FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Batting practice was under way for the Minnesota Twins when a groundskeeper approached manager Ron Gardenhire in front of the visitor's dugout at City of Palms Park.

"Are you going to take infield?,'' inquired the groundskeeper.

Gardenhire seemed taken aback by the query. Placing his hand on the groundskeeper's shoulder, he offered a basic baseball truth.

	Ron Gardenhire guided the Twins to the postseason in his first year as manager in 2002.

"We're the Minnesota Twins -- we always take infield,'' Gardenhire said proudly.

Some things don't change.

The Twins emphasized smart fundamental play and stressed the importance of pitching and defense under former manager Tom Kelly, and did so again last year as Gardenhire, in his rookie season, steered the Twins to their first playoff appearance since 1991.

The Twins committed the fewest errors and had the best fielding percentage in the American League while cruising to the AL Central title.

"That's how we win,'' Gardenhire said. "We have to ourwork you, make all the plays.''

It will be more of the same this year. The Twins' infield is arguably the best in the league -- athletic, rangy and dependable.

But much has changed, too.

A year ago, the Twins were baseball's contraction darlings, having survived a winter in which their very existence was in question. When they finally arrived for spring training, they were seen as death-row prisoners given a last-minute pardon.

"I think the whole experience brought us together,'' said center fielder Torii Hunter. "We knew how important it was to stay together."

Media interest was intense, especially considering the Twins were coming off nine consecutive losing seasons.

"This year,'' Gardenhire said, "we're not dealing with all the attention. There's none of that.''

But if commissioner Bud Selig's heavy-handed contraction efforts served as the rallying point last season, there's no shortage of motivation this spring. Gardenhire hasn't had to deliver fiery pep talks. Motivation is plentiful.

"These guys are hungry,'' he said, surveying his club before its exhibition opener. "They got a little taste of (success) last year and now they want more. I don't think this club needs any extra incentive. It has a lot to shoot for and a lot of goals.''

	“	These guys are hungry. They got a little taste of (success) last year and now they want more. I don't think this club needs any extra incentive. It has a lot to shoot for and a lot of goals. ”
		— Ron Gardenhire, Twins manager

The Twins knocked off the favored Oakland A's in the ALDS before running headlong into the Anaheim Angels in the ALCS. This season, repeating as champions of the Central won't be achievement enough; the Twins want to go deeper into the postseason.

And unlike last season when they were seen as plucky overachievers, this spring is far less romantic. There are expectations and perhaps more than the suggestion that last year was a fluke.

The White Sox, having added Bartolo Colon and Billy Koch while retaining Frank Thomas, are improved and already offering repeated swipes at the division champs.

Not that the increased expectations is a concern to the Twins' manager.

"You always have to prove yourself in this game,'' Gardenhire said. "It's constant.''

The Twins' starting rotation, a strong point last year, already has several physical question marks. Brad Radke must show he's fully recovered from the groin strain that sidelined him late last summer and from which he now acknowledges he came back too quickly.

Joe Mays underwent surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow, and last Friday, the team learned lefty Eric Milton, who battled knee problems last year, needs additional surgery and will be lost for 6-8 weeks.

The Twins are still in baseball's bottom third in spending and will be hard-pressed to compensate for the loss of Milton. Depth is not a luxury small-market teams can afford.

"We'll see what happens,'' shrugged Gardenhire. "Hopefully, everybody will be healthy. If not, we'll have to ad-lib.''

Moreover, the Twins are the exception to the American League rule in that they don't try to outslug opponents. The point could be made that among the seven AL teams thought to be playoff-caliber (New York, Boston, Minnesota, Chicago, Anaheim, Oakland and Seattle), the Twins have the least-potent offense. Unprovens such as Matthew LeCroy and Michael Cuddyer figure to be everyday players.

Ultimately, Gardenhire understands that the Twins are on their own. They won't win anyone's sympathies this year. They'll have to earn what they get, which is as it should be.

"We have to take care of ourselves,'' he said. "We're not going to worry about anyone else.''

Sean McAdam of the Providence (R.I.) Journal covers baseball for ESPN.com.