2011 Minnesota Twins: Yoshi, Pavario, and Big Jim's Quest for 600

[bigblue_dl]

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?"

 

[JF_Gophers]

Re: 2011 Minnesota Twins: Yoshi, Pavario, and Big Jim's Quest for 600

Unless Kubel goes for 30/100 this year, I hope this is his final year with the Twins.

 

[Greyeagle]

Re: 2011 Minnesota Twins: Yoshi, Pavario, and Big Jim's Quest for 600

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?"

Can I ask now?

 

[Bakunin]

Re: 2011 Minnesota Twins: Yoshi, Pavario, and Big Jim's Quest for 600

Can I ask now?

Best player on the **** T-wolves team. Owns the franchise record for most consecutive double-doubles and may break the all-time NBA record as well. Probably the best rebounder in the league and is a solid 3pt shooter.

I blame Bill Simmons for knowing any of this ****.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: 2011 Minnesota Twins: Yoshi, Pavario, and Big Jim's Quest for 600

Any thoughts on a potential Liriano trade? The rumors seem to be that the Yankees are interested in him. I actually would be comfortable with 5 out of 6 of Pavano, Baker, Duensing, Gibson, Slowey and Blackburn right from the start, if Billy Smith can take advantage of the Yankees desperation in the starting pitching department, and get some good return on Liriano.

 

[JF_Gophers]

Re: 2011 Minnesota Twins: Yoshi, Pavario, and Big Jim's Quest for 600

Any thoughts on a potential Liriano trade? The rumors seem to be that the Yankees are interested in him. I actually would be comfortable with 5 out of 6 of Pavano, Baker, Duensing, Gibson, Slowey and Blackburn right from the start, if Billy Smith can take advantage of the Yankees desperation in the starting pitching department, and get some good return on Liriano.

We are talking about the same GM who got jack squat for Santana right?

Yankees won't be desperate unless their pitching stinks for a couple months. Which seems unlikely. They have a pretty good rotation.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: 2011 Minnesota Twins: Yoshi, Pavario, and Big Jim's Quest for 600

We are talking about the same GM who got jack squat for Santana right?

Yankees won't be desperate unless their pitching stinks for a couple months. Which seems unlikely. They have a pretty good rotation.

They have an excellent top 2, after that, I'm not impressed. I don't think anything will happen until June-July, but at that point, if the rotation looks good and Gibson is ready, dump the Franchise and get some prospects, or figure out a way to turn it into a major league caliber short stop.

 

[Bakunin]

Re: 2011 Minnesota Twins: Yoshi, Pavario, and Big Jim's Quest for 600

We are talking about the same GM who got jack squat for Santana right?

Come on, they got an OF who they later traded for a guy they no longer have, some stiffs in the minors, and a backup catcher. The trade was totally worth it.

(You know your trade sucks when you wish you had hung onto the guy and let him walk as a FA in exchange for compensatory picks).

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: 2011 Minnesota Twins: Yoshi, Pavario, and Big Jim's Quest for 600

Come on, they got an OF who they later traded for a guy they no longer have, some stiffs in the minors, and a backup catcher. The trade was totally worth it.

(You know your trade sucks when you wish you had hung onto the guy and let him walk as a FA in exchange for compensatory picks).

Deolis Guerra is the only hope left for that trade. I'm not holding my breath.

What was it that they suposedly asked Boston for? They were offered either Ellsbury and a lower level pitching prospect or Lester and Coco Crisp, but they insisted on getting Ellsbury and Lester. Stupid.

 

[MinnFan]

Re: 2011 Minnesota Twins: Yoshi, Pavario, and Big Jim's Quest for 600

Can anyone offer ideas on how to watch/listen to games on the internet this season (ideally for free). Unfortunately DishNetwork doesn't have the mlb package.

 

[Handyman]

Re: 2011 Minnesota Twins: Yoshi, Pavario, and Big Jim's Quest for 600

MLB has Gametracker which is decent. (ESPN has one too) listening I dont know though I would assume KSTP has a stream. (ESPN would want them too)

As for the Twins...any rotation that has Moonshot and Slowey in it regularly scares me when the season gets serious. Come the playoffs if these guys need to start you might as well hand the Yankees 3 runs. And with a questionable bullpen (at the moment, hopefully I am just underestimating them) yikes! They need more than just Pavano putting up monster innings.

The Twins will win the division because no one else will, but this team is not better than last years and that team flamed out horrendously.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: 2011 Minnesota Twins: Yoshi, Pavario, and Big Jim's Quest for 600

Can anyone offer ideas on how to watch/listen to games on the internet this season (ideally for free). Unfortunately DishNetwork doesn't have the mlb package.

MLB.com Gameday Audio is $19.99 for the season. You can listen to the radio broadcast online or with mobile devices (I think). I've used it in the past to listen to the brewers while in minnesota. This year I think I'm gonna do mlb.tv. We shall see.

 

[JF_Gophers]

Re: 2011 Minnesota Twins: Yoshi, Pavario, and Big Jim's Quest for 600

MLB.com Gameday Audio is $19.99 for the season. You can listen to the radio broadcast online or with mobile devices (I think). I've used it in the past to listen to the brewers while in minnesota. This year I think I'm gonna do mlb.tv. We shall see.

Mobile Audio is only $15 a year.

The Twins will win the division because no one else will, but this team is not better than last years and that team flamed out horrendously.

The White Sox and Tigers could win the division just as easily as the Twins could. Actually the White Sox look good on paper with the moves they have made. Of course you never know how that will work out in reality.

 

[Bakunin]

Re: 2011 Minnesota Twins: Yoshi, Pavario, and Big Jim's Quest for 600

They were offered either Ellsbury and a lower level pitching prospect or Lester and Coco Crisp, but they insisted on getting Ellsbury and Lester. Stupid.

Either of those trades the Red Sox offered would've been preferable to the **** they got.

 

[Biddco]

Re: 2011 Minnesota Twins: Yoshi, Pavario, and Big Jim's Quest for 600

Who will win the division is less clear than last year. Are the Twins the favorite as of now? Probably

Sure our bullpen needs some depth but I feel like that could be fixed easier than other positions.

I am still down on this team. Whats the point of getting all excited when I know they will become Gardenhired?

 

[ajoyce02]

Re: 2011 Minnesota Twins: Yoshi, Pavario, and Big Jim's Quest for 600

Best player on the **** T-wolves team. Owns the franchise record for most consecutive double-doubles and may break the all-time NBA record as well. Probably the best rebounder in the league and is a solid 3pt shooter.

I blame Bill Simmons for knowing any of this ****.

If it weren't for the rest of the team being so bad, I'd actually be enjoying following his season this year.

BTW, this should be titled "Your 2011 Minnesota Twins..."

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: 2011 Minnesota Twins: Yoshi, Pavario, and Big Jim's Quest for 600

if it weren't for the rest of the team being so bad, i'd actually be enjoying following his season this year.

Btw, this should be titled "baseball fans: Your 2011 minnesota twins..."

fyp.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: 2011 Minnesota Twins: Yoshi, Pavario, and Big Jim's Quest for 600

KFAN just reported that the Yankees offered Brett Gardner, a player to be named later, draft picks, and money for Liriano. Twins turned them down. After word got out that they were looking at offers for Liriano, 10 other MLB teams called with offers. This was apparently reported by Dark Star.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: 2011 Minnesota Twins: Yoshi, Pavario, and Big Jim's Quest for 600

KFAN just reported that the Yankees offered Brett Gardner, a player to be named later, draft picks, and money for Liriano. Twins turned them down. After word got out that they were looking at offers for Liriano, 10 other MLB teams called with offers. This was apparently reported by Dark Star.

Well the report can't be true since baseball teams can't trade draft picks.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: 2011 Minnesota Twins: Yoshi, Pavario, and Big Jim's Quest for 600

Well the report can't be true since baseball teams can't trade draft picks.

Didn't know that. They played it off as being true, it didn't seem like a bit. Maybe it was, but I can't believe that they'd say that they got the info from Dark Star if they completely made it up. Something maybe was lost in translation.

edit: They just reported the exact same thing again, and Rosen is discussing it seriously. I'm guessing the story is true, with the bit about draft picks being some sort of miscommunication.