The Twins coming into the 2013 will be picked to most likely finish 4th or 5th in the AL Central this season.. Not something most Twins fans don't like to hear.. Most Twins fans are wishing we could just fast forward to the 2015 season, where things will be much better for Twins fan.. But as for now Twins fans will just hope the Twins won't finish with 90 loses again for the third straight season.
As the Twins Open up the 2013 season tomorrow.. I'm going to give you my Predictions for the Twins this season and a few players to keep your eyes on.
Here is that the Lineup hopefully to be used a lot this season.
1, Hicks : Will be making his Major League debut tomorrow. Hicks was the number one candidate to take over Center field for the Twins after the Twins traded away Span and Revere. Hicks will be a bright spot for the Twins this year and for many to come .
2. Mauer : Finally Joe Mauer will be hitter where he should of been since he has come into the Major League. He is a prefect fit for the 2 hole. Mauer gets on base like its his job.. and he makes contact so well.
3. Willinghan : Will now be moved up a slot to the 3 hole this year. He was one of the few Twins last year who made Target Field look tiny.. as he mashed plenty of homeruns deep into the sky. He put up great numbers last year, 35 homeruns and 110 RBI'S. This year he will have Mauer and Morneau behind him.. will he see as many good pitches?
4. Morneau : It seemed like Morneau was seeing the ball very well in Spring training and also at the WBC.. Actually he was tearing the cover off the ball during Spring Training.. If Morneau is back fully healthy the Twins could surprise a few people.. If Morneau is healthy like he was when he won the MVP.. the Twins might finish close to .500
5. Doumit : Ryan Doumit has a good first season with the Twins last year. He will mostly be the DH this year and will only catch when Mauer needs a day off from behind the plate. Doumit just needs to do what he did last year, and that was to provided some pop from the right and left side of the plate.
6.Plouffe : This is the make it or break it year for Plouffe. He showed us what he could do last June when she smacked 11 homeruns and 21 RBI's in just the month of June. Plouffe has some raw power and when he connects the ball goes far! But he needs to show he can do it everyday and not just in streaks.
7. Parmelee : Your starting Right Fielder this year. Along with Plouffe this is also a make it or break it season for Parmelee. He needs to show the Twins he belongs in the Major. He has some power can provided some pop along with Morneau, Willy and Plouffe. Parmelee will see sometime at 1stbase this year too.
8. Dozier : Just needs to hit around .250 to .270. He is moving over to 2ndbase this season and shown in Spring he is more comfortable over at 2nd then he was at SS last season. Dozier just needs to put his rookie season behind him, and prove to himself he belongs.
9. Florimon : Is a slick fielding SS and can cover some ground and will be provided some nice defensive plays for the Twins this season. The big question is can his bat keep him in the everyday lineup. If he can he will be playing SS for the Twins for the near future.
Rotation
1. Worley - Punched in as the number 1 starter by default. But is coming off surgery. He won the ROY just 2 season again for the Phillies. Worley will be counted on to hold the rotation together .
2. Kevin Correia - He was brought over in the off season signing a 2 year deal. To be honest with you this could blow up just like the Jason Maquis signing did last off season. Correia had a 4.50 ERA over in the National League.. yes in the National League.. Hopefully he can give the Twins chances to win when he is on the mound.
3. Mike Pelfrey - He was also signed during the off season.. Also coming off Tommy John surgery but seems to be doing ok on coming back from it. He could become the Twins best starters if he is healthy. Hopefully he will be bale to pitch the whole season. Another shaky signing by the Twins.
4. Cloe De Vries - He was the best pitcher in Spring Training and to be honest if he didn't leave his last start after three innings he could of been penciled in as the Opening Day starter for the Twins. His Spring Training ERA was 0.53 the lowest on the pitching staff. He pitched 17 innings only allowing 4 hits and 2 Earned Runs over those 17 innings. He could become the number 2 starter during the season, if he can keep it up.
5. Liam Hendricks- This will be Hendricks last shot to try and make it as a Major League starter. He has been giving starts over the last couple seasons, but hasn't shown he can be a Major League pitcher right now. He dominates down in AAA. Hendricks needs to learn how to trust his stuff and pitch with confidence in the Major Leagues.
Bullpen
Duensing - Will mostly be used a long relief type of guy this year. Maybe a spot start here and there if needed.
Fien- Will also be used a long relief or middle relief pitcher this year. Fien pitched well out of the bullpen for the Twins last season.
Pressly- Is a Rule 5 guy. Meaning he has to stay on the Major League roster all season or sent back to the Red Sox. Pressly was the best relfier for the Twins during Spring Traning. He has gone back and forth as a starers and relief pitcher last year as a Red Sox, but will be used a just a Relief pitcher this year with the Twins.
Roenicke- Was signed during the off season. Pitched with the Rockies last year. He really only had 2 bad outings during the spring. He did show he does have some good stuff.. but got hit around a lot.
Robertson- Will be the third lefty in the Twins pen and he will mostly be used late in the game against left handed hitters. He didn't have that great of spring so hopefully he can come around during the season.
Burton- He will be used mostly in the 8th inning to set up the 9th inning for Perkins. He pitched very well last year for the Twins in this spot. His spring wasn't that great but wasn't to bad either. Hopefully he can show he can be a dominate 8th inning guy for the Twins.
Perkins- He is your closer. He closed for part of the year last year. Shown he can be very nasty and can get a lot of strikeouts. Also has found his spot for the Twins. Hopefully he will get plenty of saves chances this season.
there is my look at the 2013 Twins. This season will really be all on the pitchers if the Twins can make a run or not. I will guess the Twins will win 72 games.. which would make then finish 72-90.. 6 games better then last year... but still not where Twins fans want.
Who knows maybe the Twins will be the O's or the A's of this season.. and suprise all of us with a season to remmeber.... I said may
As the Twins Open up the 2013 season tomorrow.. I'm going to give you my Predictions for the Twins this season and a few players to keep your eyes on.
Here is that the Lineup hopefully to be used a lot this season.
1, Hicks : Will be making his Major League debut tomorrow. Hicks was the number one candidate to take over Center field for the Twins after the Twins traded away Span and Revere. Hicks will be a bright spot for the Twins this year and for many to come .
2. Mauer : Finally Joe Mauer will be hitter where he should of been since he has come into the Major League. He is a prefect fit for the 2 hole. Mauer gets on base like its his job.. and he makes contact so well.
3. Willinghan : Will now be moved up a slot to the 3 hole this year. He was one of the few Twins last year who made Target Field look tiny.. as he mashed plenty of homeruns deep into the sky. He put up great numbers last year, 35 homeruns and 110 RBI'S. This year he will have Mauer and Morneau behind him.. will he see as many good pitches?
4. Morneau : It seemed like Morneau was seeing the ball very well in Spring training and also at the WBC.. Actually he was tearing the cover off the ball during Spring Training.. If Morneau is back fully healthy the Twins could surprise a few people.. If Morneau is healthy like he was when he won the MVP.. the Twins might finish close to .500
5. Doumit : Ryan Doumit has a good first season with the Twins last year. He will mostly be the DH this year and will only catch when Mauer needs a day off from behind the plate. Doumit just needs to do what he did last year, and that was to provided some pop from the right and left side of the plate.
6.Plouffe : This is the make it or break it year for Plouffe. He showed us what he could do last June when she smacked 11 homeruns and 21 RBI's in just the month of June. Plouffe has some raw power and when he connects the ball goes far! But he needs to show he can do it everyday and not just in streaks.
7. Parmelee : Your starting Right Fielder this year. Along with Plouffe this is also a make it or break it season for Parmelee. He needs to show the Twins he belongs in the Major. He has some power can provided some pop along with Morneau, Willy and Plouffe. Parmelee will see sometime at 1stbase this year too.
8. Dozier : Just needs to hit around .250 to .270. He is moving over to 2ndbase this season and shown in Spring he is more comfortable over at 2nd then he was at SS last season. Dozier just needs to put his rookie season behind him, and prove to himself he belongs.
9. Florimon : Is a slick fielding SS and can cover some ground and will be provided some nice defensive plays for the Twins this season. The big question is can his bat keep him in the everyday lineup. If he can he will be playing SS for the Twins for the near future.
Rotation
1. Worley - Punched in as the number 1 starter by default. But is coming off surgery. He won the ROY just 2 season again for the Phillies. Worley will be counted on to hold the rotation together .
2. Kevin Correia - He was brought over in the off season signing a 2 year deal. To be honest with you this could blow up just like the Jason Maquis signing did last off season. Correia had a 4.50 ERA over in the National League.. yes in the National League.. Hopefully he can give the Twins chances to win when he is on the mound.
3. Mike Pelfrey - He was also signed during the off season.. Also coming off Tommy John surgery but seems to be doing ok on coming back from it. He could become the Twins best starters if he is healthy. Hopefully he will be bale to pitch the whole season. Another shaky signing by the Twins.
4. Cloe De Vries - He was the best pitcher in Spring Training and to be honest if he didn't leave his last start after three innings he could of been penciled in as the Opening Day starter for the Twins. His Spring Training ERA was 0.53 the lowest on the pitching staff. He pitched 17 innings only allowing 4 hits and 2 Earned Runs over those 17 innings. He could become the number 2 starter during the season, if he can keep it up.
5. Liam Hendricks- This will be Hendricks last shot to try and make it as a Major League starter. He has been giving starts over the last couple seasons, but hasn't shown he can be a Major League pitcher right now. He dominates down in AAA. Hendricks needs to learn how to trust his stuff and pitch with confidence in the Major Leagues.
Bullpen
Duensing - Will mostly be used a long relief type of guy this year. Maybe a spot start here and there if needed.
Fien- Will also be used a long relief or middle relief pitcher this year. Fien pitched well out of the bullpen for the Twins last season.
Pressly- Is a Rule 5 guy. Meaning he has to stay on the Major League roster all season or sent back to the Red Sox. Pressly was the best relfier for the Twins during Spring Traning. He has gone back and forth as a starers and relief pitcher last year as a Red Sox, but will be used a just a Relief pitcher this year with the Twins.
Roenicke- Was signed during the off season. Pitched with the Rockies last year. He really only had 2 bad outings during the spring. He did show he does have some good stuff.. but got hit around a lot.
Robertson- Will be the third lefty in the Twins pen and he will mostly be used late in the game against left handed hitters. He didn't have that great of spring so hopefully he can come around during the season.
Burton- He will be used mostly in the 8th inning to set up the 9th inning for Perkins. He pitched very well last year for the Twins in this spot. His spring wasn't that great but wasn't to bad either. Hopefully he can show he can be a dominate 8th inning guy for the Twins.
Perkins- He is your closer. He closed for part of the year last year. Shown he can be very nasty and can get a lot of strikeouts. Also has found his spot for the Twins. Hopefully he will get plenty of saves chances this season.
there is my look at the 2013 Twins. This season will really be all on the pitchers if the Twins can make a run or not. I will guess the Twins will win 72 games.. which would make then finish 72-90.. 6 games better then last year... but still not where Twins fans want.
Who knows maybe the Twins will be the O's or the A's of this season.. and suprise all of us with a season to remmeber.... I said may