2007 Minnesota Twins season

2007  Minnesota Twins
League	American League
Division	Central
Ballpark	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
City	Minneapolis
Record	79–83
Divisional place	3rd
Owners	Carl Pohlad
General managers	Terry Ryan, Bill Smith
Managers	Ron Gardenhire
Television	FSN North WFTC (My 29) (Dick Bremer, Bert Blyleven)
Radio	AM 1500 KSTP (John Gordon, Dan Gladden, Jack Morris, Kris Atteberry)
Stats	ESPN.com Baseball Reference
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The 2007 Minnesota Twins season was the 47th season for the Minnesota Twins franchise in the Twin Cities of Minnesota, their 26th season at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome and the 107th overall in the American League. They were managed by Ron Gardenhire.

The Twins finished the season with a 79–83 record, their first losing record since 2000. ^[1]

On September 13, Twins general manager Terry Ryan resigned. He was replaced by Assistant General Manager Bill Smith. ^[2]

Offseason

• January 11, 2007: Agreed to terms with Ramón Ortiz on a one-year contract.
• February 2, 2007: Re-signed Justin Morneau, Lew Ford and Juan Rincón to one-year contracts and Nick Punto to a two-year contract.
• February 11, 2007: Agreed to terms with Joe Mauer on a four-year contract.

Regular season

For the third year in a row, an important Twins personality died just before the beginning of the season. In 2005, long-time stadium announcer Bob Casey fell to heart failure. In 2006, Hall of Fame center fielder Kirby Puckett died from a massive bilateral stroke brought on by hypertension. In 2007, Herb Carneal, the team's radio play-by-play announcer for 45 years, died from heart failure on April 1, the day before Opening Day. The Twins announced that they would dedicate the 2007 season to Carneal's memory.

• With a first-inning 'E4' on June 6, the Twins' Luis Castillo's major league record for consecutive errorless games by a second baseman ended at 143. Over 647 chances, he never erred. Detroit's Plácido Polanco had a similar streak running concurrently, and it ended a few months later at 186 games, the new record.
• The Twins' representatives to the All-Star Game were Morneau, Hunter, and Santana. Reliever Pat Neshek was chosen to be one of five players in the final vote for an All-Star player. However, this spot went to Boston Red Sox pitcher Hideki Okajima, despite a campaign by Twins fans and national sports blogs to "Vote For Pat". ^[3]
• The collapse of the I-35W Mississippi River bridge occurred prior to the August 1, 2007 home game against the Kansas City Royals at the Metrodome. Public safety officials told the team that canceling the game could hamper rescue and recovery efforts, since a cancellation would send up to 25,000 people back into traffic just blocks from the collapsed bridge (I-35W runs behind the Metrodome). ^[4] Before the game, a moment of silence was held for the victims of the collapse. ^[4] The team rescheduled their August 2 game against the Royals to the afternoon of August 31. Traditional groundbreaking ceremonies for the team's forthcoming stadium (also located in downtown Minneapolis) had been scheduled to take place after the game, but were postponed to August 30. ^{[4] [5] [6]}
• Johan Santana broke the club record for most strikeouts in a game, with 17 against the Texas Rangers on August 19, 2007.
• On September 7, the Twins and the Chicago White Sox entered the ninth inning tied 4-4 and left the inning tied 10-10. It's the first time in the major leagues that both teams each scored six runs each in the ninth to force extra innings. Chicago won 11–10 after thirteen innings.
• With the loss to Boston on September 28, the Twins were assured of a losing season, the first after six straight winners (a record). Before those six, they'd suffered through eight consecutive losing years (also a record). ^[7]
• Torii Hunter won his seventh straight Gold Glove award, the most for any position player on the Twins, and second in club history only to pitcher Jim Kaat's eleven.

Offense

While the 2006 team was known for the "piranhas"—gritty hitters lacking power but possessing speed and guile—the 2007 team saw the continued the development of power hitters such as 2006 league MVP Justin Morneau, Torii Hunter, and Jason Kubel. After the Twins swept a July 6 doubleheader with the Chicago White Sox by a combined score of 32–14, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillén, the man who coined the term "piranhas" in 2006, stated: "They're not piranhas no more. They're a shark attack now." ^[8] In the second game of that doubleheader, Morneau became the first Twin to hit three home runs in a game since Tony Oliva against the Kansas City Royals on July 3, 1973. The Twins scored the most runs by one team in a doubleheader since the Boston Red Sox totaled 35 in a sweep of the Philadelphia Athletics on July 4, 1939. ^[9] Nick Punto, as of August 22, 2007 has the lowest batting average among qualified batters in the American League, at .201.

Pitching

The Twins entered the season with a problem in the starting rotation after Twins staple Brad Radke retired and Francisco Liriano had Tommy John surgery. The Twins signed Ramón Ortiz and Sidney Ponson to start. Ponson was released in May and was replaced by Scott Baker, Ramón Ortiz was moved to the bullpen shortly after and replaced in the rotation by Kevin Slowey. However, Slowey was sent to the minors in early July, replaced by Matt Garza. Ramón Ortiz was traded in August to the Colorado Rockies. On August 31, Baker took a perfect game into the ninth inning against the Kansas City Royals, before giving up a leadoff walk to catcher John Buck. His no-hitter also ended when he gave up a 1-out single to Mike Sweeney in the 9th inning. The game was won by the Twins 5–0.

Starter Johan Santana won a Gold Glove Award, the only one of his career.

Season standings

• v
• t
• e

AL Central

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Cleveland Indians	96	66	.593	—	51‍–‍29	45‍–‍37
Detroit Tigers	88	74	.543	8	45‍–‍36	43‍–‍38
Minnesota Twins	79	83	.488	17	41‍–‍40	38‍–‍43
Chicago White Sox	72	90	.444	24	38‍–‍43	34‍–‍47
Kansas City Royals	69	93	.426	27	35‍–‍46	34‍–‍47

Record vs. opponents

2007 American League record Source: MLB Standings Grid – 2007 v t e
Team	BAL	BOS	CWS	CLE	DET	KC	LAA	MIN	NYY	OAK	SEA	TB	TEX	TOR	NL
Baltimore	—	6–12	5–3	3–4	1–5	7–0	3–7	0–7	9–9	4–4	2–7	11–7	4–6	8–10	6–12
Boston	12–6	—	7–1	5–2	3–4	3–3	6–4	4–3	8–10	4–4	4–5	13–5	6–4	9–9	12–6
Chicago	3–5	1–7	—	7–11	11–7	12–6	5–4	9–9	4–6	4–5	1–7	6–1	2–4	3–4	4–14
Cleveland	4–3	2–5	11–7	—	12–6	11–7	5–5	14–4	0–6	6–4	4–3	8–2	6–3	4–2	9–9
Detroit	5–1	4–3	7–11	6–12	—	11–7	3–5	12–6	4–4	4–6	6–4	3–4	5–4	4–3	14–4
Kansas City	0–7	3–3	6–12	7–11	7–11	—	5–2	9–9	1–9	6–4	3–6	4–3	5–4	3–4	10–8
Los Angeles	7–3	4–6	4–5	5–5	5–3	2–5	—	6–3	6–3	9–10	13–6	6–2	10–9	3–4	14–4
Minnesota	7–0	3–4	9–9	4–14	6–12	9–9	3–6	—	2–5	5–2	6–3	3–4	7–2	4–6	11–7
New York	9–9	10–8	6–4	6–0	4–4	9–1	3–6	5–2	—	2–4	5–5	10–8	5–1	10–8	10–8
Oakland	4–4	4–4	5–4	4–6	6–4	4–6	10–9	2–5	4–2	—	5–14	4–6	9–10	5–4	10–8
Seattle	7–2	5–4	7–1	3–4	4–6	6–3	6–13	3–6	5–5	14–5	—	4–3	11–8	4–5	9–9
Tampa Bay	7–11	5–13	1–6	2–8	4–3	3–4	2–6	4–3	8–10	6–4	3–4	—	5–4	9–9	7–11
Texas	6–4	4–6	4–2	3–6	4–5	4–5	9–10	2–7	1–5	10–9	8–11	4–5	—	5–5	11–7
Toronto	10–8	9–9	4–3	2–4	3–4	4–3	4–3	6–4	8–10	4–5	5–4	9–9	5–5	—	10–8

Notable transactions

After their great amount of success in 2006, in which they came from behind to win the AL Central, the Twins wanted to be sure to lock up their 3-4-5 hitters (Joe Mauer, Michael Cuddyer, and Justin Morneau) to multi-year deals. The Twins were able to sign Mauer to a four-year deal worth $33 million, but Morneau and Cuddyer only agreed to sign one-year contracts, worth $4.5 million and $3.575 million respectively.

• April 9 – Placed Jeff Cirillo (medial meniscus tear in left knee) on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 9; Placed Rondell White (strained right calf) on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 5; Recalled Alexi Casilla from Triple-A Rochester.
• April 12 – Recalled Glen Perkins from Triple-A Rochester; optioned Chris Heintz.
• May 1 – Activated Jeff Cirillo from the 15-day disabled list and optioned Alexi Casilla to Triple-A Rochester.
• May 6 – Placed Joe Mauer on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left quad.
• May 8 – Recalled Chris Heintz from Triple-A Rochester.
• May 13 – Designated Sidney Ponson for assignment.
• May 16 – Placed Jesse Crain on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation and recalled Julio DePaula from Triple-A Rochester.
• May 18 – Recalled Scott Baker from Triple-A Rochester. and optioned Garrett Jones to Rochester.
• May 22 – Placed Glen Perkins on the 15-day disabled list with a mild muscle strain in the back of his left shoulder; Purchased the contract of Carmen Cali from Triple-A Rochester.
• May 24 – Placed Dennys Reyes on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 21, with inflammation in his left shoulder; Purchased the contract of Jason Miller from Triple-A Rochester and transferred Alejandro Machado from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list.
• May 30 – Optioned Julio DePaula to Triple-A Rochester; Transferred Jesse Crain to the 60-day disabled list; purchased the contract of Kevin Slowey from Triple-A Rochester.
• June 28–29 – Heintz sent to minors; Matt Garza recalled.
• July 5 – Sent Slowey to minors; recalled Cali.
• July 22 – Activated Rondell White from the disabled list and optioned Garrett Jones to Triple-A Rochester.
• July 30 – Traded Luis Castillo to the New York Mets in exchange for minor leaguers Drew Butera and Dustin Martin. Recalled Alexi Casilla.
• August 3 – Jeff Cirillo claimed by Arizona on waivers.
• August 8 – Called up Tommy Watkins. Brian Buscher put on the 15-day DL.
• August 15 – Traded Ramón Ortiz to the Colorado Rockies for minor league infielder Matt Macri ^[10]

Game log

2007 Game Log
April: 14–11 # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 1 April 2 Orioles 7–4 Santana (1–0) Bédard (0–1) Nathan (1) 48,711 1–0 2 April 3 Orioles 3–2 Neshek (1–0) Cabrera (0–1) Nathan (2) 24,439 2–0 3 April 4 Orioles 7–2 Ortiz (1–0) Wright (0–1) 27,539 3–0 -- April 6 @ White Sox Postponed (cold weather)rescheduled for July 6 3–0 4 April 7 @ White Sox 3–0 Vázquez (1–0) Silva (0–1) Jenks (1) 33,278 3–1 5 April 8 @ White Sox 3–1 Santana (2–0) Danks (0–1) Nathan (3) 27,653 4–1 6 April 9 Yankees 8–2 Pavano (1–0) Ponson (0–1) 26,047 4–2 7 April 10 Yankees 10–1 Pettitte (1–0) Bonser (0–1) 24,552 4–3 8 April 11 Yankees 5–1 Ortiz (2–0) Farnsworth (0–1) 30,131 5–3 9 April 12 Devil Rays 3–2 Nathan (1–0) Stokes (0–2) 15,869 6–3 10 April 13 Devil Rays 4–2 Kazmir (2–0) Santana (2–1) Reyes (3) 27,783 6–4 11 April 14 Devil Rays 12–5 Ponson (1–1) Jackson (0–2) 35,269 7–4 12 April 15 Devil Rays 6–4 Stokes (1–2) Nathan (1–1) Reyes (4) 27,024 7–5 13 April 17 @ Mariners 11–2 Ortiz (3–0) Weaver (0–2) 19,015 8–5 14 April 18 @ Mariners 5–4 Silva (1–1) Hernández (2–1) Nathan (4) 20,871 9–5 15 April 19 @ Mariners 6–5 Santana (3–1) Washburn (0–2) Nathan (5) 19,350 10–5 16 April 20 @ Royals 11–7 Pérez (1–2) Ponson (1–2) Riske (2) 31,813 10–6 17 April 21 @ Royals 7–5 Neshek (2–0) Peralta (0–2) Nathan (6) 20,566 11–6 18 April 22 @ Royals 3–1 de la Rosa (2–1) Ortiz (3–1) Soria (2) 14,801 11–7 19 April 23 Indians 7–3 (12) Hernández (2–1) Crain (0–1) 16,076 11–8 20 April 24 Indians 5–3 Carmona (1–1) Santana (3–2) Borowski (8) 20,849 11–9 21 April 25 Royals 4–3 Pérez (2–2) Ponson (1–3) Soria (3) 21,496 11–10 22 April 26 Royals 1–0 (11) Rincón (1–0) Wellemeyer (0–1) 18,520 12–10 23 April 27 @ Tigers 5–3 Crain (1–1) Zumaya (0–1) Nathan (7) 31,147 13–10 24 April 28 @ Tigers 11–3 Silva (2–1) Verlander (1–1) 39,547 14–10 25 April 29 @ Tigers 4–3 Jones (1–1) Crain (1–2) 36,483 14–11
May: 13–14 # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 26 May 1 @ Devil Rays 9–1 Ponson (2–3) Jackson (0–4) 8,773 15–11 27 May 2 @ Devil Rays 4–3 (10) Reyes (1–0) Guerrier (0–1) 9,101 15–12 28 May 3 @ Devil Rays 6–4 Shields (3–0) Ortiz (3–2) Reyes (10) 8,793 15–13 29 May 4 Red Sox 2–0 Wakefield (3–3) Silva (2–2) Papelbon (9) 34,951 15–14 30 May 5 Red Sox 2–1 Santana (4–2) Tavárez (1–3) Nathan (8) 40,088 16–14 31 May 6 Red Sox 4–3 Schilling (4–1) Ponson (2–4) Papelbon (10) 27,807 16–15 32 May 8 White Sox 7–4 (10) Rincón (2–0) Sisco (0–1) 21,979 17–15 33 May 9 White Sox 6–3 Danks (1–4) Ortiz (3–3) 24,367 17–16 34 May 10 White Sox 3–0 Contreras (3–3) Silva (2–3) 23,663 17–17 35 May 11 Tigers 7–3 Maroth (3–0) Santana (4–3) 31,458 17–18 36 May 12 Tigers 8–2 Durbin (3–1) Ponson (2–5) 32,176 17–19 37 May 13 Tigers 16–4 Bonser (1–1) Vasquez (0–1) 25,037 18–19 38 May 15 @ Indians 15–7 Byrd (3–1) Ortiz (3–4) 23,325 18–20 39 May 16 @ Indians 7–1 Sabathia (6–1) Silva (2–4) 17,678 18–21 40 May 17 @ Indians 2–0 Carmona (5–1) Santana (4–4) 28,609 18–22 41 May 18 @ Brewers 8–1 Bonser (2–1) Capuano (5–2) 44,759 19–22 42 May 19 @ Brewers 5–2 Baker (1–0) Bush (3–4) 44,427 20–22 43 May 20 @ Brewers 6–5 Wise (1–1) Reyes (0–1) Cordero (17) 39,119 20–23 44 May 21 @ Rangers 14–4 Padilla (2–6) Silva (2–5) 24,814 20–24 45 May 22 @ Rangers 7–1 Santana (5–4) Loe (1–4) 27,013 21–24 46 May 23 @ Rangers 5–3 Bonser (3–1) Tejeda (4–4) Nathan (9) 24,370 22–24 47 May 25 Blue Jays 4–3 Guerrier (1–1) Downs (1–1) Nathan (10) 26,781 23–24 48 May 26 Blue Jays 9–8 (13) Tallet (1–1) Guerrier (1–2) 31,434 23–25 49 May 27 Blue Jays 4–2 Silva (3–5) Burnett (5–4) Nathan (11) 25,781 24–25 50 May 28 White Sox 10–4 Santana (6–4) Contreras (4–5) 27,090 25–25 51 May 29 White Sox 9–2 Bonser (4–1) Danks (3–5) 23,771 26–25 52 May 30 White Sox 7–6 Nathan (2–1) MacDougal (1–2) 29,042 27–25
June: 15–12 # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 53 June 1 @ Athletics 3–2 (10) Neshek (3–0) Calero (0–4) Nathan (12) 20,219 28–25 54 June 2 @ Athletics 1–0 Blanton (5–3) Silva (3–6) 30,576 28–26 55 June 3 @ Athletics 4–2 Gaudin (6–1) Santana (6–5) Embree (4) 25,388 28–27 56 June 4 @ Angels 16–3 Weaver (5–3) Bonser (4–2) 37,380 28–28 57 June 5 @ Angels 5–1 Escobar (7–3) Baker (1–1) 42,001 28–29 58 June 6 @ Angels 8–5 Slowey (1–0) Lackey (9–4) Nathan (13) 36,453 29–29 59 June 8 Nationals 8–5 Simontacchi (3–4) Silva (3–7) Rivera (2) 25,144 29–30 60 June 9 Nationals 3–1 Speigner (2–2) Santana (6–6) Cordero (8) 39,742 29–31 61 June 10 Nationals 6–3 Bonser (5–2) Bacsik (1–3) Nathan (14) 31,035 30–31 62 June 12 Braves 7–3 Slowey (2–0) Davies (3–5) 25,868 31–31 63 June 13 Braves 6–0 Silva (4–7) James (5–6) 27,903 32–31 64 June 14 Braves 3–2 Reyes (1–1) Wickman (1–2) 26,714 33–31 65 June 15 Brewers 11–3 Vargas (5–1) Baker (1–2) Shouse (1) 27,977 33–32 66 June 16 Brewers 5–2 Bush (4–6) Bonser (5–3) Cordero (25) 37,117 33–33 67 June 17 Brewers 10–9 Nathan (3–1) Spurling (1–1) 31,624 34–33 68 June 18 @ Mets 8–1 Maine (7–4) Silva (4–8) 37,319 34–34 69 June 19 @ Mets 9–0 Santana (7–6) Sosa (6–3) 40,935 35–34 70 June 20 @ Mets 6–2 Baker (2–2) Pérez (7–6) 44,517 36–34 71 June 22 @ Marlins 5–4 Benítez (2–3) Rincón (2–1) Gregg (14) 15,271 36–35 72 June 23 @ Marlins 11–1 Silva (5–8) Johnson (0–2) 21,368 37–35 73 June 24 @ Marlins 7–4 Santana (8–6) Kim (3–4) 15,035 38–35 74 June 25 Blue Jays 8–5 Halladay (9–2) Guerrier (1–3) Accardo (9) 24,240 38–36 75 June 26 Blue Jays 2–1 (12) Rincón (3–1) Tallet (2–2) 27,000 39–36 76 June 27 Blue Jays 5–4 Towers (3–5) Bonser (5–4) Accardo (10) 30,959 39–37 77 June 28 Blue Jays 8–5 Silva (6–8) Frasor (1–3) Nathan (15) 31,038 40–37 78 June 29 @ Tigers 11–1 Santana (9–6) Verlander (9–3) 42,361 41–37 79 June 30 @ Tigers 8–5 Slowey (3–0) Miller (3–2) Nathan (16) 41,588 42–37
July: 13–15 # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 80 July 1 @ Tigers 1–0 Bonderman (9–1) Baker (2–3) Jones (20) 41,078 42–38 81 July 2 @ Yankees 5–1 Clemens (2–3) Bonser (5–5) 53,036 42–39 82 July 3 @ Yankees 8–0 Wang (8–4) Silva (6–9) 53,862 42–40 83 July 4 @ Yankees 6–2 Santana (10–6) Mussina (4–6) 52,040 43–40 84 July 5 @ Yankees 7–6 Farnsworth (1–1) Neshek (3–1) Rivera (11) 52,471 43–41 85 July 6 @ White Sox 20–14 Baker (3–3) Garland (6–6) 31,543 44–41 86 July 6 @ White Sox 12–0 Garza (1–0) Floyd (0–1) 32,426 45–41 87 July 7 @ White Sox 3–1 Buehrle (6–4) Bonser (5–6) Jenks (23) 36,791 45–42 88 July 8 @ White Sox 6–3 Vázquez (6–5) Silva (6–10) 32,724 45–43 89 July 12 Athletics 6–2 Baker (4–3) Gaudin (8–4) 25,207 46–43 90 July 13 Athletics 5–3 Santana (11–6) DiNardo (3–6) Nathan (17) 36,338 47–43 91 July 14 Athletics 4–3 Silva (6–10) Blanton (8–6) Nathan (18) 36,066 48–43 92 July 15 Athletics 4–3 Neshek (4–1) Kennedy (2–8) 36,737 49–43 93 July 17 Tigers 1–0 Robertson (6–6) Garza (1–1) Jones (24) 30,939 49–44 94 July 18 Tigers 3–2 Miller (5–3) Santana (10–7) Jones (25) 38,070 49–45 95 July 19 Tigers 4–3 (10) Miner (1–1) Nathan (3–2) Jones (26) 36,551 49–46 96 July 20 Angels 7–5 Silva (8–10) Lackey (12–6) Nathan (19) 35,794 50–46 97 July 21 Angels 5–2 Neshek (5–1) Shields (2–3) Nathan (20) 33,868 51–46 98 July 22 Angels 7–2 Saunders (4–0) Garza (1–2) 33,217 51–47 99 July 23 @ Blue Jays 6–4 Marcum (6–4) Santana (11–8) Accardo (16) 26,091 51–48 100 July 24 @ Blue Jays 7–0 McGowan (7–5) Baker (4–4) 30,669 51–49 101 July 25 @ Blue Jays 13–1 Litsch (3–4) Silva (8–11) 37,342 51–50 102 July 27 @ Indians 10–4 Byrd (9–4) Bonser (5–7) 37–292 51–51 103 July 28 @ Indians 3–2 Neshek (6–1) Borowski (2–4) Nathan (21) 41,203 52–51 104 July 29 @ Indians 4–1 Reyes (2–1) Sabathia (13–6) Nathan (22) 37,102 53–51 105 July 30 Royals 3–1 Baker (5–4) Meche (7–8) Nathan (23) 23,628 54–51 106 July 31 Royals 5–3 Silva (9–11) de la Rosa (8–11) Nathan (24) 22,890 55–51
August: 13–16 # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 107 August 1 Royals 5–3 (10) Greinke (5–5) Rincón (3–2) Soria (11) 24,880 55–52 -- August 2 Royals Postponed (I-35W bridge collapse)rescheduled for August 31 55–52 108 August 3 Indians 5–4 Sabathia (14–6) Santana (11–9) Borowski (30) 31,664 55–53 109 August 4 Indians 3–2 Ortiz (4–4) Laffey (0–1) Nathan (25) 33,663 56–53 110 August 5 Indians 1–0 Baker (6–4) Carmona (13–6) Nathan (26) 38,334 57–53 111 August 6 Indians 4–0 Byrd (10–4) Silva (9–12) 28,314 57–54 112 August 7 @ Royals 5–1 Bannister (8–6) Bonser (5–8) 15,648 57–55 113 August 8 @ Royals 11–4 Santana (12–9) Pérez (6–11) 21,503 58–55 114 August 9 @ Royals 1–0 Davies (1–0) Garza (1–3) Soria (12) 14,569 58–56 115 August 10 @ Angels 10–1 Escobar (12–6) Baker (6–5) 43,810 58–57 116 August 11 @ Angels 4–3 Lackey (15–6) Neshek (6–2) Rodríguez (29) 44,064 58–58 117 August 12 @ Angels 6–2 Jer Weaver (8–5) Bonser (5–9) 43,911 58–59 118 August 13 @ Mariners 4–3 Putz (2–1) Guerrier (1–4) 37,902 58–60 119 August 14 @ Mariners 11–3 Garza (2–3) Ramírez (7–4) 33,729 59–60 120 August 15 @ Mariners 6–1 Neshek (7–2) Washburn (8–10) 42,921 60–60 121 August 17 Rangers 2–1 (10) Guerrier (2–4) Wright (3–5) 30,924 61–60 122 August 18 Rangers 5–0 Loe (6–9) Bonser (5–10) 41,037 61–61 123 August 19 Rangers 1–0 Santana (13–9) Millwood (8–10) Nathan (27) 36,353 62–61 124 August 20 Mariners 9–4 Ramírez (8–4) Garza (2–4) 31,755 62–62 125 August 21 Mariners 7–2 Washburn (9–10) Baker (6–6) 42,373 62–63 126 August 22 Mariners 8–4 Silva (10–12) Batista (13–9) 29,881 63–63 127 August 23 @ Orioles 5–2 Bonser (6–10) Trachsel (6–8) Guerrier (1) 19,389 64–63 128 August 24 @ Orioles 7–4 Santana (14–9) Hoey (1–2) Nathan (28) 29,742 65–63 129 August 25 @ Orioles 8–1 Garza (3–4) Liz (0–1) 28,700 66–63 130 August 26 @ Orioles 11–3 Baker (7–6) Bédard (13–5) 30,876 67–63 131 August 27 @ Indians 8–3 Byrd (13–5) Silva (10–13) 23,178 67–64 132 August 28 @ Indians 6–5 Westbrook (5–7) Bonser (6–11) Borowski (38) 24,784 67–65 133 August 29 @ Indians 4–3 Sabathia (15–7) Santana (14–10) Borowski (39) 27,303 67–66 134 August 31 Royals 9–4 Davies (6–11) Garza (3–5) 15,736 67–67 135 August 31 Royals 5–0 Baker (8–6) Meche (7–12) 24,986 68–67
September: 11–16 # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 136 September 1 Royals 6–4 Silva (11–13) Duckworth (2–4) Nathan (29) 21,738 69–67 137 September 2 Royals 8–1 Bannister (12–7) Bonser (6–12) 26,454 69–68 138 September 3 Indians 5–0 Sabathia (16–7) Santana (14–11) 24,105 69–69 139 September 4 Indians 7–5 (11) Betancourt (4–0) DePaula (0–1) Borowski (40) 16,218 69–70 140 September 5 Indians 6–2 Carmona (15–8) Baker (8–7) Pérez (1) 13,977 69–71 141 September 7 @ White Sox 11–10 (13) Phillips (1–1) Rincón (3–3) 34,104 69–72 142 September 8 @ White Sox 8–7 Myers (4–0) Cali (0–1) Thornton (2) 31,747 69–73 143 September 9 @ White Sox 5–2 Santana (15–11) Garland (9–11) Nathan (30) 32,250 70–73 144 September 10 @ Royals 4–2 Bonser (7–12) Buckner (0–1) Nathan (31) 10,525 71–73 145 September 11 @ Royals 6–3 Baker (9–7) Davies (6–13) Nathan (32) 12,891 72–73 146 September 12 @ Royals 6–3 Meche (8–12) Silva (11–14) 10,102 72–74 147 September 14 Tigers 4–2 Robertson (8–11) Garza (3–6) Jones (35) 22,282 72–75 148 September 15 Tigers 4–3 Zumaya (2–3) Santana (15–12) Jones (36) 35,230 72–76 149 September 16 Tigers 6–4 Jurrjens (3–1) Baker (9–8) Jones (37) 21,771 72–77 150 September 17 Rangers 5–4 Nathan (4–2) Benoit (7–4) 14,197 73–77 151 September 18 Rangers 4–2 Silva (12–14) Millwood (9–13) Nathan (33) 18,226 74–77 152 September 19 Rangers 4–2 Garza (4–6) Padilla (6–10) Nathan (34) 17,842 75–77 153 September 21 White Sox 6–4 Buehrle (10–9) Santana (15–13) Jenks (39) 27,928 75–78 154 September 22 White Sox 8–3 J. Vázquez (14–8) Baker (9–9) 31,737 75–79 155 September 23 White Sox 7–1 Slowey (4–0) Floyd (1–5) 29,382 76–79 156 September 24 @ Tigers 2–0 Silva (13–14) Robertson (8–13) Nathan (35) 32,716 77–79 157 September 25 @ Tigers 8–0 Bazardo (2–1) Garza (4–7) 31,394 77–80 158 September 26 @ Tigers 9–4 (6) Byrdak (3–0) Blackburn (0–1) 35,375 77–81 159 September 27 @ Red Sox 5–4 Bonser (8–12) Beckett (20–7) Nathan (36) 36,743 78–81 160 September 28 @ Red Sox 5–2 Matsuzaka (15–12) Slowey (4–1) Papelbon (37) 36,843 78–82 161 September 29 @ Red Sox 6–4 Wakefield (17–12) Blackburn (0–2) Okajima (5) 36,619 78–83 162 September 30 @ Red Sox 3–2 Garza (5–7) Tavárez (7–11) Nathan (37) 36,364 79–83

Roster

2007 Minnesota Twins
Roster
Pitchers 30 Scott Baker 53 Nick Blackburn 26 Boof Bonser 56 Carmen Cali 28 Jesse Crain 51 Julio DePaula 21 Matt Garza 54 Matt Guerrier 49 Jason Miller 36 Joe Nathan 17 Pat Neshek 44 Ramón Ortiz 60 Glen Perkins 19 Sidney Ponson 37 Dennys Reyes 39 Juan Rincón 57 Johan Santana 52 Carlos Silva 59 Kevin Slowey		Catchers 41 Chris Heintz 23 Matthew LeCroy  7 Joe Mauer 58 José Morales 55 Mike Redmond Infielders 18 Jason Bartlett 32 Brian Buscher 25 Alexi Casilla  1 Luis Castillo 27 Jeff Cirillo 50 Garrett Jones 33 Justin Morneau  8 Nick Punto 38 Luis Rodríguez 61 Tommy Watkins		Outfielders  5 Michael Cuddyer 20 Lew Ford 48 Torii Hunter 16 Jason Kubel 31 Darnell McDonald 11 Josh Rabe 12 Jason Tyner 24 Rondell White		Manager 35 Ron Gardenhire Coaches 40 Rick Anderson (pitching)  9 Steve Liddle (bench) 43 Rick Stelmaszek (bullpen) 45 Scott Ullger (third base) 46 Joe Vavra (hitting) 13 Jerry White (first base)

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pos	Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
C	Joe Mauer	109	406	119	.293	7	60
1B	Justin Morneau	157	590	160	.271	31	111
2B	Luis Castillo	85	349	106	.304	0	18
SS	Jason Bartlett	140	510	135	.265	5	43
3B	Nick Punto	150	472	99	.210	1	25
LF	Jason Kubel	128	418	114	.273	13	65
CF	Torii Hunter	160	600	172	.287	28	107
RF	Michael Cuddyer	144	547	151	.276	16	81
DH	Jason Tyner	114	304	87	.286	1	22

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
Mike Redmond	82	272	80	.294	1	38
Alexi Casilla	56	189	42	.222	0	9
Luis Rodríguez	68	155	34	.219	2	12
Jeff Cirillo	50	153	40	.261	2	21
Lew Ford	55	116	27	.233	3	14
Rondell White	38	109	19	.174	4	20
Brian Buscher	33	82	20	.244	2	10
Garrett Jones	31	77	16	.208	2	5
Chris Heintz	24	56	14	.250	0	7
Josh Rabe	14	31	6	.194	0	2
Tommy Watkins	9	28	10	.357	0	0
Matt LeCroy	7	20	3	.150	0	0
Darnell McDonald	4	10	1	.100	0	0
José Morales	1	3	3	1.000	0	0

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
Johan Santana	33	219.0	15	13	3.33	235
Carlos Silva	33	202.0	13	14	4.19	89
Boof Bonser	31	173.0	8	12	5.10	136
Scott Baker	24	143.2	9	9	4.26	102
Matt Garza	16	83.0	5	7	3.69	67
Kevin Slowey	13	66.2	4	1	4.73	47
Sidney Ponson	7	37.2	2	5	6.93	23

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
Ramón Ortiz	28	91.0	4	4	5.14	44

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	W	L	SV	ERA	SO
Joe Nathan	68	4	2	37	1.88	77
Pat Neshek	74	7	2	0	2.94	74
Matt Guerrier	73	2	4	1	2.35	68
Juan Rincón	63	3	3	0	5.13	49
Dennys Reyes	50	2	1	0	3.99	21
Carmen Cali	24	0	1	0	4.71	14
Glen Perkins	19	0	0	0	3.14	20
Jesse Crain	18	1	2	0	5.51	10
Julio DePaula	16	0	1	0	8.55	8
Nick Blackburn	6	0	2	0	7.71	8
Jason Miller	4	0	0	0	18.00	2

Other post-season awards

• Calvin R. Griffith Award (Most Valuable Twin) – Torii Hunter
• Joseph W. Haynes Award (Twins Pitcher of the Year) – Johan Santana
• Bill Boni Award (Twins Outstanding Rookie) – Matt Garza
• Charles O. Johnson Award (Most Improved Twin) – Carlos Silva
• Dick Siebert Award (Upper Midwest Player of the Year) – Pat Neshek
• Bob Allison Award (Leadership Award) – Mike Redmond
• Mike Augustin Award ("Media Good Guy" Award) – Torii Hunter
  • The above awards are voted on by the Twin Cities chapter of the BBWAA
• Carl R. Pohlad Award (Outstanding Community Service) – Johan Santana
• Sherry Robertson Award (Twins Outstanding Farm System Position Player) – Brian Buscher
• Jim Rantz Award (Twins Outstanding Farm System Pitcher) – Kevin Slowey
• Kirby Puckett Award (Alumni Community Service) – Tony Oliva
• Herb Carneal Award (Lifetime Achievement Award) – Tom Mee

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Rochester Red Wings	International League	Stan Cliburn
AA	New Britain Rock Cats	Eastern League	Riccardo Ingram
A	Fort Myers Miracle	Florida State League	Kevin Boles
A	Beloit Snappers	Midwest League	Jeff Smith
Rookie	Elizabethton Twins	Appalachian League	Ray Smith
Rookie	GCL Twins	Gulf Coast League	Nelson Prada

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Elizabethton

References

• Game Logs:

1st Half: Minnesota Twins Game Log on ESPN.com

2nd Half: Minnesota Twins Game Log on ESPN.com

1. "2007 Minnesota Twins Statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
2. Williams, Brandt (September 13, 2007). "Terry Ryan resigns as Twins GM". MPR News. Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
3. Great The OTHER Japanese Red Sox Pitcher Won: Bad Day For Neshek
4. "Twins postpone Thursday's game after bridge collapses near Metrodome". ESPN.com . August 1, 2007. Retrieved August 2, 2007.
5. "Twins postpone Thursday's game after bridge collapses near Metrodome". KARE11. August 1, 2007. Archived from the original on January 27, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2007.
6. "Twins ballpark groundbreaking rescheduled for Thursday, Aug. 30". MLB Advanced Media. August 9, 2007. Archived from the original on January 15, 2008. Retrieved August 10, 2007.
7. "Minnesota Twins Team History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
8. "Jim Souhan: Morneau's bat gives offense some big teeth". Star Tribune . Archived from the original on October 15, 2007. Retrieved July 8, 2007.
9. Yahoo! Sports – Sports News, Scores, Rumors, Fantasy Games, and more ^{[ permanent dead link ]}
10. Rockies acquire RHP Ortiz from Twins – MLB – Yahoo! Sports