|
It all begins tomorrow, yet another season for our beloved Minnesota Twins. The look will be much different than a year ago. Gone are the faces of the team, Torii Hunter, Johan Santana and Carlos Silva. And in are the new faces that will guide the team well into the future, Delmon Young and Carlos Gomez.
It could be a rocky road this year for the Twins, but with expectations low all-around, it could also be a time to prove critics wrong and make a name for themselves.
Lets take a look at your 2008 Minnesota Twins:
Click 'Read More' for the preview.
Opening Day Lineup:
CF Carlos Gomez
C Joe Mauer
RF Michael Cuddyer
1B Justin Morneau
LF Delmon Young
DH Jason Kubel
3B Mike Lamb
2B Brendan Harris
SS Adam Everett
The lineup is an improvement to the 2007 lineup in my opinion. Yes, Hunter and his near 100 RBI and near 30 HR averages are gone. But the Twins have upgraded or stayed the same at several positions as well.
Gomez will not be an upgrade offensively because he won’t get the same RBI or homerun numbers as Hunter did. His speed is an upgrade and should provide the team with more scoring opportunities if he gets on base. His defense is not a downgrade to the aging Hunter. He can track down nearly anything in range and has a solid arm.
Other upgrades include third base where Mike Lamb will provide more power and a better batting average then the .210 average that Punto posted last season. Leftfield is also an upgrade to the Rondell White, Jason Kubel platoon from last season. Young’s numbers have the chance to make up for Hunter’s loss. The designated hitter spot is also an upgrade to last season especially if Kubel continues his late 2007 streak. The second base swap is nearly a wash, but Harris provides more power. And finally, the lone downgrade is at short. It isn’t a huge loss since Bartlett wasn’t much better in ‘07 and Everett has the chance to save the runs that Bartlett would have scored.
Bench:
Craig Monroe
Nick Punto
Matt Tolbert
Mike Redmond
Craig Monroe, Nick Punto and Matt Tolbert are an upgrade to the Jason Tyner, Luis Rodriguez and Lew Ford bench of 2007. Monroe gives the team a power threat off the bench, Punto provides more than L-Rod did with better defense and nearly the same production at the plate. Lastly, Tolbert is just as good as any of the three and gives the team a decent backup in the infield and a good average hitter.
Opening Day Rotation:
Livan Hernandez
Boof Bonser
Nick Blackburn
Kevin Slowey
Scott Baker
The Opening Day rotation, if all goes well, will change after just about a week and a half of play. Francisco Liriano is expected to join the team and the rotation after he makes two minor league starts. The schedule would currently put him on pace to pitch in the Sunday game of the second Royals series.
Eventual Rotation:
Francisco Liriano
Scott Baker
Livan Hernandez
Boof Bonser
Kevin Slowey or Nick Blackburn
When Liriano returns, the question then becomes, “who stays?” Kevin Slowey was the one to win his job, and Blackburn is the one who is filling in for Liriano while he is out. But Blackburn was moved ahead of Slowey in the rotation, so you have to think that every game will matter and their outings will decide who stays.
Overall, the rotation is much younger that it was in ‘07. Losing a two-time Cy-Young winner will hurt, but the hope is that Liriano can come back somewhere close to his ‘06 run and that the rest of the young guys will step up. Having a veteran in Hernandez should be a boost not only in the clubhouse, but Hernandez should be able to save the bullpen, eating more than 200 innings.
Bullpen:
Joe Nathan
Pat Neshek
Matt Guerrier
Juan Rincon
Jesse Crain
Dennys Reyes
Brian Bass
The bullpen is the major strength of the team if they remain healthy. Nathan is one of the best closers in the game, and the Twins have one of the best setup men as well in Neshek. If Guerrier can repeat his ‘07 success, the ‘pen becomes even better. In addition, if Crain can come back healthy, the Twins will have multiple options for late game jams.
Overall:
The team has very low expectations this season, if you go by what sports publications around the country are saying. With that said, the Twins have a good shot to prove their critics wrong.
Many publications have the Twins finishing last, and just as many have them finishing third. If you can remember, the expectations in 2006 were low as well. Many critics had the Twins finishing fourth. The Twins went on to win the division after a stellar second half to prove many writers wrong.
The predictions don’t matter, it takes a lot more than just talent to win. Other things that must fall into place are few injuries and organization depth. If the Twins can stay healthy this season, there is no reason they shouldn’t at least be respectable.
Copyright 2007. All Rights Reserved.  |
The bats weren't exactly lively this spring. Again, it's spring - - - I still would've rather seen 2nd half 2006 hitting rather than 2nd half 2005 & 2007 hitting. The Twins can't succeed if 3, maybe 4 guys are all that are swinging the bat well.
And given the number of "unestablished" starting pitchers we have, we really, really, really could've done without the flu & visa problems this spring.