Twins go for three in a row
By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 4/7/2004

Of all the professional sports teams in the Twin Cities over the last 20 years, only one organization has delivered where it counts most -- World Champion! In 1987 and 1991 the Twins delivered, no excuses; they got the job done. The last two years, they have teased their fans by winning the American League Central Division title.
Major League Baseball truly is a marathon and not a sprint. 162 games over six months separate the pretenders from the contenders. The Twins believe they have the right mix to contend again despite the fact that Eddie Guardado and Latroy Hawkins, who helped form the strongest bullpen in baseball last year, are long gone. 
"We're focused on one thing, that's repeating as division champions and getting back into post-season play," said Dave St. Peter, president of the Twins. "We've had a chance to be there the last two years and believe we have a team that's poised to do that." 
With all the talk this off-season in Major League Baseball surrounding the allegations of widespread steroid and growth hormone use by a percentage of the game's best players, it seems the integrity of the game itself is all we've heard about. 
"If you look at our ball club, for all the talk over the last several months about all the guys who are not here, I think it's time to focus on the guys who are here. We've been able to sign Shannon Stewart to a multi-year agreement. He was a key difference-maker for us last year," St. Peter said.
"Of course, Torii Hunter and Jacque Jones combine to form probably the most dangerous outfield in the American League. The rest of the infield is all back, and our new catcher by the name of Joey Mauer.
"We like our ball club, and I think offensively we're going to score more runs. I think the starting rotation, the first three guys, are the same three guys that were the key anchors last year -- Brad Radke, Kyle Lohse and Santana. We've added Carlos Silva, who we like a lot.
"I think the question marks probably surround our bullpen more so than anywhere else," said St. Peter. "I choose to believe that we have guys that are going to step up, like J.C. Rumero and Joe Nathan, among others. There's no reason that this team can't contend for a third straight Division title, and that's where we've set our sights."
So it's full steam ahead for the 2004 defending Central Division Champion Minnesota Twins, labeled a small market team that financially can't compete with the big boys like the New York Yankees. The Yankees beat the Twins and the Boston Red Sox in the playoffs a year ago.
But as history has shown, when it comes to producing and bottom-line winning in this city, The Twins stand alone in this market, getting the job done without excuses. 
Before nearly 50,000 fans on Monday's opening night, the Twins rallied from a 4-0 deficit to beat the Cleveland Indians 7-4. Shannon Stewart was the hero, hitting a game-winning three-run homer in the bottom of the 11th inning. Mauer reached base four times in his Major League debut. 

Fitzgerald visits San Diego this week

Also on Monday, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. was a special guest, along with Timberwolves All-Star guard Sam Cassell and Twins President Dave St. Peter, on ***The Larry Fitzgerald Show***, broadcast live on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM from Bellanotte Restaurant in downtown Minneapolis. 
Cassell scored 36 points to lead the first-place Timberwolves to their fifth straight win in a 90 to 83 victory over Memphis Sunday. Minnesota has a one-game lead in the tight Midwest Division over San Antonio with just four games left, three of which are on the road. 
Fitzgerald, the Consensus College Football Player of the Year, this week will visit the San Diego Chargers, who have the first overall pick in the April 2004 Draft.