A week from today is the Twins season opener against the White Sox in Chicago... A week from today could also be the start of a LONG season for Twins fans.. A week from today could be a start of a LONG LONG season for Twins fans... Time will only tell..
I'm just go to make this blog sweet and short... A quick look ahead of the Twins 2014 season....
Here is my take on what I think the Twins Opening Day Line will look like in a week in Chicago.
Dozier- Second Base.. Needs to have a carbon copy of the season he had last season. He was the Twins best player last year. It would be nice if he could hit 20 homeruns again. He play in the field was stellar.
Suzuki- Catcher- Hopefully he can bounce back from a slow season last year he had with the Nats and A's. It will be intersting to see if playing in Traget Filed helps his numbers, after playing last season in Okaland in the BIG stadium there. It would be nice to see him hit around .260.-.270ish with like 10 or 12 homeruns.
Mauer- First Base - Hopefully moving to 1st Mauer can play close to a 155.. and maybe his numbers improve. It will be very interesting to see how moving to First base, could really help Mauer be fresher in the later half of the season. It would be nice if he could improve his power numbers, this season. I look for him to contend for another batting title.. and be playing in the ASG in July.
Willingham- Left Field - Needs to HAVE a much better season then last season if the Twins even want to be .500. Willingham really needs to find his 2012 self again this season. Last season was one he would really like to forget. I believe Willy will be on a very short leash this year. If he can't cut it don't be surpise if you see someone else in LF after the break or before.
Kubel- DH - Really shouldn't be on the opening day roster.. but he will be.. needs to be the Kubel of 2010 or 2011.. Kubel just needs to prove he can still play... if not he will be gone by June or so.
Arcia- Right Field - This will be his first FULL season in the Majors only 22.. Hoping for 25-30 homeruns. Arcia proved he can hit.. but the question is can he hit everyday... and not go into LONG slumps like he did last year.
Plouffe- Third Base - Needs to have a much better season then he did last season at the plate.. Cut down on errors. To be honest.. he is VERY lucky that Sano it out for the year.. Because there really isn't anyone who is close to taking playing time from Plouffe.. But it would be nice to see him figure it out and be a power source for the Twins, this summer.. He defense also needs to get a lot better..
Hicks- Center Field - We will all be watching to see if he has figured it out or if he will struggle early on again. Hicks really stuggled last season, when he was named the starter.. He showed us in little sprites that he can play at the Major League level. If he can hit everyday and play solid defense it's his job for a long time... well Until Buxton is in the Major Leagues.
Florimon- Shortstop - Pedro needs to hit a lot better then he did last season. He also needs to cut down on errors as well.
Bench
Escobar- He will have to prove that he can hit more consistent level then he did last year.. Utility guy.. major utility guy.. I will bet he plays 4 different
Presely- If Hicks struggles he will be the everyday Center Fielder and likely would slide into the lead off spot. I could see Presely as a late inning defesnvie replace ment for either Willy or Kubel late in games, or a pinch runner for either of those two.
Colabello - Can DH, play the corner outfield spots and a little first base. Could be the power bat off the bench.
Pinto - Needs at bats up here or is a waste of a roster spot.. Hopefully he catches 2 or 3 times a week and DH. He proved last year he can hit the ball hard and far.. But it will be interesting to see how the Twins fit his bat into the lineup
Rotation
Nolasco - Is considered the Twins ace.. and will need to prove he can be the best pitcher on the team. 12-15 wins
Correia - He had a pretty decent first year with the Twins last year.. He was the most consistent starter last year
Hughes- He had a VERY bad season last year for the Yankees.. Hoping to bounce back. Pitches in pitcher friendly park now, should help him.. Looking for 10-15 wins for him this year
Pelfrey - Needs to have a heck of year after the Twins gave him 11.5 million dollars this off season.. He needs to pick up his pace a lot between pitches.. Hope it's true that your better your 2nd year after having TJ.
Gibson - At times last year for the Redwings it looked like nobody could touch him.. but then struggled when he was called up for the Twins.. I'm very intrigued by him making the rotation
Bullpen
Swarzak- He will be counted on to be the long man again. He was very solid out of this position last year for the Twins.. Don't be surprise if he makes a spot start here and there either.. but will be the long man overall.
Fien- Most likely be the bridge to Burton and Perkins.
Duensing- Once again he will be counted on to be the left hand specialist for the Twins.. He will share the duties with Thielbar this season. Duensing needs to prove again that he can get left handed hits out.. he struggled with this a lot last season.
Thielbar- He like Duensing will be the Twins lefty's in the pen. He started his career last season with 20 scoreless innings.. a record for Twins rookies. Hope he can be someone the Twins can count on in a tough spot against power lefty's late in games.
Deduno- He doesn't know where the ball is going half the time and neither does anyone else.. I'm truly not sure how he fits into the pen.. but maybe as a long relief as well as Swarzak. He does have the ability to strike people out.. but at the same time has the ability to walk 3 guys in a row..
Burton - The bridge to Perk. It would be nice to see the Burton of 2012 rather then last years Burton as he struggled a lot more last season. Hopefully he can be the 8th inning man all season long.. If not you may see Tonkin up in the Majors.
Perkins- The proven closer.. A nasty lefty.. He could be the Twins best pitcher.. yet only pitches 1 inning.. He will be in the ASG come July.
The Twins will go as far as their bats and runs carry them this season. The rotation should be better then last season by a far, but still will need starters to go 7 innings to not KILL the bullpen by June again. The biggest question of the season for most fans.. myself included is what will the offense do this season. The Twins scored the less amount of runs in team history last season... they could easily set a new record this season... I hope the Twins can finish around .500 but that could be tough to do if the Twins do not score runs... or do not score enough runs.. I don't see a lot of wins for the Twins this season if they only score 1 or 2 runs...
My prediction for the Twins.... I will go with 75 wins.... which would put the Twins at 75-86.. most likely finishing last again...
Go Twins... Hope my prediction is WRONG..
I'm just go to make this blog sweet and short... A quick look ahead of the Twins 2014 season....
Here is my take on what I think the Twins Opening Day Line will look like in a week in Chicago.
Dozier- Second Base.. Needs to have a carbon copy of the season he had last season. He was the Twins best player last year. It would be nice if he could hit 20 homeruns again. He play in the field was stellar.
Suzuki- Catcher- Hopefully he can bounce back from a slow season last year he had with the Nats and A's. It will be intersting to see if playing in Traget Filed helps his numbers, after playing last season in Okaland in the BIG stadium there. It would be nice to see him hit around .260.-.270ish with like 10 or 12 homeruns.
Mauer- First Base - Hopefully moving to 1st Mauer can play close to a 155.. and maybe his numbers improve. It will be very interesting to see how moving to First base, could really help Mauer be fresher in the later half of the season. It would be nice if he could improve his power numbers, this season. I look for him to contend for another batting title.. and be playing in the ASG in July.
Willingham- Left Field - Needs to HAVE a much better season then last season if the Twins even want to be .500. Willingham really needs to find his 2012 self again this season. Last season was one he would really like to forget. I believe Willy will be on a very short leash this year. If he can't cut it don't be surpise if you see someone else in LF after the break or before.
Kubel- DH - Really shouldn't be on the opening day roster.. but he will be.. needs to be the Kubel of 2010 or 2011.. Kubel just needs to prove he can still play... if not he will be gone by June or so.
Arcia- Right Field - This will be his first FULL season in the Majors only 22.. Hoping for 25-30 homeruns. Arcia proved he can hit.. but the question is can he hit everyday... and not go into LONG slumps like he did last year.
Plouffe- Third Base - Needs to have a much better season then he did last season at the plate.. Cut down on errors. To be honest.. he is VERY lucky that Sano it out for the year.. Because there really isn't anyone who is close to taking playing time from Plouffe.. But it would be nice to see him figure it out and be a power source for the Twins, this summer.. He defense also needs to get a lot better..
Hicks- Center Field - We will all be watching to see if he has figured it out or if he will struggle early on again. Hicks really stuggled last season, when he was named the starter.. He showed us in little sprites that he can play at the Major League level. If he can hit everyday and play solid defense it's his job for a long time... well Until Buxton is in the Major Leagues.
Florimon- Shortstop - Pedro needs to hit a lot better then he did last season. He also needs to cut down on errors as well.
Bench
Escobar- He will have to prove that he can hit more consistent level then he did last year.. Utility guy.. major utility guy.. I will bet he plays 4 different
Presely- If Hicks struggles he will be the everyday Center Fielder and likely would slide into the lead off spot. I could see Presely as a late inning defesnvie replace ment for either Willy or Kubel late in games, or a pinch runner for either of those two.
Colabello - Can DH, play the corner outfield spots and a little first base. Could be the power bat off the bench.
Pinto - Needs at bats up here or is a waste of a roster spot.. Hopefully he catches 2 or 3 times a week and DH. He proved last year he can hit the ball hard and far.. But it will be interesting to see how the Twins fit his bat into the lineup
Rotation
Nolasco - Is considered the Twins ace.. and will need to prove he can be the best pitcher on the team. 12-15 wins
Correia - He had a pretty decent first year with the Twins last year.. He was the most consistent starter last year
Hughes- He had a VERY bad season last year for the Yankees.. Hoping to bounce back. Pitches in pitcher friendly park now, should help him.. Looking for 10-15 wins for him this year
Pelfrey - Needs to have a heck of year after the Twins gave him 11.5 million dollars this off season.. He needs to pick up his pace a lot between pitches.. Hope it's true that your better your 2nd year after having TJ.
Gibson - At times last year for the Redwings it looked like nobody could touch him.. but then struggled when he was called up for the Twins.. I'm very intrigued by him making the rotation
Bullpen
Swarzak- He will be counted on to be the long man again. He was very solid out of this position last year for the Twins.. Don't be surprise if he makes a spot start here and there either.. but will be the long man overall.
Fien- Most likely be the bridge to Burton and Perkins.
Duensing- Once again he will be counted on to be the left hand specialist for the Twins.. He will share the duties with Thielbar this season. Duensing needs to prove again that he can get left handed hits out.. he struggled with this a lot last season.
Thielbar- He like Duensing will be the Twins lefty's in the pen. He started his career last season with 20 scoreless innings.. a record for Twins rookies. Hope he can be someone the Twins can count on in a tough spot against power lefty's late in games.
Deduno- He doesn't know where the ball is going half the time and neither does anyone else.. I'm truly not sure how he fits into the pen.. but maybe as a long relief as well as Swarzak. He does have the ability to strike people out.. but at the same time has the ability to walk 3 guys in a row..
Burton - The bridge to Perk. It would be nice to see the Burton of 2012 rather then last years Burton as he struggled a lot more last season. Hopefully he can be the 8th inning man all season long.. If not you may see Tonkin up in the Majors.
Perkins- The proven closer.. A nasty lefty.. He could be the Twins best pitcher.. yet only pitches 1 inning.. He will be in the ASG come July.
The Twins will go as far as their bats and runs carry them this season. The rotation should be better then last season by a far, but still will need starters to go 7 innings to not KILL the bullpen by June again. The biggest question of the season for most fans.. myself included is what will the offense do this season. The Twins scored the less amount of runs in team history last season... they could easily set a new record this season... I hope the Twins can finish around .500 but that could be tough to do if the Twins do not score runs... or do not score enough runs.. I don't see a lot of wins for the Twins this season if they only score 1 or 2 runs...
My prediction for the Twins.... I will go with 75 wins.... which would put the Twins at 75-86.. most likely finishing last again...
Go Twins... Hope my prediction is WRONG..