I think that’s a fair question, frightwig. I did say the Twins have a couple of very good players, but perhaps I’m not giving M&M the credit due. I think some of us, myself included, tend to under-appreciate some excellent years they’ve both had simply because it seems like so long ago that we saw them performing at those levels.

But, as Craig indicated, the term “greatness” is not easy to define. To me, when it comes to a game like baseball, I’m looking for one of two things: either individuals who, through their participation at extremely high levels over a period of time, cause others around them to raise the level of their own performance…. in other words, they make their team mates better… or I’m looking for a team that performs at a level that exceeds what appears to be the sum of their individual parts. I can’t say I feel either Mauer or Morneau quite fit in to either category yet. They aren’t finished yet, however, so there’s still hope.

The will of the 2002 team to win is worth noting and celebrating. I have the team photo in my garage and still love to look it over. Check out the infield: Pierzynski, Mientkiewicz, a young slim Rivas, Guzman, Koskie. Hunter (29 homers) at his defensive best in CF. David Ortiz (20 homers, hurt half the time) at DH.

That team was young, aggressive, loaded with talent, and wanted to win.

But the club does have two former MVP’s in the lineup, too. One of them still has a good chance of being in the Hall of Fame, even. Does that count for anything?