One man’s opinion of the top300 Twins ever

I stole most of the idea from when Gleeman started his top40 list years ago (still unfinished right?)  The below quote is his, and the rest is an exerpt from a book I put together 2 years ago.  Some of it is outdated, but I've updated the list and stats through 2012 (or as much as I could given that Baseball prospectus and b-ref keeps changing their WAR, WARP, VORP stats)

 

“The rankings only include time spent playing for the Minnesota Twins. In other words, David Ortiz doesn't get credit for turning into one of the best players in baseball after joining the Red Sox and Paul Molitor doesn't get credit for being one of the best players in baseball for the Brewers and Blue Jays. The Twins began playing on April 11, 1961, and that's when these rankings start as well.”

 

I used a variety of factors, as Gleeman did, including longevity and peak value (although looking at his list and comments he probably gave a little more weight to longevity than I did).  Longevity included how many years the player was a Twin as well as how many plate appearances or innings pitched that player had in those years.  For peak value, I looked at their stats, honors, and awards in their best seasons, as well as how they compared to their teammates.  Did they lead their team in OPS or home runs or ERA for starters or WPA?  If so, that got some bonus points.  I factored in postseason heroics, awards (gold gloves, silver sluggers, MVPs, Cy Youngs), statistical achievements (batting titles, home run leaders, ERA champs, etc), and honors (all star appearances), and unlike Gleeman I looked at team success as well.  If you were the #1 starter on a division winning champ, that gave you more points than the #1 starter on a cellar dweller.  I looked at some of the advanced stats like WPA, WAR (as calculated by baseball.projection.com and used at baseball-reference.com), WARP3 and VORP (as calculated by Baseball Prospectus), and Win Shares (as calculated by Bill James).  For hitters, I also looked at OPS and the old school triple crown statistics like batting average, home runs, stolen bases, and RBI (and not only where you finished within the AL in any given year, but where you appear on the top25 lists amongst all Twins in the last 50 years).  For pitchers I looked at strikeouts, innings pitched, win/loss percentage, ERA as well as ERA).  If there was a metric that was used for all 50 years of Twins history, I tried to incorporate it.   I tended to give more credit to guys who were starters instead of part time/platoon players, more credit to position players over pitchers (just slightly, but probably unfairly) and starters over relievers (and closers over middle relievers).   There’s no formula to my magic, just looking at a lot of factors and in the end going with the gut in all tie-breakers.  Up in the top10 I’m looking at All star appearances, Cy Young and MVP votes, batting average or ERA titles or top10 finishes, etc, and placement in the top25 hitting and pitching lists in Twins history as well.  In the middle 100s, it’s more about who started a few more years or had 2 good seasons rather than 1 with possibly an occasional all-star berth or top10 finish in SB or strikeouts.  Once you’re in the latter half of the 200s there are none of those on anyone’s resume, so its basically just looking at peak season in OPS+ or ERA+, WAR, Win Shares, and who started the most years, had the most at bats, or pitched the most innings.  What the player did as a coach, manager, or broadcaster is not taken into consideration for this list, so Tom Kelly or Billy Gardner weren’t able to make the top 300 since they were poor players and Frank Quilici and Billy Martin didn’t improve their status due to their managing careers.

RkPlayerYearsDate RangeAB/IPYrSERA+ or OPS+HR/WERA or AVGVORPWARWARP3WSASAwardsTop 10 statistical finishes
1Harmon Killebrew141961-1974659391484750.26532.354.946.631810MVP: 11,3,4,10,15,4,2,1,3,21AVG: 5 OPS: 4,2,2,4,2,3,2,4,10,10 R: 10,7,3,8,2,4,8 HR: 3,1,1,1,8,2,1,1,2,5,3 RBI: 6,1,3,3,2,2,1,4,1
2Kirby Puckett121984-19957244121242070.318504.14543.4281106 GG, 6 SS, MVP: 21,6,3,3,7,7,2,7,21, ALCS MVPAVG: 3,4,2,1,10,8,2 OPS 4,6,8 R: 2,5,4 HR: 6, RBI: 2,6,1
3Rod Carew121967-1978623511137740.334603.862.756.528212ROY, MVP: 10,14,4,7,9,5,1,11AVG: 6,1,5,1,1,1,1,3,1,1 OPS: 4,4,3,2,1 R: 4,2,5,7,2,1 SB: 4,2,4,6
4Tony Oliva151962-19766301111312200.304372.342.436.42458ROY, 1 GG, MVP: 4,2,6,19,19,15,2,10AVG: 1,1,2,8,3,3,3,1 OPS: 5,3,6,6,7,2 R: 1,2,2,9,8 HR: 6 RBI: 9,3,10,5,7,5 SB: 6
5Joe Mauer92004-201239337135940.323385.344.545.220753 GG, 4 SS, MVP: 6,4,1,8AVG: 1,1,1,3,4 OPS 7,1,10
6Kent Hrbek141981-19946192131282930.282397.135.438.62301MVP: 2, 16AVG: 7,6 OPS: 5,8,7,7 HR: 3,10,10 RBI: 7
7Johan Santana82000-200713084141933.22388.932.433.212331 GG, CY: 7,1,3,1, 5, MVP: 6,7ERA: 1,2,1,7 W: 2,5,1 IP: 2,2,1,6 K: 8,1,1,1,2
8Jim Kaat131961-19732959131121893.28313.232.134.5185212 GG, MVP: 5,20ERA: 6,6 W: 6,8,3,1,6 IP: 2,10,4,1,4 K: 4,10,2,6
9Bert Blyleven111970-19882567101191493.28445.944.848.41781CY: 7,3, MVP: 26ERA: 5,2,4,6,5 W: 7,5,6 IP: 9,5,4,7,1,4 K: 4,4,2,2,2,1,4,8
10Frank Viola81982-1989177381111123.86278.324.527.71171CY: 6,6,1, MVP: 10, WS MVPERA: 10,2,3 W: 4,3,9,8,1 IP: 5,8,9,10,6 K: 8,8,7,3
11Bob Allison101961-1970392671302110.254197.330.9241692MVP: 15,23OPS: 6,1,3,9,10 R: 3,1,9 HR: 7,8,3,6,9,7,8 RBI: 7,7,4
12Brad Radke121995-20062451121131484.22491.34136.81591CY: 3, MVP 25ERA: 4,4 W: 2 IP: 8,4,6,4,8,5 K: 7
13Chuck Knoblauch71991-199739397114430.304339.735.434.61614ROY, 1 GG, 2 SS, MVP: 20,17,16AVG: 2,4 R: 4,8,8,2,3 SB: 9,4,4,4,2
14Justin Morneau102003-2012425471232040.28214.420.920.214342 SS, MVP: 1, 20, 2AVG: 7 OPS: 8 HR: 5 RBI: 2,9,2
15Jim Perry101963-1972188381131283.15245.323.126.51252CY: 3, 1, MVP: 9,9ERA: 8,4,8,8 W: 3,1 IP: 8,5 K: 10
16Torii Hunter111997-2007449281041920.271180.216.818.913727 GG, MVP: 21,6,21,15HR: 7 RBI: 10 SB: 9,8,9
17Earl Battey71961-196727626109760.27813715.517.611442 GG, MVP: 7,10AVG: 6,10 OPS: 9 HR: 9 RBI: 9
18Gary Gaetti101981-199049909992010.256132.723.825.314624 GG, ALCS MVP, MVP: 16,10,22OPS: 8,8 HR: 3,4 RBI: 5,7
19Zoilo Versalles71961-19674148788860.252130.114.815.811922 GG, MVP: 21, 1R: 4,1 SB: 8,7,3
20Joe Nathan72004-20114636204242.16189.419.834.5954CY: 4,5, MVP: 12,18SAVES: 3,3,6,6,4,2
21Rick Aguilera111989-19996949130403.5164.616.126.31013MVP: 18SAVES: 6,3,2,6,3,3,9,5
22Camilo Pascual61961-196612856116883.31196.417.618.9873MVP: 15,12ERA: 10,3 W: 6,2,2 IP: 5,4,8,4 K: 1,1,1,2
23Shane Mack51990-199421615130670.309166.218.522.4920AVG: 5,7 OPS 9,8 R: 7
24Roy Smalley101976-1987399791041100.262231.218.323.11281MVP: 16
25Jack Morris11991-19912461125183.4345.44.13.7181WS MVP, CY: 4W: 4, IP: 3 K: 10
26Cesar Tovar81965-197241425102380.28112325.913.81420MVP: 7,23,17,18,24AVG: 4 R: 3,3,7,2,2,5 SB: 10,6,3,3,6,7
27Mike Cuddyer112001-2011407261111410.272151.510.514.61171MVP: 21HR: 10
28Corey Koskie71998-2004278861151010.28175.921.122.31080MVP: 25
29Tom Brunansky71982-1988331361091630.2592.314.68.4981HR: 8,6,9
30Brian Harper61988-199325035110480.306141.912.313.4750AVG: 9
31Larry Hisle51973-197724374127870.286131.517.516.1891MVP: 12OPS: 10 R: 10 HR: 10 RBI: 4,1
32Dave Goltz81972-197916386112963.48228.823.524.91040CY: 6ERA: 8,5 W: 1 IP: 2,7 K: 6,8
33Eddie Guardado121993-20087053105374.55132.18.414.4722MVP: 15SAVES 1,2
34Greg Gagne101983-19923386883690.24986.115.18.6880
35Kevin Tapani71989-199511716108754.06189.417.520740CY: 7ERA: 7 W: 10,10,10 IP: 5
36Jimmie Hall41963-196618854124980.269100.515.59.9762MVP: 13AVG: 8 OPS: 6 R: 7,9 HR: 4 RBI: 6 SB: 10
37Jacque Jones71999-2005349261011320.27972.99.28.8980
38Rich Rollins81961-196830485101710.27295123831MVP: 8,21AVG: 10,3 R: 7 RBI: 9
39Mudcat Grant41964-19677804107503.35745.25441MVP: 6W: 1 IP: 3,7
40Matt Lawton71995-200126725107720.27796.39.39.1871
41Scott Erickson61990-19959795104614.22122.711.914.9561CY: 2, MVP: 17W: 1
42Dave Boswell71964-197010365101673.49111.910.411610W: 10,3 IP: 9 K: 8,7,4
43Al Worthington61964-19694735134372.6265.26.713.7620SAVES 7,6,6,5,1
44Dan Gladden51987-19912470590380.26826.14.15.9570
45Butch Wynegar71976-19822746589370.25442.4149.6822MVP: 28
46Chili Davis21991-19929782135410.28269.15.57.7360MVP: 14OPS: 7 HR: 8
47Randy Bush121982-199330455102960.25163.51.23.2760
48Steve Braun61971-197624293116350.284107.314.713.3860
49Dean Chance31967-19696643126412.6778.38.711.1461MVP: 13ERA: 9 W: 3,8 IP: 1,2 K: 3,4
50Lyman Bostock31975-197714363127180.31889.610.99540MVP: 27AVG: 4,2 R: 4
51Jason Kubel72004-2011255941121040.27194.66.18.8730MVP: 24RBI: 8
52Jeff Reardon31987-19892263116153.745.84.37.4361CY: 8, MVP: 11,15SAVES: 2,2,7
53Leo Cardenas31969-19711720398390.26392.710.915.3641MVP: 12,21
54Denard Span52008-201223544104230.28496.414.614.8780AVG: 9
55Paul Molitor31996-199817003103230.31263.54.92.64101 SS, MVP: 13AVG: 3
56Ron Perranoski41968-1971359212025331.52.97.3410CY: 7, MVP: 13,12SAVES 1,1
57Scott Baker72005-20119585102634.15153.314.912.8560ERA: 8 W: 10
58Marty Cordova51995-199923225103790.27775.24.510.7580ROY
59Eric Milton61998-20039875101574.7614713.49.3551K: 9,10
60Bill Campbell41973-19764602121323.13707.611.7450CY: 7, MVP: 8W: 8 SAVES: 3,3
61Don Mincher61961-196615112125900.24480.18.85.1570
62Jerry Koosman31979-19816013115393.77102.210.611.9440CY: 6ERA: 8 W: 3,10 IP: 4 K: 5,7
63A.J. Pierzynski61998-200314283105260.301797.99.8581AVG: 8
64John Castino61979-19842320596410.27871.2137.1700ROY
65Dan Ford41975-197819994114570.27267.96.42.2570R: 10 HR: 9
66LaTroy Hawkins91995-2003819595445.0585.16.27.1500SAVES: 8
67Allan Anderson61986-19918184102494.1175.67.89.4430ERA 1 W 8,6
68Geoff Zahn41977-19808524106533.997.18.710.8500ERA: 9,10
69Mike Marshall31978-19802742141212.9965.46.712.4370CY: 7, 5, MVP: 11SAVES: 4,1
70Gary Ward51979-198315433115510.28570.99.25.1481MVP: 32
71Shannon Stewart42003-200613731102290.29434.12.81.9390MVP: 4AVG: 10
72Doug Mientkiewicz71998-200421475103430.27546.53.74.36201 GG, MVP: 14
73Rich Reese101964-19731918499500.2619.93.8-0.8520MVP: 29
74Ron Coomer61995-20002397288770.27813.81.61441
75Mickey Hatcher61981-19862366389260.28426.42.51.1470
76Bobby Darwin41972-197518173107700.25737.13-0.5460HR: 7,4 RBI: 6,5
77Tim Laudner91981-19892038384770.22523.22.80.7411
78Gene Larkin71987-19932321298320.266461.82.3540
79Francisco Liriano72005-2012783597504.33110.88.711.1421CY: 11K: 5
80Carlos Silva42004-20077734102474.42104.47.66.2420ERA 5, W: 8
81Joe Mays61999-2005946698484.85121.28.37.5441ERA: 3 W: 6 IP: 3
82Cristian Guzman61999-20043277676390.26631.83.92.7761MVP: 16SB: 7
83Mike Smithson41984-1987816497474.4676.74.17.5440IP: 7,6 K: 10
84Jim Merritt41965-19686862112373.0374.28.710.3440ERA: 5 K: 9
85Juan Berenguer41987-19904180116333.774.748.4350
86Juan Rincon82001-20084410122303.6987.45.38380
87Delmon Young42008-201118453103470.28745.20.42.8480MVP: 10RBI: 5
88David Ortiz61997-200214774107580.26646.52.21.9370
89Dick Stigman41962-19656433101373.6978.14.63.9330W: 10 K: 3
90Jack Kralick31961-19635102111263.7479.16.76.9310IP: 8,7
91Doug Corbett31980-19822462170102.49698.211.4371SAVES: 6,4
92Kyle Lohse62001-2006908593514.8891.25.14.2400
93Josh Willingham12012-20125191144350.2637.22.94.5220HR: 7, OPS: 8, RBI: 3
94Ken Landreaux21979-198010482105220.294401.2-1.8291
95Carl Pavano42009-2012579295334.32696.87.8280W: 7, IP: 6
96Ted Uhlaender51965-19691846487230.2626.32.6-4.9500MVP: 27AVG: 5
97Lenny Green41961-19641514298270.26830.85.40.8480R: 6 SB: 7
98Vic Power31962-19641197289260.278201.4-0.22502 GG, MVP: 21
99Mike Trombley91992-20026452104304.53101.36.59.3450
100Matt Guerrier72004-20104720129193.38116.36.88.9400
101Pat Meares61993-19982464676410.26544.65.71.6490
102Pedro Munoz61990-199515873101610.27536.7-1.72.3370
103Mark Guthrie71989-19954892103294.1954.64.26.3300
104Tom Johnson51974-19782731116233.39402.46240MVP: 27W: 9 SAVES: 7
105John Smiley11992-19922411126163.2149.74.74.9180ERA: 10 W: 10 IP: 8 K: 10
106Dick Woodson51969-19745612107333.3548.23.54.4310
107Eric Soderholm51971-197513453105360.25740.58.96.3380
108Tom Hall41968-1971455212225362.856.7340K: 8
109Jim Thome22010-20114822159370.26650.24.45.2230MVP: 18
110George Mitterwald71966-19731578488500.23918.55.46490
111Roger Erickson51978-19827124101314.157.76.17330ERA: 8 IP: 10
112Glenn Adams51977-19811387297290.28126.3-1.5-1.4250
113Nick Blackburn62007-2012818586434.8542.12.63.1300
114Ron Davis51982-1986381495194.5132.60.44.6390SAVES: 5,3,5,7
115Bernie Allen51962-19661595486320.24645.63.52.6390
116Lew Ford52003-20071514396320.27237.33.23.4440MVP: 24
117Ken Schrom31983-1985494399294.34502.94.3260
118Brian Duensing42009-2012485197284.2382.13.98.6250
119Dave Engle51981-19851371394280.26830.73.10.7291
120Kevin Slowey52007-2011532390394.6665.84.46.3260
121Tom Burgmeier41974-19773801101243.7738.52.16.6260SAVES: 8
122Ray Corbin51971-1975652595363.84202.73.5330SAVES: 8
123Rick Reed32001-20033903101254.47443.22.3210
124Todd Walker51996-20001374292230.28546.81.73.1310
125Dave Winfield21993-19948412100310.26416.4-0.40.6150
126Terry Steinbach31997-19991207384300.256183.13290
127Danny Thompson71970-19762022571140.25131.900.9310MVP: 23
128Rob Wilfong61977-19821591385220.26244.64.3-2460
129Matt LeCroy72000-20071321398580.26129.70.10340
130Luis Rivas62000-20051884480300.26227.7-1.91330SB: 8
131Albert Williams51980-1984642399354.2461.65.77.7330
132Pete Redfern71976-1982714490424.5421.20.83.3310
133Mark Salas31985-19876632102200.27930.62.62.9190
134John Butcher31984-1986502296244.4844.123.8250
135Craig Kusick71973-197911844107440.23631.73.42.6310
136Tim Teufel31983-198510802103270.265514.95.7330
137Mike Cubbage51976-19801681397290.26627.26.12.7460
138Jason Bartlett42004-20071079288100.27230.76.59.4350
139Jesse Crain72004-20103820128333.4282.15.15.4360
140Carl Willis51991-19952860120203.6546.52.65.9280
141Bill Dailey21963-1964124113372.76221.83.1170MVP: 23SAVES: 3
142Joe Decker41973-1976503294294.0932.63.64.4250
143Bobby Castillo31982-19844022107233.9855.24.15.6230
144Jim Hughes41974-1977441288254.380.60.8150
145J.C. Romero71999-20054070108254.3565.63.16.1310
146Ron Jackson31979-19811154296230.268142.1-0.2250
147Scott Leius61990-19951373385260.2525.63.45.2270
148Luis Castillo22006-200793329230.29929.42.43.2250SB: 9
149Rich Becker51993-19971465388250.26730.565.6360
150Lee Stange41961-19643511105203.6135.91.52.4180ERA: 6
151Glen Perkins72006-20124353102264.1141.44.33.5300
152Bobby Kielty32001-20036310116230.26930.13.12.4250
153Nick Punto72004-20102365374120.248-15.66.87.9520
154Mike Pagliarulo31991-199372328890.2728.73.63.3190
155Danny Valencia32010-2012989291240.2619.40.52.5230
156Steve Lombardozzi41985-19881226375190.2334.93.4-0.4300
157Johnny Roseboro21968-1969741281110.2397.90.91.8201
158Jim Holt71968-19741444387170.272-0.70.7-2.2290
159Al Newman51987-1991164715900.231-34.6-0.3-1.1300
160Scott Stahoviak51993-19981019391270.2562.60.61230
161Dustan Mohr32001-2003782291220.258-2.61.51.7180
162Bob Randall51976-1980132537410.2575.62.3-1290
163Kenny Rogers12003-2003195199134.5725.41.71.7110
164Steve Brye71970-19761641290220.261-0.52.8-0.3360
165Bombo Rivera31978-198062718980.266-1.51.91.2130
166Johnny Klippstein31964-19661610147102.4532.72.23.9150
167Stan Williams21970-19711910129142.8721.612.3190SAVES: 10
168Hosken Powell41978-19811468383130.261-10.61-0.5270
169Roy Smith51986-1990389298194.2831.93.53.6200
170Darrell Jackson51978-1982411297204.38352.73.7200
171Keith Atherton31986-19882351111193.9138.12.25.6200
172Bill Pleis61961-1966280095214.077.5-1.4-0.6160
173Jim Roland61962-19682441103103.4211.30.51120
174Brant Alyea21970-19714160107180.24850.8-1.3130
175Ray Moore31961-1963159283134.92.6-0.8-0.3120SAVES: 4,7
176Mike Redmond52005-200986308720.297203.23.6280
177Roberto Kelly21996-19975691105110.30824.71.51.2150
178Alex Cole21994-1995424110650.30425.62.11.1130SB: 6
179Jose Morales31978-19806742106120.29727.4-0.51.1130
180Bob Tewksbury21997-19983172105154.495565.7170
181Ben Revere32010-201298928000.27812.62.61.4200SB: 7, 3
182Orlando Hudson12010-201049719360.26814.723.6140
183Bill Zepp21969-1970156111493.3416.51.2190
184Pedro Ramos11961-19612641108113.9533.33.73.6150IP: 4 K: 6
185John Moses31988-199062009140.2767.50.10.8150
186Greg Myers21996-1997494190110.27914.21.81.490
187Alexi Casilla72006-20121566473110.2484.31.72.5310
188Carlos Gomez22008-2009892272100.248-8.834.7190SB: 7
189Glenn Borgmann81972-19791207279140.229-1.74.10.8370
190Otis Nixon11998-199844818510.29715.20-0.580SB: 8
191Trevor Plouffe32010-2012749197340.23116.3-0.90.6140
192Brendan Harris32008-2010956179140.2510.1-0.2-0.4190
193Willie Norwood41977-1980854179180.242-10.2-1.7-2.1130
194Dennis Hocking111993-20032204070250.252-24.7-1.1-0.9430
195Les Straker21987-19882371105104.2238.52.93.4130
196Mark Redman31999-20012131104154.8638.43.23.2130
197Scott Diamond22011-20122121106133.826.62.30.7120
198Bob Miller21968-1969191012052.9125.51.82.9120
199Ron Washington61981-19861258280170.26529.30.1-0.8230
200Frank Rodriguez41995-1998509394255.235.62.32200
201Boof Bonser32006-2008392284185.1213.7-0.5-0.4110
202Vic Albury41973-1976372293184.1114.81.22.7160
203Pat Mahomes51992-1996366281185.821.7-0.9-0.3120
204Willie Banks31991-1993259193164.6113.21.22120
205Fernando Arroyo31980-1982234197134.311.31.22.9100
206Ryan Doumit12012-20124841114180.27516.611.8100
207Jim Lemon31961-1963457190150.2492.4-0.4-1.490
208Luis Tiant11970-197092111273.416.22.11.980
209Pat Neshek42006-20101290143113.0540.12.74150
210Terry Leach21990-1991149012633.3828.222.9110
211J.J. Hardy12010-201034019360.26812.11.41.8100
212Dennys Reyes32006-20081260204102.1449.63.74.2160
213Chad Allen31999-2001706186140.275-3-1.4-1.3100
214Jason Tyner32005-200757808610.2992.91.32.1120
215Jim Dwyer31988-1990329111260.28918.30.61.390
216Bob Wells41999-20023000109184.4758.42.74.1250
217Pete Filson51982-19863230108143.98522.94.2220
218Hector Carrasco41998-20012560108144.4951.12.43.7180
219Tony Fiore32001-20031330116113.9228.71.52.6100
220Greg Swindell21997-19981820130103.61544.14.7170
221Chip Hale61989-199656308960.281101.20.9130
222Dave Hollins11996-1996422192130.2427.82.52.7110
223Brian Buchanan32000-2002414093160.258-0.50.1-0.760
224Joe Crede12009-2009333183150.2250.21.61.560
225Frank Quilici51965-197068206150.214-8.4-0.80130
226Junior Ortiz21990-199130408500.283.71.41.690
227Jose Mijares42008-2011153013333.1631.72.72.7120
228Wayne Granger11972-197289110843.01-4.7-1.1-0.580SAVES: 4
229David West41989-1992285179155.33-5-0.3-0.370
230Brad Havens31981-19833672841854.7-0.41.6140
231Bill Singer11976-197617219693.774.50.40.670
232Bill Krueger11992-1992161194104.314.71180
233Bill Hands21973-1974257199113.9219.52.43130
234Jeff Reboulet51992-1996101607490.248-1.14.62.8260
235Phil Roof61971-1976619075130.228-3.91.50.1170
236Jerry Terrell51973-1977143707030.2593.3-0.5-0.5220
237George Frazier21986-198710809464.8311.30.21.370
238Tom Edens21991-1992109012983.2123.91.92.5100
239Rick Renick51968-1972553089200.2212.50.7-1.4100
240Matt Capps32010-2012122111373.615.52.21.5170
241Travis Miller71996-200226709875.0521.6-0.11.1130
242Gary Wayne41989-1992170012183.4425.91.93.2130
243Jon Rauch22009-201073115082.8221.42.24120
244Larry Casian51990-199414409594.7311.40.62.6100
245Rich Robertson31995-1997385295175.1735.62.41.3140
246Tom Herr11988-198830408910.26310.81.11.170
247Terry Mulholland22004-200518219554.8917.90.50.870
248Jim Deshaies21993-1994297280175.7111.41.22.9100
249Johnny Briggs11975-1975264010670.2315.51.81.190
250Orlando Cabrera12009-200924219450.289100.31.150
251Jamey Carroll12012-201247008610.2688.33.11.2130
252Randy Johnson11982-19822341101100.2484.8-0.10.450
253Brian Buscher32007-200943618880.2662.50.50.4130
254Johnny Goryl31962-1964290087110.2218.61.10.370
255Don Lee21961-1962167111063.8327.92.22.5100
256Neal Heaton11986-1986124110843.9819.91.62.670
257Mike Morgan11998-199898113743.4927.73.22.480
258Steve Bedrosian11991-19917709754.424.9-0.10.350
259Danny Goodwin31979-198142518580.2421-0.9-1.260
260Joe Lis21973-197429419390.2381-0.6-0.450
261Orlando Merced11998-199820409850.2891.3-0.1040
262Darrell Brown21983-198456917010.272-7.8-0.1-2.480
263Dave LaRoche11972-197295011452.836.40.91.780
264Ron Kline11967-19677109273.770-0.10.650
265Jared Burton12012-201262018732.187.61.20.880
266Mike Jackson12002-200255013723.2716.51.11.250
267John Candelaria11990-199058012473.39110.91.970
268Gary Serum31977-1979271185104.7216.81.22.290
269Ron Schueler11977-197713419284.417.701.170
270Rick Lysander31983-1985242010594.0819.2-0.32.9140
271Paul Thormodsgard31977-1979285185124.7410.50.31.2100
272Jack O'Connor41981-1984249185134.993.6-0.80.770
273Tom Prince32001-2003361077130.219-0.11.83.2120
274Lenny Webster51989-199328408950.2545.30.80.360
275Freddie Toliver21988-198914318384.953.90.30.660
276Charlie Lea11988-198813018474.85-0.3-0.30.240
277Don Baylor11987-19874908900.2860.40010
278Henry Blanco12004-2004315160100.206-11.60.21.550
279Paul Sorrento31989-199118909190.2220.8-0.4-0.220
280Bobby Mitchell21982-198360617830.244-6.40.8-0.3120
281Jay Canizaro22000-200245817270.255-2.3-0.7-1.380
282Rick Sofield31979-198161217090.243-18.7-1-3.3110
283Juan Castro22005-200642816460.248-7.7-1.60.6100
284Brent Gates21998-199963916960.252-12.50.8-0.3120
285Matt Walbeck31994-199694624780.23-40.8-1.7-3.6130
286Jerry Zimmerman71962-196879014630.204-30-1.5-1.1200
287Lenny Faedo51980-198452906350.2512-0.2-2.470
288Michael Ryan42002-200526008770.2650.9-0.3-0.250
289Pete Cimino21965-196665012722.886.40.20.650
290Dwight Siebler51963-1967117010743.458.1-0.10.450
291Dave Stevens41994-1997191185145.8212-0.70.6110
292Mark Portugal41985-1988238184115.1310.70.52.4110
293Joe Bonikowski11962-196299110653.8813.61160
294Matt Garza22006-200713319884.4712.10.7060
295Len Whitehouse31983-198511209994.3314.70280
296Graig Nettles31967-1969304099120.2243.90.80.380
297Chris Parmelee22011-2012268011490.2655.20.60.780
298Paul Ratliff31963-1971214010280.2386.71.1-0.2100
299Gerry Arrigo41961-196413108684.3120.20.760
300John Verhoeven21980-1981151010733.9810.50.31.670
Spoiler: Original SelectShow

27 thoughts on “One man’s opinion of the top300 Twins ever”

  1. and the 415 Twins who failed to make the cut

    Spoiler SelectShow
    1. In the interest of not ruining your list in case I messed up:

      Spoiler SelectShow
    1. Yeah, I know Brendan has a pretty ugly looking line, but he was a pretty useful player on the 2008 team that came within a whisper of the postseason (I know the popular storyline is to bring up the 1-0 loss to Thome, but the killer was losing 2 of 3 to KC the last weekend while it seemed Morneau could do nothing but strikeout or DP with guys on base)

  2. Nate, I'm super psyched that you came back this year to post this (I don't remember if you showed up after last season, but at any rate, it's been too long). Thanks for taking the time to do this impossible task.

    Edit: This previously said "NBB." Nate and New Britain Bo are not the same person. I am always aware of this, but when the time comes for acronyms, my thoughts scatter.

    1. I was here a little bit last season, but I never tried to post my updates to top300 (I had always relied on SBG to post on his old site). Glad to be back and stop lurking. If we keep improving by 3 wins every year we'll have the postseason back within a decade.....

      1. If we keep improving by 3 wins every year we'll have the postseason back within a decade.....

        Ouch.

  3. Mark Redman above Scott Diamond? Not criticizing, but I'm curious. Glad to have you back; your list is always a great conversation-starter.

    1. Diamond's 2012 sure looks a lot like Redman's 2000. Both on terrible teams, Redman 12-9 with a 109 ERA+ and Diamond 12-9 with a 115 ERA+. Diamond pitched about 20 more innings in his big year but they were about the same amount of innings overall (since Redman pitched for a while before being traded in 2001) and the ERA+ and WAR numbers are pretty similar.

        1. True, DK. Plus, IIRC Redman was the "original" Twin for the current crop: he complained about being hurt and the team thought he was a giant wuss and kept complaining about him not wanting to pitch throughout 2001.

  4. I reformatted it to use my sports-reference plugin. Now it also fits on the page and is sortable.

    1. Hrm... If I select rank after another sortable category the table gives me some screwy results including Denny's Sampler Platter as the number one twin of all time.

      1. The 'Rk' column is special. It will always display the current order based on the column you're ordering. If you sort something and then choose the Rk column, it will effectively reverse the list.

            1. so, this really needs a "NTR rank" column so that one can re-sort back to the original order (without having to re-load the page).

              Wow. Mauer already 5th on the franchise WAR list. Johan stuck at 10th for the foreseeable future. I have a hard time imagining Mountie, Baker or Dspan sticking around the franchise long and productively enough to move into the top 10.

              So, who will the next top-ten entrant be? That player probably isn't even with the organization yet.

              1. Not true. Unsorting the column will return it to its original state. I considered having another column for the NTR rank for when you were sorting, but decided against it because it would have taken a bit of work to re-do things.

    1. movement is tougher to track with some ups and downs. Mauer stayed put in 2011, but passed up Hrbek this year moving up 1 spot. Morneau has stayed put for 2 years. Nathan didn't move from 2010 to 2011. Cuddy moved up 9 spots last year. Kubel moved up 4 spots after 2011. Baker moved up 16 spots after 2011 (and then back 1 when Span passed him this year). Span moved up 15 spots in the last 2 years, Liriano moved up 5 spots in 2011 and stayed put in 2012. Pavano was outside the top100 and moved up about 10 spots in 2011 and then back 1 spot due to Willingham passing him in 2011. Thome moved up 35 spots after 2011. Blackburn moved up 6 spots in 2011 and then back 3 spots in 2012. Duensing moved up 21 spots in 2011 and then back 1 in 2012. Slowey lost 10 spots in 2011. Valencia moved up 28 spots in 2011 and then back 3 in 2012. Perkins moved up 27 spots in 2011 and another 19 spots in 2012. Casilla went up 30 spots in 2011 and back 3 in 2012.

  5. I'll point out that, for the time being, ma boy 'Lexi is valued higher than the Diamond in the rough. Suck it Greekhouse.

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