June 8

So, the Twins will live on. And while the Royals and some other teams will now have to join the Expos in the world of uncertain futures, the Twins reside in first place.

"On the baseball side, it's been a non-issue that we've tried to ignore," says Twins general manager Terry Ryan, referring to his team possibly being contracted. "We've been trying to go along and do business as usual."

	Torii Hunter, tied for fourth in the AL with 15 home runs, leads an impressive young Twins team.

In Minnesota, where attendance has been flat and revenues have been the second-lowest to Montreal the past five seasons, Ryan knows he's not going to be able to go out and make any deadline deals that add payroll.

"We're in a pretty good position," Ryan says, "because we're where we are and yet we really haven't played well yet, not the way we played last year. If we can get Brad Radke back in 15 days, or so, and eventually get Joe Mays back, then our pitching should be what we thought it would be and we'll have pretty sound balance."

With four top-level pitchers -- Radke, Mays, Eric Milton and Rick Reed -- and a fine fifth starter in Kyle Lohse, the Twins thought their strength was their starting rotation. But their starters' ERA has been hovering around the 5.00 mark, their bullpen, especially with Everyday Eddie Guardado closing and J.C. Romero in the power set-up role, has been excellent.

They're in the top three in the AL in runs scored (336 through Friday) despite injuries to Corey Koskie and Cristian Guzman and a slow start by Doug Mientkiewicz. But Torii Hunter has emerged as a star, Jacque Jones has broken out and Ryan lauds what A.J. Pierzynski, Dustan Mohr and Bobby Kielty have provided.

If and when the Twins need help, they'll have to get it from their farm system, which happens to be one of the best in the game. They have two relievers -- right-handers Grant Balfour and Kevin Frederick -- at Triple-A Edmonton that Ryan could call up Top outfield prospects Mike Cuddyer (.331, 10 HR) and Mike Restovich (.302, 10) are having solid seasons at Edmonton as well, and Ryan says he would be happy to bring up any of the following players: outfielder Mike Ryan (17 home runs), first baseman Todd Sears (.353 BA, nine homers) or catchers Matt LeCroy (.382 BA, nine HRs) or Javier Valentin (.307 BA, nine homers).

"We've got pretty good depth because our scouting and development people have done an outstanding job," says Ryan. "We've got some places to turn if need be, without adding a ton of payroll."

Few teams outside of the Yankees and the satellites of their success fuel -- the Mets and Red Sox -- will likely take on payroll come July because of the uncertain labor situation and the depressed revenues throughout the industry. At the end of the year, Ryan may be forced to make some tough decisions, as he has four arbitration eligible players -- Hunter, Jones, Mientkiewicz and David Ortiz -- who might command $10 million in combined salary -- and he already has 11 players signed for 2002 at a total of $41.5 million -- $200,000 more than his current payroll.

The disappointing attendance for home games (the Twins are 22nd in average home attendance) can be traced, in part, to the contraction rumors in the offseason.

"We're hoping the attendance picks up now that fans know we have a chance and we're going to be around," says Ryan. "The encouraging thing is that our TV ratings are way up, going through the roof, so there's interest in this club. Now maybe that will manifest itself in bigger crowds."

What's not to like? The team is good, they're good guys, they play great defense, Hunter is a personable, charismatic star, they should get better and they're in a division in which they can compete economically. The Twins can worry about the fact that in the last five years teams in the bottom half of payrolls have won just five postseason games -- but that's better than worrying if they're going to have a next year. Now they can worry about the White Sox and the Indians.