Post by #1CoyoteFan (Admin) on Apr 1, 2011 1:12:40 GMT -6
So it's time for the Twins to start the season today.
Morneau was cleared to play in regular season games, and that's the biggest question mark. How will he bounce back from his concussion and is he ready to go? He was playing at an MVP level last year before the concussion. Plus he is at high risk for another one, which I bet would end his career.
Mauer is behind the plate and maybe he will have a bit more power, but last year might be the norm. He is still a very good batter though.
Nishy takes over at second, the Japanese import so I am already shortening his name. He had a great spring and batted very well in Japan last year. Right now I am saying .280 average, and he will provide great defense. I really like this signing so far.
Casilla at shortstop could be a wild ride. He will hit low in the lineup and I am hoping for a .260 average, but the main thing for him is that I am hoping his defense will be above average. He has the ability for that, so hopefully he is up to snuff then.
I am a big fan of Valencia at third base. While he might not be power source that you want at the hot corner, he has a pretty good average, makes good contact and could consistently be on base. Plus he has good defense as well.
In the outfield, Denard Span needs to get that drive back. He was awful defensive. I have seen eighth graders take better routes to the ball. Plus offensively, he reverted back to what made him an afterthought in the minors after a while. He needs to be pushed I think and with Revere and Hicks in the minors, I think he will be, hopefully.
Speaking of outfield defense, Delmon Young is absolutely horrible, but at least he has a stronger arm than Span. His bat finally came alive last year, and I think that's the tops of what we will see out of Young. But I will still take that. Just wish he wasn't such a liability in the field.
Cuddyer is back in right field and he is starting to regress big time. His arm strength is going on him and so is his plate presence. I think he is at the end of the rope, so expect to see Kubel out in right more, even though he isn't the greatest fielder. Kubel has some good pop in his bat, but he has always been inconsistent, so it will be interesting to see what he does this year. He has always kind of been that platoon guy.
Thome as a DH as well, well I don't know what to expect out of him. He really wants that milestone, so he is motivated, but I think he has lost bat speed from last year, and there was always the question with how much he has left.
Tolbert is someone that is just a backup and hopefully won't see much time as a backup infielder. Butera is a defense only, no offense backup catcher. Jason Repko is decent offensively and provides a great glove as a backup outfielder.
In terms of pitching, I think Pavano is what he showed last year and I am expecting the same this year. He is a crafty veteran who knows how to induce ground balls. He is starting to remind me a bit of Radke. Liriano looks to be hitting stud form and he is pitching for a big contract, so I expect a lot of him this year. Baker is Baker and he is inconsistent. Blackburn will hopefully be out of the rotation by the end of the month because I do not trust him. Yes, he had a great spring, but he also had an awful year that he blamed on his injuries. Well can't the same be said about Slowey then, who was highly regarded too. I like Duensing in the rotation and I think his ERA will climb this year, but I think he is a good fifth starter.
Slowey is in the pen and Kyle Gibson is in the minors. Both are pretty good options if Blackburn or Baker falters.
In the pen, I don't know if Nathan can ever regain his form again and I don't know how long he will last as the closer. It's a good thing Capps is around and even though he isn't lights out, he is definitely a good option. Jose Mijares is a guy that i never really trust, but he leads a bullpen that no longer has Guerrier or Crain, who both were shaky at times last year.
Glen Perkins is back with his last chance, and it seemed he did well in a bullpen role in the minors. I definitely like Manship and think he can play a vital role in the bullpen. He kind of reminds me of Matt Guerrier. Dusty Hughes....well hopefully Scott Diamond is ready soon, or Jim Hoey because I don't trust Hughes at all.
I think the Twins have a good shot to win the division if the pitching is well rounded enough and the hitting is consistent. Granted, that's a duh, but for the Twins it works. You never know what to think of them.
Of course the White Sox and the Tigers will give it a run, but the pitching is suspect with them too.
Morneau was cleared to play in regular season games, and that's the biggest question mark. How will he bounce back from his concussion and is he ready to go? He was playing at an MVP level last year before the concussion. Plus he is at high risk for another one, which I bet would end his career.
Mauer is behind the plate and maybe he will have a bit more power, but last year might be the norm. He is still a very good batter though.
Nishy takes over at second, the Japanese import so I am already shortening his name. He had a great spring and batted very well in Japan last year. Right now I am saying .280 average, and he will provide great defense. I really like this signing so far.
Casilla at shortstop could be a wild ride. He will hit low in the lineup and I am hoping for a .260 average, but the main thing for him is that I am hoping his defense will be above average. He has the ability for that, so hopefully he is up to snuff then.
I am a big fan of Valencia at third base. While he might not be power source that you want at the hot corner, he has a pretty good average, makes good contact and could consistently be on base. Plus he has good defense as well.
In the outfield, Denard Span needs to get that drive back. He was awful defensive. I have seen eighth graders take better routes to the ball. Plus offensively, he reverted back to what made him an afterthought in the minors after a while. He needs to be pushed I think and with Revere and Hicks in the minors, I think he will be, hopefully.
Speaking of outfield defense, Delmon Young is absolutely horrible, but at least he has a stronger arm than Span. His bat finally came alive last year, and I think that's the tops of what we will see out of Young. But I will still take that. Just wish he wasn't such a liability in the field.
Cuddyer is back in right field and he is starting to regress big time. His arm strength is going on him and so is his plate presence. I think he is at the end of the rope, so expect to see Kubel out in right more, even though he isn't the greatest fielder. Kubel has some good pop in his bat, but he has always been inconsistent, so it will be interesting to see what he does this year. He has always kind of been that platoon guy.
Thome as a DH as well, well I don't know what to expect out of him. He really wants that milestone, so he is motivated, but I think he has lost bat speed from last year, and there was always the question with how much he has left.
Tolbert is someone that is just a backup and hopefully won't see much time as a backup infielder. Butera is a defense only, no offense backup catcher. Jason Repko is decent offensively and provides a great glove as a backup outfielder.
In terms of pitching, I think Pavano is what he showed last year and I am expecting the same this year. He is a crafty veteran who knows how to induce ground balls. He is starting to remind me a bit of Radke. Liriano looks to be hitting stud form and he is pitching for a big contract, so I expect a lot of him this year. Baker is Baker and he is inconsistent. Blackburn will hopefully be out of the rotation by the end of the month because I do not trust him. Yes, he had a great spring, but he also had an awful year that he blamed on his injuries. Well can't the same be said about Slowey then, who was highly regarded too. I like Duensing in the rotation and I think his ERA will climb this year, but I think he is a good fifth starter.
Slowey is in the pen and Kyle Gibson is in the minors. Both are pretty good options if Blackburn or Baker falters.
In the pen, I don't know if Nathan can ever regain his form again and I don't know how long he will last as the closer. It's a good thing Capps is around and even though he isn't lights out, he is definitely a good option. Jose Mijares is a guy that i never really trust, but he leads a bullpen that no longer has Guerrier or Crain, who both were shaky at times last year.
Glen Perkins is back with his last chance, and it seemed he did well in a bullpen role in the minors. I definitely like Manship and think he can play a vital role in the bullpen. He kind of reminds me of Matt Guerrier. Dusty Hughes....well hopefully Scott Diamond is ready soon, or Jim Hoey because I don't trust Hughes at all.
I think the Twins have a good shot to win the division if the pitching is well rounded enough and the hitting is consistent. Granted, that's a duh, but for the Twins it works. You never know what to think of them.
Of course the White Sox and the Tigers will give it a run, but the pitching is suspect with them too.
