Ex-Twin Effect is latest trend in playoffs

It's not correct to say the Twins choked in the postseason this decade. Only current Twins choked. Former Twins thrived.

For years, baseball writers tracked the Former Cubs Curse, which is less celebrated but just as insidious as the famous hexes -- The Billy Goat Curse, the Black Cat Curse, the Not-Enough-Good-Pitching Curse -- that have prevented the Northsiders from winning a World Series since 1908.

The Former Cubs Curse asserted that a team with too many former Cubs would never win anything, that former Cubs were as detrimental to their new teams as they had been to their old team.

A new trend is developing, one far more life-affirming than any involving current or former Cubs. It's the Former Twin Effect, and it's a better indicator of postseason success than Vegas betting lines or fan bases self-important enough to call themselves a "Nation."

The Boston Red Sox had not won a World Series since 1918. In 2003, they signed former Twin David Ortiz. Since, they have won two World Series, with former Twins first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz recording the final out of the curse-banishing 2004 World Series.

The Chicago White Sox had not won a World Series since 1917 before they acquired former Twin A.J. Pierzynski. They won a World Series in their first season with Pierzynski.

If the Tampa Bay Rays and Philadelphia Phillies advance to the World Series -- and isn't that what the world craves, a rematch of the classic Rays-Phillies series of 1912? -- the Former Twins Effect could become a baseball movement rivaling Sabermetrics and "Moneyball."

The breakdown of the eight playoff teams and the Former Twin Effect:

Tampa Bay

Former Twins: Matt Garza, Jason Bartlett, Grant Balfour.

Impact: Garza dominated the Red Sox in Fenway Park on Monday. Local baseball writers voted Bartlett the team's MVP. Balfour shut down the White Sox in the first round of the playoffs and has become the Rays' best power reliever. You get the sense that if the Rays had signed Scott Klingenbeck, he would have won 20 games.

L.A. Angels

Impact: Hunter had a typical season as the Angels' new center fielder and was one of Los Angeles' best players against Boston in the first round of the playoffs. Imagine what the Angels might have done if they had signed Lew Ford, too.

White Sox

Former Twin: Pierzynski.

Impact: A.J.'s block of the plate and tag of a charging Michael Cuddyer won the one-game playoff for Chicago. The White Sox were a soft, whiny team before Pierzynski arrived; since, they've won a World Series and two division titles.

Red Sox

Impact: He helped win Boston's first two World Series since 1918.

Philadelphia

Former Twins: Reliever J.C. Romero; manager Charlie Manuel managed in the Twins' system.

Manuel's favorite sign when he coached third base was not the bunt or hit-and-run. He'd pretend to adjust a telescope to the sky, his way of saying, "Hit it real far, boys."

Impact: Manuel keeps winning. Romero is still talented and erratic.

Former Twins: Third baseman Casey Blake, catcher Danny Ardoin (who had a cup of coffee with the Twins in 2000).

Impact: Dodgers manager Joe Torre says the trade for Blake infused the locker room with professionalism and leadership, and plugged a gaping hole at third. Call it "Casey Being Casey." Ardoin was an early Joe Mauer, without the sideburns and talent.

Chicago Cubs

Former Twins: catcher Henry Blanco.

Impact: Blanco bailed out on an offer he had seemingly accepted from the Twins and signed with the Cubs. That opened the way for the Mike Redmond Era in Minnesota

Milwaukee

Former Twins: Some teams believe in the rabbit's foot; the Brewers tried a soft hunk of Lamb.

Impact: You've got to get a better former Twin than Mike Lamb if you want to win in the playoffs.

Who knows? The 2008 World Series could be decided by Manuel bringing in Romero to face Ortiz (or Bartlett). Then the Former Twin Effect will become baseball's new craze, and everybody will want a piece of Nick Punto.