If you’ve been following the Minnesota Twins at all this season, you’ve undoubtedly focused on the pitching. Fransisco Liriano this and Johan Santana that…mix in the Garza watch, too. Much has been said about Joe Mauer, the maturation of Justin Morneau and Michael Cuddyer. I think the guy that’s been lost in the mix has been Joe Vavra, batting coach for the team.
He was named to the position in October 2005 and if I recall correctly, there were some question marks regarding him being hired for the job. Then the Twins opened the season abysmally. They couldn’t hit and they couldn’t pitch. I think we all knew they would come around, but I don’t think fans anticipated that the Twins, at the time of this post, would be leading the league in batting average and striking out the fewest times. Every guy on the team has demonstrated an ability to hit the ball. I have to believe that Joe Vavra has influenced this team and deserves a healthy pat on the back.
