Like, really? Twins ahead of the Brewers? How did we let this happen. Did Frankie and I take crazy pills? Yes, we did. But maybe it was because yesterday was Leap Day, and nothing counts on Leap Day. But today is March 1st, and real life has to begin. Real life hit home in Minneapolis/St. Paul last year when their two best players only played a combined 151 games. So which Twins team will show up this year? A healthy one with promise, poise, and power, or the runt with compromised morals and a stupid ponytail?
Up until last year, the Minnesota Twins had put together a remarkably consistent run of success over the last decade. They had won the AL Central six of the past nine seasons. But the reason we never seem to remember these Twins teams? Of their 6 trips to the playoffs since 2002, 5 have been first round exists. And 4 of those to the Yankees.
Last year, it was a different story, high expectations gave way to the injury bug in a terrible way. If the A's, Giants, and Red Sox complained that they were snakebit, it was nothing next to what the Twins went through. Only three players appeared in 100 games. Only 2 players had more than 450 at bats. The Twins used the disabled list 27 times last year and players collectively spent 785 days unable to play. That's a whole lot of injury, and it hurts even more than Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau, who will earn $38 million, or about a third of the team's payroll, were two of the most affected.
We said last year: "As Mauer goes, so go the Twins." He didn't do so hot, neither did the Twins.
So what did they do in the offseason? Well, they lost Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel. Jim Thome retired. That's a lot of pop gone. But the team is trying to build around the hopefully healthy Morneau and Mauer with a youth movement. The M boys still wish they could time travel to 2009 when they combined for 58 home runs and 196 RBIs. They also signed former Oakland Athletic Josh Willingham. His 29 home runs and 98 RBI while playing home games in the pitcher friendly Oakland Coliseum with a very weak lineup could mean the Twins have a fearsome three-four-five combination if they can stay healthy.
The other two outfield spots should be taken by speedster Ben Revere (36 SB, 117 G) and the returning from injury Denard Span (26 SB in 2010). They'll make a nice defensive combination in right and center and hopefully make up for some of the Benny Hill hilarity that is Willingham in left. Alexi Casilla (.260) and Jamey Carroll (.290) will handle the middle of the infield, though Tsuyoshi Nishioka, if healthy, will battle for playing time.
Danny Valencia has become a mainstay at third base. His 15 home runs and seeming durability give the twins stability for at least one position this year. Finally, as long as the Willinghammer doesn't make a fool of himself in the outfield, the DH duties will be handled by youngster Trevor Plouffe, who hit 8 home runs in limited time last year. Former Pittsburgh Pirate Ryan Doumit may also make some appearances in that DH spot, or spell Mauer or Morneau should any trouble befall them.
In a rarity in today's baseball landscape, the Twins will return their entire starting rotation from last year. This is great if you believe in team unity. This is bad if you like starting pitchers who earn more wins than losses. Only one of those exists out of these five gentlemen. The ace will again be Carl Pavano (9-13, 4.30). He'll be followed by the once brilliant Francisco Liriano (9-10, 5.09). At the back end will be Scott Baker (8-6, 3.14), Nick Blackburn (7-10, 4.49), and Brian Duensing (9-14, 5.23). It's a solid rotation, and all would be the number 3 or 4 starter on most other teams. However, no one jumps out as someone who can be a stopper or be an ace. Baker had the best season last year, but, like the rest of the team, got hurt. The Twins will have to hope that one or more of these starters steps up to make the rotations something to consider by the opposition. They've also brought Jason Marquis in to try to stir the pot. He was pitching well for the Natinals (8-6, 4.43) last year until going to Arizona and.... getting hurt.
In the bullpen, the Twins have shaken things up. Returning to the closer role this year will be Pirate legend Matt "Mad Capper" Capps. He's a brawler and should hold things together should the team be able to deliver him the ball in the ninth. The Twins signed fireballer Joel Zumaya in order to try to set him up, but of course, he has already gotten hurt, and is gone from the season. The Twins will be looking youthful in the 'pen outside of Capps and setup man Glen Perkins (4-4, 2.48 in 65 appearances).
When you look at the Twins statisically last year, they finished in the bottom five in almost every major statistical category, but their level of talent shouldn't equal that many wins. They're going to win a few more this year.... if they stay healthy.
Your 2012 Minnesota Twins:
C: Joe Mauer
1B: Justin Morneau
2B: Alexi Casilla
SS: Jamey Carroll
3B: Danny Valencia
LF: Josh Willingham
CF: Denard Span
RF: Ben Revere
DH: Trevor Plouffe/Ryan Doumit
P: Carl Pavano
P: Francisco Liriano
P: Scott Baker
P: Nick Blackburn
P: Brian Duensing
CL: Matt Capps
Best Case Scenario:
The hospital is empty. Every question mark above is answered positively, and the Twins can do no wrong. The Twins manage to keep the team on the field and everyone produces like they should. Morneau and Mauer party like it's 2009 while "Poker Face" and "I Gotta Feelin" rear their ugly heads for a revitalization. It's like they never left. Mauer is handed the key to the city for the fifth time. Though Pavano and Liriano can't quite pitch like it's 2005, they, along with the rest of the rotation, pitch like Minnesota believes they can, and the team as a whole looks like a winner from pole to pole. Willingham looks like an MVP candidate after hitting 38 home runs and driving in 110 runs while hitting .270 playing in Target Field. Valencia continues to blossom and the rest of the young players develop behind him. The Twins easily win the weak AL Central, but get stopped in their tracks by the stronger pitching of the Angels in the division series, however, the memory of the horrible 2011 is erased, and Twins fans are happy to resume their winning ways.
Worst Case Scenario:
The spring starts off with promise as no further injuries are suffered until they break camp. They finish April at 18-8, and look ready to run away with the Central title. But by July 1, the hospital is full. It looks like Morneau and Span are unable to channel even the faintest vision of their pre-concussion selves. The rotation can't stay healthy and can't perform. Willingham gets hurt. So does Valencia. So does Casillia. So does Revere. What results is a long, long summer in Minneapolis. Joe Mauer, once the golden child of Minneapolis, begins to fade into obscurity like Michael J. Fox in Back To The Future.
What once was a promising wistful young man is replaced in the minds of his fans by something that looks more like this:
How many of you recognized that mug? Without looking it up?
The Twins struggle all the way down the stretch, and it looks like a rebuild is needed in Minnesota.
What Will Probably Happen:
81-81, Third in the AL West.
Song for The Twins
RIP Davy Jones, and what the Twins want to believe in:
Love the photos!
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