Martin Perez had decided to sign with the Twins as a free agent when he had a conversation with General Manager Thad Levine. The two knew each other from their time together with the Texas Rangers.
Perez asked Levine a question: What do you want from me? The answer surprised him.
"I want you to be comfortable," Levine said.
Fair to say that condition — comfortable — best describes the vibe inside the Twins clubhouse these days.
Winning makes everyone happy and owning the best record in Major League Baseball creates a fun work environment. Behind the scenes, the Twins are a loose, confident group with a chemistry that reflects their on-field success.
The clubhouse is a stress-free zone.
"The more relaxed you are in theory, the more comfortable you play," manager Rocco Baldelli said. "You don't have to be worried about making mistakes. You don't have to worry about anything. The less that's on their minds, the better it is we'll play."
Quantifying clubhouse dynamics is a tricky discussion. Does winning improve chemistry, or does strong chemistry help create success? It's impossible to know for sure, but the Twins certainly seem to have the right mix of personalities and leadership fueling their remarkable start.