Of course, last year’s champions, the Giants, play in a very pitcher-friendly park. The Twins won their division in Target Field, as they did five other times in the past decade although the Metrodome had become a pitcher’s park. The Rays won the AL East while playing in the most extreme pitcher’s park in either league for the season. The Padres in their pitching haven won 90 games and missed the postseason by just a game. (The Phillies, Reds, and Braves made the postseason in parks that played neutral.)

Looking at pennant winners in the past decade… The 2001 Diamondbacks’ home slightly favored hitters; Yankee Stadium heavily favored pitchers (and the Mariners won 116 games with the most pitcher-friendly park in the AL that year). The 2002 Angels and Giants both played in pitcher’s parks; Angels Stadium extremely so. The 2003 Marlins and Yankees both called pitcher’s parks home; Sun Life Stadium extremely so. The 2004 Red Sox played in a hitter’s park, although Fenway slightly favored pitcher’s on home runs, but the Cardinals played in a pitcher’s park. The 2005 White Sox played in a hitter’s park (but not an extreme one), while the Astros’ home favored pitchers. The 2006 Cardinals and Tigers both played in pitcher’s parks. The 2007 Red Sox and Rockies both played in hitter’s parks (although, again, it was tough to homer in Fenway). The Phillies’ home in 2008 slightly favored hitters (but ranked smack in the middle of MLB), while the Rays played in a pitcher’s park. In 2009, the new Yankee Stadium favored pitching (although it was conducive to homers), while the Phillies’ home played as it did the year before.

Looking at all that data, I’d say that playing in a pitcher’s park doesn’t hurt a club’s chances of winning big; it might even be a help.

And looking at some Twins player stats from 2010 (I’ll focus on that because the team was in relative good health), it seems that Target Field cut down on the power of Mauer and Morneau; Mauer hit 8 HR on the road last year, but just 1 at home, while Morneau had a 14/4 split in his half-season. However, Cuddyer hit 7 HR at home, 7 on the road last year, while his slash line at home was superior; this year his split was an even 10/10, and again he had his better slash line at home. Kubel had a 13/8 road/home HR split in 2010, but his avg/obp at home were higher than away. Same trend for Delmon Young, while he enjoyed a career year. And of course Jim Thome seemed to like the place just fine.

So, although Target Field might cut down on home runs, the good hitters on the team, when healthy, were still performing well at home that season. Even Mauer and Morneau, whose HR power seemed most affected, still posted very good slash lines at home.

I guess it wouldn’t be bad to move the plate a little, if only to improve some sightlines, but I don’t think the park is really a problem. This year, the Twins just had too many players, both at the plate and on the mound, who were either hurt or just sucked eggs. My prescription: get better players!

I’d love to bring back the trees and tell the players to shut up and play ball. That batters eye they’ve got in CF now is an eyesore.

Home plate is absolutely too close to the backstop, especially with the stone facing.

And, alas, yes the Twins seem determined to leave things as is.