Twins need Stewart healthy

 

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 7/14/2004

Last year’s MVP could help them win more home games

 The two-time defending American League Central Champion Minnesota Twins completed the first half of the 2004 season by sliding into the All-Star break with a three-game losing streak. Injuries to several players highlighted the Twins inability to establish any real first-half consistency.

Outfielder Shannon Stewart has missed nearly two months with a painful foot injury that has to concern everybody. Stewart is a difference-maker; he proved it last year when the Twins traded with Toronto to bring him to Minnesota. Last year, at this point in the season the Twins were in deep trouble and in serious danger of missing the playoffs.

General Manager Terry Ryan made the move to acquire Stewart, and suddenly the Twins went on to play the best of any team in baseball, running away with the American League Central title. Stewart in the Twins line-up makes a huge difference.

Stewart hit .322 with the Twins last year, finished fourth in the American League MVP voting, and was selected as the Twins’ Most Valuable Player. Now, that’s saying something when you’re the MVP of your team and you missed half of your team’s games.

He’s one of those rare players who has the ability to make everybody around him better. It became contagious last year — everybody picked up their game and played with more confidence, and the team sailed into the playoffs. He’s a pro’s pro. He comes to play every day. The way Stewart keeps fouling off pitches until he gets a hit or walks makes every pitcher sweat on the mound when he’s in the batter’s box.

This team has surprised me by not playing particularly well at home. They allowed the Detroit Tigers — a team that has improved, but a team that lost 119 games last year — to take three of four games at the MetroDome. The Twins finished 47 games ahead of Detroit last year. No way are you supposed to lose three straight at home to that team.

The Twins are 47-40, just a half game out of first behind the Chicago White Sox. With three days off, this team can regroup and get after it in the second half.

However, they are only 26-22 at home right now. Last year, the Twins finished 90-72, four games ahead of the White Sox. They were 48-33 at home, however. This team will need a healthy Stewart, and will need to establish that they can, as a team, play much better at home.

Robert Smith now an author

Vikings all-time leading rusher Robert Smith has written a much-talked-about book called The Rest of the Iceberg. Smith surprised the football world three years ago by retiring from the Vikings and football as a Pro Bowler.

The star running back-turned-author covers many subjects in his book. “Football isn’t war, but it isn’t just a game either,” Smith says. He talks about the NFL, Dennis Green, Randy Moss, Cris Carter, Vikings fans, and the tragic death of teammate Korey Stringer.

Smith has a lot to say on problems with groupies, on Black role models, on defining heroes, on the reason our view of athletes and celebrities has changed, and on being labeled injury-prone. His book is available by order only at www.inkwaterbooks.com.

Don’t miss Victor Awards

I just spent the weekend in Las Vegas, and they say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, so I’m limited in what I can reveal about the great weekend.

But don’t miss the 2004 Victor Awards XXXVIII; it will be telecast nationally on FOX Sports Net July 17. You’ll see Larry Fitzgerald Jr. at the Las Vegas Hilton receive the College Football Player of the Year Award, and Timberwolves NBA MVP Kevin Garnett receive the NBA Player of the Year Award.