MLB teams
Christina Kahrl, MLB Staff Writer 8y

Ultimate Standings: Twins ride winning season to rankings jump

MLB, Minnesota Twins

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Minnesota Twins

Overall: 47
Title track: 49
Ownership: 63
Coaching: 34
Players: 36
Fan relations: 40
Affordability: 41
Stadium experience: 9
Bang for the buck: 96
Change from last year: +15

After falling from 58th in 2013 to 62nd in our standings last year, the Twins are moving in the right direction now -- up 15 spots overall, where they find themselves just outside the top 10 among MLB teams. A strong stadium and plenty of personnel changes during the offseason account for the changes -- though Twins fans know there's still plenty of work to be done.


What's good

Target Field has been one of the most popular ballparks in baseball since it opened in 2010, and that hasn't changed: It kept its top-10 spot for the second straight year. It could be an All-Star Game high -- or those unquestionably popular self-serve beer machines -- but either way, this year it's also helped by an on-field performance that rises above what Twins faithful have watched in recent seasons. This new-look squad contended for a wild-card spot for most of the summer, and it integrated some of baseball's best young prospects into the lineup. The additions of Miguel Sano (one of the most exciting rookies of the season) and Byron Buxton not only helped the team win now, they also gave fans a peek at what the next several seasons have in store.


What's bad

Of course, the streak of five years without a playoff appearance will continue, even though it appears the squad will record its first winning season since 2010. That will hurt your bang for the buck (96th), especially for a team that ranks a few bucks above the MLB average in cost per game. The Twins' title track ranking also has been slow to climb (49th this year, up two places), perhaps because fans aren't sure that a rotation relying on a middling crew of innings-eaters such as Phil Hughes, Ricky Nolasco, Ervin Santana (who missed half a season with a steroid suspension) and Kyle Gibson would win a five-game series.


What's new

The Twins made a jump in every on-field category, rising 37 places in players and 46 in coaching, thanks to the hiring of Paul Molitor as manager. He might not exactly be a stathead, but Molitor is more open to analytics than Ron Gardenhire ever was, and already the change seems to be working -- the Twins' team OBP has climbed by significantly this season. Next season, Sano and Buxton could be joined by pitching prospects such as Jose Berrios and Alex Meyer, possibly giving the Twins faithful even more to look forward to -- in our standings and maybe in the playoffs.

Next: Texas Rangers | Full rankings

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