I think I’m finally ready to write about Torii Hunter’s departure. It’s been a few days and the news has sunk in as much as it’s going to, until I see him in that Angels uniform. Here’s how the past few days, well, months, really, have gone for me as a Twins fan:

Denial: Coming into this season, the big story was Torii’s impending free agency and if the Twins were going to ante up and sign him again. For the most part, I ignored this talk, since we were talking about an event that wouldn’t take place for months. But I was also in denial, because past years have shown me that no player is safe from the wrath of the “small market syndrome.”

Symptoms of this disease include the inability to keep players in the peak of their career, taking cheap gambles on older players with something to prove, a constant wave of “fresh” talent from the minors and the mantra “We’re building for the future.”

As the season wore on, it was clear we weren’t headed to the playoff, so Torii Talk took center stage. I still was in denial, thinking the Twins would pull something out at the last minute to keep him. I mean, Torii IS the face of the Twins, as much as the team wished Joe Mauer really was. I just thought they would realize what a huge commodity he is to the fans and they would take that extra step to try and sign him. Now, I believe the Angels are overpaying for him, no doubt, but that 3-year, 45-million deal the Twins offered was a bit of a slight. After all he has done for the organization, that’s the only offer he gets? I’d be pissed off too. Which leads me to the next stage…

Anger: There were a few weeks there right around the end of the season, where I was so angry to be a Twins fan. I mean, they keep talking about the “future” and how they are building for it, but how long have fans heard this? When is the future now? This season we had the reigning batting champion, MVP and Cy Young winners. And we finished below .500?

Bargaining:

Now, this stage kind of melded with Anger. I started pleading (in my mind) with the Twins front office. It went like this: “Please sign Torii. Just think. WIth Torii, Johan, Justin and Joe, plus with Liriano coming back, this year could really be our year!! C’mon, when are we really going to just gun for that championship? Carl, just ante up, pay Torii, and let’s just go for broke this year. It’ll all be worth it when we’re holding that trophy next October.”

Well, needless to day, they didn’t listen to me. Instead, they signed Craig Monroe and let Torii go. In other words, it’s been like every other offseason in Twins history.

Depression:

This stage hit on Thanksgiving. Well, it first started when all those White Sox rumors were circulating. I live in Illinois right now, so I was surrounded by people super-excited at the possibility of Hunter being their center fielder. That was depressing. I couldn’t even process the image of Hunter in a White Sox uniform, of all teams.

Then, Thanksgiving morning, I pull up ESPN.com and there it is. Torii Hunter is going to LA. I spent the rest of the day in a bit of a stupor, trying to absorb the news and realizing that being a Twins fan really sucks.

Acceptance:

I’m still trying to get through this stage. I keep trying to say “It’s going to be okay” but it’s hard to really believe that when Torii was such a huge part of the team for so long. This team will have no personality or real leader this year. Not to mention, we will never be on Web Gems anymore, which was one of the small pleasures I had in life.

I know this is probably the best thing for Torii, just like it was the best thing for KG to go to Boston. But it still hurts to let people who have grown up and matured here and see them reap the rewards elsewhere. I feel like the girlfriend who has put in time and effort on a guy, just to see him propose to the next girl who comes along.

Now, I realize he is closer to the end of his career than to the beginning, and that 5 years is probably 1 year too long, but Torii Hunter is a great player who brought so much more to the team than spectacular catches and .287 career batting average. I’d take that BA any day when it comes with an outgoing, motivating leader who can fire up his team with a speech or a smile.

Good luck in Anaheim, Torii.

I’m sure I’ll have to go through all these phases again when the Angels open up at the Metrodome March 31st. (Seriously. Of all teams to have a Home Opener against, it has to be the Angels??? Is that not proof the universe has the sickest sense of humor around?)