When the Minnesota Twins first learned that the funding for Target Field had been passed, one of the first things they had to do was come up with an official design. Back on that 2006 day, the Twins had visions of Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau winning multiple World Series championships and cranking bombs out to what would eventually become known as Target Plaza.
As we sit here today, the Twins haven’t had such success at Target Field. They’ve put together one winning season since the ballpark opened it’s gates and the team has been adamant in their desire to change things to help it’s hitters.
Baseball fans craving offense have been greatly disappointed with the home team’s output at their new home, but like a cold wind coming in from the North, Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion come to quench their thirst for power.
While the Twins have moved trees, added scoreboards and toyed with the idea of moving the fences in, Bautista and Encarnacion have hit with reckless abandon in the shadow of Minnie and Paul.
Bautista has loved Target Field from the second he saw the gorgeous structure as he capped off his 2010 season with a pair of home runs to bring his league-leading total to 54. Since then, the 33-year-old has hit ten bombs in just 12 games in the Twins’ ballpark.
The power is something that could be chalked up to reputation, as Bautista has slugged 157 home runs since then. However, he’s also become a complete hitter with a .385 (AVG)/.439 (OBP)/1.019 (SLG) slash line at Target Field. (By comparison, his time with the Blue Jays has produced a .262/.382/.544 line in six-plus seasons.)
While many fear the wrath of Bautista, Encarnacion isn’t intimidated by T.C.’s menacing presence either.
In 14 career games, the Blue Jays’ first baseman has hit .367/.448/.755 with six home runs and 15 runs batted in at Target Field. Like Bautista, his numbers are exponentially higher than his averages with Toronto (.267/.350/.502 in five-plus seasons), but he basically cleans up what his fellow bash brother leaves behind.
All of this, while the Twins scratch their heads and wonder why Mauer can’t come close to the 28 home runs he hit during his MVP season in 2009 (the final baseball year for the Metrodome) and Morneau sent angry e-mails to media outlets complaining about the distance of the fences. So honestly, what gives?
“I don’t think it’s got anything to do with the ball park,” Bautista said in 2012 to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “(The Twins) have an aggressive pitching staff; they throw lots of strikes and they come after you, and that suits my style of hitting. They pound the inside half of the plate, and that’s where I like to see pitches.
It seems to make sense now. Instead of the smell of Manny’s Steak Sandwiches and gigantic meatballs circulating through the air, it’s been the Twins pitching staff that’s been the source of Bautista and Encarnacion’s powers.
It makes more sense when you consider that the Blue Jays didn’t even take batting practice once prior to Tuesday’s 9-2 victory over the Twins. The basic assumption is that Toronto figured the Twins’ staff was an adequate substitute.
Maybe things will change once some of the organization’s younger arms (Alex Meyer, Trevor May, Kohl Stewart) make their way to Minneapolis, but for now Bautista, Encarnacion and the entire Blue Jays roster are putting on a show worthy of a parade down Nicollet Avenue.
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Chris Schad contributes to 105 The Ticket and has had his work featured on the Bleacher Report and Yahoo Contributor Network. He serves as the Vikings Lead Writerfor Pro Football Spot. Find him on Twitter @crishad. |