The Twins have been in the middle of six division races in the past eight years. The best of those successful seasons came with 94 victories in 2002 and with 96 in 2006.

The lineups were greatly different with those clubs, but the common thread was tremendous work from the relief crew.

There were substantial questions with the bullpen entering 2002, and then tremendous things happened for first-year manager Ron Gardenhire:

Eddie Guardado turned out to be a reliable closer, rather than merely a late-season success in that role in 2001. J.C. Romero and LaTroy Hawkins, failures previously, became an overpowering left-right combination in front of Everyday Eddie.

Johan Santana also was in the bullpen for a few weeks before becoming a starter. Journeyman Tony Fiore was a vulture, collecting 10 victories in 48 appearances. Mike Jackson was a righthanded asset.

The Twins won their first AL Central title by 13 1/2 games. Ask Gardenhire about that bullpen, and he will say, "It didn't make any difference who you pointed to in the bullpen. He was going to do the job."

Joel Koyama — Star Tribune file, Star Tribune
The key to the Twins' bullpen could be unpredictable lefthander Jose Mijares.

Four years later, the Twins were 25-33 in early June and looking dead as Detroit streaked away in the Central. From there, the Twins went 71-33 and passed the Tigers on the last day of the schedule.

The bullpen was as important as any ingredient to that astounding surge. Juan Rincon, Jesse Crain, Pat Neshek and lefthander Dennys Reyes were fabulous in front of closer Joe Nathan.

The Twins have had those two spectacular bullpens and several that were capable in this winning decade. The one losing season (79-83) in 2007 came when Rincon went in the tank, Crain was lost to shoulder surgery and Reyes broke down.

The Twins were able to piece together bullpens to get to 88 victories in 2008 and to 86 in 2009 -- enough to reach a pair of Game 163 playoffs.

The victory standard for Central success could be raised to the low 90s in 2010, with the top of the rotation, the end of the bullpen and the revamped lineup the White Sox have put together in Chicago.

A pieced-together bullpen might not get it done for the Twins, and that looks like the optimum for the collection that will be available Monday night in Anaheim.

The loss of Nathan to elbow surgery has been the focus, but the concern with this bullpen doesn't end with the wail, "Who's the closer?"

The Twins finalized the seven relievers on Wednesday: righthanders Crain, Neshek, Matt Guerrier, Jon Rauch and Clay Condrey, and lefthanders Jose Mijares and Brian Duensing.

There's not a surprise in the group, and thus not a fresh live arm.

Rauch arrived Aug. 28, was an asset in the stretch drive, but he has to grunt to get past 90 miles per hour on a legitimate radar gun. Neshek is back from elbow surgery and relying more than ever on baffling hitters with funk.

Condrey, 34, was let go by Philadelphia and signed by the Twins. This spring, his pitches were the fuel for rockets. The Twins chose not to believe their lyin' eyes and kept him. This is Holy Week, so light a candle for his sinker to appear.

Duensing soon could be starting at Class AAA Rochester, if Ron Mahay gets in shape as a specialist for one important lefty.

That leaves Crain, with his checkered five seasons in Minnesota, and Guerrier, with his workhorse credentials. Next week in California, Crain, Guerrier and/or Rauch figure to take the first shot at holding a lead in the ninth inning.

And here's a tip: No matter which veteran righthander the Gardenhire/Rick Anderson team chooses to close, that pitcher will not be the most important presence in the Twins' bullpen.

That distinction goes to Jose Mijares, the 25-year-old lefthander. His pitches were mediocre in Florida. The Twins can't handle more of that. They need the last month of 2008 and the middle four months of 2009 from Mijares -- they need him to be a relentless, lights-out lefty -- if there's a chance to piece together this bullpen successfully.

If Husky Jose can't get 15 key outs most every week, wave goodbye to the Mighty Whiteys.

Patrick Reusse can be heard noon-4 weekdays on AM-1500 KSTP. • preusse@startribune.com