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Twins-Angels Preview

Apr 5, 2010 - 6:58 AM By DAN PIERINGER STATS Editor

Minnesota (0-0) at Los Angeles (0-0), 10:05 p.m. EDT

The Minnesota Twins spent their offseason making sure their homegrown star would stick around for a very long time. The Los Angeles Angels were more focused on bringing in some outside help.

Armed with some new talent in their quest for a fourth straight AL West title, the Angels open the season against Joe Mauer and the Twins on Monday night in Anaheim.

Minnesota signed the 26-year-old Mauer to a $184 million, eight-year extension in March that keeps him under contract through 2018. While the Twins also added Orlando Hudson and Jim Thome over the winter, extending Mauer was the top offseason priority for a club that's opening a new stadium with hopes of advancing in the postseason for the first time since 2002.

Mauer hit .365 with a career-best 28 home runs and 96 RBIs in 2009 despite starting the season on the disabled list to recover from a back injury. He went on to win his second Gold Glove at catcher, his third AL batting title and his first MVP Award.

"I love putting on a Minnesota Twins uniform," the St. Paul, Minn., native said after signing the deal. "It's a real thrill to be able to do this for the rest of my career. I have to tell everybody here I'll give you everything I've got. My ultimate goal is to win a World Series. I'm looking forward to doing that."

While Minnesota devoted its resources to keeping Mauer, Los Angeles lost some key players from the team that went 97-65 and took the eventual champion New York Yankees to six games in the ALCS in 2009. Slugger Vladimir Guerrero, right-hander John Lackey and leadoff hitter Chone Figgins are among the departed Angels.

Turnover is not new to reigning AL Manager of the Year Mike Scioscia, however, and the Angels have again reloaded for an attempt at their sixth division title in seven years. They signed 15-game winner Joel Pineiro to bolster the rotation and World Series MVP Hideki Matsui to fill the void left by Guerrero. Brandon Wood, one of the most highly touted prospects in baseball, is the everyday third baseman following Figgins' departure.

"Every year, we lose one or two guys, but this organization has done a great job of getting guys in return that can do a very good job," said reliever Scot Shields, entering his 10th season with the franchise. "It's just the way this organization has been, bringing in quality guys that can play ball."

Torii Hunter, who signed with Los Angeles two years ago after spending his first 10 seasons with Minnesota, is excited about the new-look Angels.

"I definitely feel we have some pieces to get the job done," he said.

The Angels had enough pieces to win six of their last seven meetings with the Twins last season, including the final three by a combined 35-15. Hunter, though, has struggled against his former club, batting just .190 with 11 strikeouts in 11 games.

Los Angeles hopes to continue its recent success against Minnesota by turning to Jered Weaver. The right-hander won 12 of his first 15 decisions last season and finished 16-8 with a 3.75 ERA. He was 9-3 with a 2.90 ERA at Angel Stadium.

Weaver lost his only previous opening day start in 2008 at Minnesota. He's 3-1 with a 3.51 ERA in six career starts against the Twins, and Mauer is 6 for 15 with two doubles against him.

Minnesota will counter with right-hander Scott Baker, who went 15-9 with a 4.37 ERA last season, topping his previous career high in wins by four.

Baker is 0-4 with a 5.59 ERA in seven lifetime starts against the Angels, but he's 0-0 with a 2.08 ERA against them in two starts over the last two seasons.

The pressure could be on Baker and the rest of the Minnesota rotation with Joe Nathan out for the season. The All-Star closer, who saved a career-high 47 games while helping Minnesota to the AL Central title in 2009, will miss the entire season while recovering from right elbow surgery.