas added 8 home runs, 123 hits, 16 doubles, 9 triples, and 17 stolen bases.

Outfield Production

Left fielder Jacques Jones batted .304 with 16 home runs and 69 RBIs off 157 hits, 33 doubles, and 13 stolen bases. Center fielder Torii Hunter had a great year in 2003 that ended with him winning a Gold Glove Award. Hunter finished with 26 home runs and 102 RBIs off 145 hits, 31 doubles, and 4 triples. Right fielder Dustin Mohr had 10 home runs, 87 hits, and 22 doubles in 121 games.

Utility player Bobby Kielty provided help for Mohr as part of a right-field platoon playfully nicknamed “Dusty Kielmohr.” Kielty had 9 home runs, 60 hits, and 13 doubles in 75 games before being traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for left fielder Shannon Stewart. In just 65 games, Stewart contributed greatly to Minnesota, batting .322 with 87 hits and 22 doubles.

Twins Pitching Staff

Starting Rotation

Starting pitcher Brad Radke had long been a reliable arm on the Twins’ pitching staff, going 14-10 with 120 strikeouts and recording 3 complete games and 1 shutout. Kyle Lohse went 14-11 with 130 strikeouts, recording 2 complete games and 1 shutout. Kenny Rogers signed with the Twins on March 17 and had a solid season, going 13-8 with 116 strikeouts. Johan Santana would soon become a sensation throughout Major League Baseball, going 12-3 with 169 strikeouts and a 3.07 ERA. Joe Mays went 8-8, and despite going 6-12, Rick Reed still recorded 2 complete games and 1 shutout.

Bullpen

The 2003 Minnesota Twins also had a reliable bullpen that held opponents down when the late innings got tight. Closer Eddie Guardado had 41 saves and a 2.89 ERA. Relief pitcher LaTroy Hawkins went 9-3 with 2 saves and a very small 1.86 ERA. Despite going 5-6, Juan Rincon posted a 3.68 ERA, and Juan Carlos Romero, better known by his initials J.C., went 2-0 from the bullpen.

Falling to the Yankees in the ALDS

The American League Division Series was unfortunately a step back from what the Twins experienced just a year prior, as they ran into a perennial contender in the New York Yankees. The Twins were eliminated by the Yankees 3 games to 1, and the pinstripes went on to play for the World Series trophy as the American League champions. Just before October began, on September 30, the Twins beat the Yankees 3-1 in Game 1 at Yankee Stadium II.

Johan Santana pitched 4 innings and gave up 3 hits and 2 walks, but recorded 3 strikeouts. From there, it took a combined effort from the bullpen to pick up the win for Minnesota, and the bullpen succeeded. Rick Reed pitched 2/3 of an inning and gave up 1 hit. J.C. Romero pitched 1 and 2/3 innings and gave up 1 hit and 1 walk while recording 1 strikeout. LaTroy Hawkins pitched 2 innings and gave up 1 hit while recording 4 strikeouts. Eddie Guardado pitched 1 inning and gave up 3 hits and 1 run, but he shut the door on the Yankees to record the save.

In the top of the 3rd inning, Luis Rivas had a sacrifice fly to score Christian Guzman, and in the top of the 6th, Torii Hunter had a 2-run triple. All the Yankees could get was an RBI infield single from second baseman Alfonso Soriano in the bottom of the 9th, but it was too little, too late.

The Future Arrives

The end result of 2003 notwithstanding, the future of the Minnesota Twins organization appeared bright, as they already had a promising young talent in their farm system poised to make his major league debut. That young talent happened to be catcher Joe Mauer, who would guide the Twins to more wins in the years ahead.