But part of it, too, is because of Opening Day struggles that have kept the Twins from a positive start to the season every year since 2008, failing to win their first game eight years in a row.
“Everybody is in first place right now.
Regardless of the start that we get off to, we’re confident that we’re going to be a pretty good team.” In manager Paul Molitor’s two seasons at the helm, one of the few consistencies has been early season struggles.
“As much as last year sticks in the craw of some of our people, it doesn’t guarantee that you can go out there and say, ‘Lightning is not going to strike twice,’” Molitor said.
“We have to have the mindset from day one of how important games are early.
They all count.
I think we’re better prepared this year as far as potentially being able to handle the ups and downs that the game brings either personally or as a team.
I think those things will help us eliminate some of those longer droughts where we had trouble putting wins on the board.” The Twins haven’t won on Opening Day since a 2008 victory when Livan Hernandez threw seven strong innings, Joe Nathan earned the save, and Justin Morneau hit cleanup in front 49,596 fans at the Metrodome.
They’ve lost both their season opener and home opener the last five years.
Even in his first few months with the Twins, chief baseball officer Derek Falvey has heard about the early season struggles that have plagued this team.