Since I had the bad luck to hear Calvin Griffith's 1978 after-dinner tirade in Waseca and my story on his remarks hit the front page on the final day of the season, leading to the trade of Rod Carew and making Sid Hartman's head spin, I have tried to keep my mouth shut on each year's last day for our beloved Twins.

But no guts, no glory.

The Minnesota Twins play their final game of 2007 today and will finish third in the American League Central, with a winning percentage under .500 for the first time since 2000.

A lot of things went wrong, from Johan Santana's bad first innings to Joe Mauer's touchy hamstring. But what you learn after watching a team for 46 years (I saw my first Twins game in fifth grade) is that you need to accentuate the positive after a year like this one.

So, without further ado, my nominee for MVP: Carl (Big Papa) Pohlad!

Big Papa is getting up there in years (he's 92), but he has great hands and is quick to the pockets.

Our pockets.

The team stumbled, but its owner had a fabulous year. According to Forbes magazine, Pohlad's net worth increased to $3.1 billion, up a cool $500 million from a year ago. It's probably just coincidence, but that's the same amount that the people of Hennepin County will pay in extra sales taxes for the new Twins ballpark, which is scheduled to open three seasons from now.

Forbes doesn't understand how this stadium deal works, which is a problem the magazine shares with Minnesota's taxpayers. In reporting on Big Papa's Big Pile, the magazine said Pohlad "persuaded" the Legislature to "put up money" for a new park.

Not exactly.

In fact, the Twins cooked up a strategy that allowed the Hennepin County Board to bypass a state law giving voters the right to approve local tax increases. Legislators from the county "opposed" the plan but were outvoted by outstate lawmakers. So $500 million (a billion when you include interest costs) was transferred to Forbes' 114th wealthiest American (and climbing) in a deal phonier than the "grass" in the Metrodome.

All without a peep from No New Taxes Tim Pawlenty, who signed the deal wearing a Twins jersey. Big Papa's net worth skyrocketed while -- checked your home equity lately? -- others' plunged.

There also has been a nice bump in the value of the Twins franchise: According to Forbes, the team's value increased 33 percent last year, from $216 million to $288 million.

The totals on the board are correct. Thank you, fans.

Yes, the Twins were 17 games out of first as of Saturday night. But don't worry! We'll get' em next year!

Big Papa got his this year.

So be sure to keep his impressive stats in mind when the Twins claim they can't afford to pay Torii Hunter or Johan Santana what they deserve.

That, fans, is total baloney.