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Spring training has started and the roster has been put together. I really like what I see, as long as they can stay healthy, except for the bullpen, which is going to be a struggle.
The lineup should be something like this:
CF Span
2B Nishioka
C Baby Jesus
1B Morneau
LF Young
DH Thome/Kubel
RF Cuddyer
3B Valencia
SS Casilla
I think Blackburn will be the odd man out in the rotation, leaving Pavano, Liriano, Baker, Duensing and Slowey. By the end of June either Slowey or Baker will be replaced by Kyle Gibson coming up from AAA. Depending on the performance of the staff as a whole, I could see Liriano moved at the deadline, since all signs are that he's not in the longterm plans for the team. Maybe move him and get a good shortstop coming back, if Casilla isn't working out. Bullpen is going to be rough, and IMO the success of the bullpen is entirely dependant on 2 players coming back from TJ surgery (Nathan and Neshek) and one that could make Old Country Buffet file for chapter 11 (Mijares). If those 3 can be effective, the pen should work out ok.
Early preseason predictions: the Twins will finish in the mid-90's for wins, winning the division as usual. They will shock the world and make it past the first round, but lose in the ALCS. Weather will be more of a problem in Target Field, year 2, than it was in year 1, but it will still be the place to be on a Friday night, with the same high ticket prices we saw last year. At some point during the season, Kevin Love will throw out a ceremonial first pitch, and 95% of the crowd will be asking the guy next them, "who is that guy?"
The lineup should be something like this:
CF Span
2B Nishioka
C Baby Jesus
1B Morneau
LF Young
DH Thome/Kubel
RF Cuddyer
3B Valencia
SS Casilla
I think Blackburn will be the odd man out in the rotation, leaving Pavano, Liriano, Baker, Duensing and Slowey. By the end of June either Slowey or Baker will be replaced by Kyle Gibson coming up from AAA. Depending on the performance of the staff as a whole, I could see Liriano moved at the deadline, since all signs are that he's not in the longterm plans for the team. Maybe move him and get a good shortstop coming back, if Casilla isn't working out. Bullpen is going to be rough, and IMO the success of the bullpen is entirely dependant on 2 players coming back from TJ surgery (Nathan and Neshek) and one that could make Old Country Buffet file for chapter 11 (Mijares). If those 3 can be effective, the pen should work out ok.
Early preseason predictions: the Twins will finish in the mid-90's for wins, winning the division as usual. They will shock the world and make it past the first round, but lose in the ALCS. Weather will be more of a problem in Target Field, year 2, than it was in year 1, but it will still be the place to be on a Friday night, with the same high ticket prices we saw last year. At some point during the season, Kevin Love will throw out a ceremonial first pitch, and 95% of the crowd will be asking the guy next them, "who is that guy?"
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