Twins projected lineup

[IFallsRon]

Here's the projection as posted on mlbdotcom

Projected batting order

1. CF Carlos Gomez:

.232 BA, .288 OBP, .304 SLG, 2 HR, 12 RBI in 2007

2. C Joe Mauer:

.293 BA, .382 OBP, .426 SLG, 7 HR, 60 RBI in 2007

3. LF Delmon Young:

.288 BA, .316 OBP, .408 SLG, 13 HR, 93 RBI in 2007

4. 1B Justin Morneau:

.271 BA, .343 OBP, .492 SLG, 31 HR, 111 RBI in 2007

5. RF Michael Cuddyer:

.276 BA, .356 OBP, .433 SLG, 16 HR, 81 RBI in 2007

6. DH Jason Kubel:

.273 BA, .335 OBP, .450 SLG, 13 HR, 65 RBI in 2007

7. 2B Brendan Harris:

.286 BA, .343 OBP, .434 SLG, 12 HR, 59 RBI in 2007

8. 3B Mike Lamb:

.289 BA, .366 OBP, .453 SLG, 11 HR, 40 RBI in 2007

9. SS Adam Everett:

.232 BA, .281 OBP, .318 SLG, 2 HR, 15 RBI in 2007

Projected rotation

1. Scott Baker, 9-9, 4.26 ERA in 2007

2. Boof Bonser, 8-12, 5.01 ERA in 2007

3. Francisco Liriano , Did not pitch in 2007

4. Kevin Slowey, 4-1, 4.73 ERA in 2007

5. Nick Blackburn , 0-2, 7.71 ERA in 2007, Glen Perkins , 0-0, 3.12 ERA in 2007, or Brian Duensing , never pitched in Majors

Projected bullpen

Closer: Joe Nathan, 37/41 saves, 1.88 ERA in 2007

RH setup man: Pat Neshek, 2.94 ERA in 2007

LH setup man: Dennys Reyes, 3.99 ERA in 2007

[Scott K]

Doesnt look to bad. Pitching may be a question mark, but they may end up being real good too. About a month and a half we will see.

[Ice Ranger]

The offense looks good. For some reason, I hear they plan on batting Delmong Young towards the middle of the lineup, near the 5 or 6 hole.

I have a feeling Minnesota picks up a veteran pitcher before the start of spring training. That would mean a lot to that staff!

Nathan might be gone... Who knows.

[Maximum12]

Yowza. I thought I was a homer!

The offense looks...bad. Can anyone tell me where the production of Hunter & Castillo is going to be replaced?

Castillo -> Harris, big step down

Hunter -> Gomez, massive step down

Young -> White, big step up

Bartlett -> Everett, big step down

Lamb -> Punto, step up

Anyone see the Twins mediocre offense last year? They've lost a .300 leadoff hitter & a veteran power threat & replaced them with the potential of Young &, well, more "potential".

Let's not kid ourselves. This is 2007 all over again. A rock-solid core of players who might be legit All-Stars surrounded by a supporting cast of junk. Barring miracle years from multiple Twins hitters, they'll be lucky to finish in the middle of the pack in runs scored in 2008.

Hope I'm wrong, but 2008 is going to get ugly.

[NAPAFISH]

Look out KC we are comin!!!

[Dahitman44]

At some point, they will figure out that Young belongs in the three hole -- it might just take a little time.

[fishyguy]

 Originally Posted By: Dahitman44

At some point, they will figure out that Young belongs in the three hole -- it might just take a little time.

I agree but he has to quit striking out every 3rd at bat.

[zamboni]

 Originally Posted By: NAPAFISH

Look out KC we are comin!!!

WATCH IT- the Royals are improving every year, and were ahead of the Sox for a week or two last season, give them a few and they might contend. Snicker all you want, I used to live there and keep up with them, second only to the Twins. Imagine if the Royals OF was still Beltran, Dye, Damon- they'd be dangerous

[PierBridge]

Good thing baseball isn't played on paper.....because it sure doesn't look all that good on paper!

Go Twins!

[Windy City Walleye Hunter]

Pier,

I was thinking the same thing but I did not want to be the first to say it since I am the enemy! That line up did not strike fear into my heart and man that pitching rotation sure looked a lot better two years ago. Yo is gone and Liriano is unproven coming off the major cutting. We shall see.

Windy

[Dahitman44]

It will be interesting to see what Liriano can do. Some say he will be stronger after the surgery.

[IFallsRon]

The ChiSox 07 opening day lineup looked pretty dominant but sure took a big one so I'll wait until they hit the field before issuing pink slips.

[Windy City Walleye Hunter]

Agreed on both points!

Windy

[Willy]

Max12,

I would not say that Harris is a big step down from Castillo if they both put up similiar numbers next year. They both posted about the same OPS, Harris's was actually about 30 points higher.

One position we have upgraded at though would be DH. Take Kubels numbers put them in that spot and compare it to our platoon DH of last year.

Other than that, your predictions are right on.

I don't think they will be much better or much worse offensively than last year. Combine that with the young pitching and it will probably be a learning season.

Hopefully some of these young guys will play well and get us excited for the future. I don't like our chances to be very near the playoffs this year.:o

[thehawk]

I love the twins, but lets face it we could get more production with gardy hittin out of the Dh spot then what we have gotten over the last several years from that spot. there roster is so unproven. Kubel better step up, we paid him big money for a guy who has shown nothing but potential, never any real production. That staff is in serious trouble. Santana showed zero loyalty and forced the trade, we had to get "something" in return. They offered him 20 million per year for 4 years, and it was not enough to keep him, some home town discount!! He is a chump. I thought he was a classy guy, but he sold us down the river for 2 or 3 years and just a little more money. He is a great pitcher, but he has half the personality of a herbeck or puckett, even a blylevin. They have zero depth and no one but another rookie to look to. Nathan is useless if we can't get him the ball in a save situation cuz we all know that if it isn't a save situation he is average at best. If fans can see it is rebuilding, why cant they as a team say that. we all know that they are not going to get a veteran pitcher in that camp. It will be a tough year for them. Enjoy the season anyways, I will...

[walleyeking19]

i just noticed not one of the guys averaged over .300 last year.

[Ice Ranger]

 Originally Posted By: Maximum12

Yowza. I thought I was a homer!

The offense looks...bad. Can anyone tell me where the production of Hunter & Castillo is going to be replaced?

Castillo -> Harris, big step down

Hunter -> Gomez, massive step down

Young -> White, big step up

Bartlett -> Everett, big step down

Lamb -> Punto, step up

Anyone see the Twins mediocre offense last year? They've lost a .300 leadoff hitter & a veteran power threat & replaced them with the potential of Young &, well, more "potential".

Let's not kid ourselves. This is 2007 all over again. A rock-solid core of players who might be legit All-Stars surrounded by a supporting cast of junk. Barring miracle years from multiple Twins hitters, they'll be lucky to finish in the middle of the pack in runs scored in 2008.

Hope I'm wrong, but 2008 is going to get ugly.

Castillo provided no power whatsoever. Harris is a high .200's, possibly a .300 hitter with a little bit of pop. Some could say Harris is an improvement, just not quite the speed.

The real loss in this lineup is Hunter, and he has been replaced with the pickup of Young. Young is probably a better hitter than Hunter. If not 2008, he surely will be in the long run.

Bartlett never provided us with any consistency, so I don't look at that as a loss.

We don't know with Lamb yet. If he can hit like he normally does the entire season, we can expect .280 and possibly 25 HR's from him.

[PierBridge]

 Originally Posted By: walleyeking19

i just noticed not one of the guys averaged over .300 last year.

Can't be Tori Hunter just received the largest contract in Angles Team history he must have hit at least .347...

[Maximum12]

 Quote:

Castillo provided no power whatsoever. Harris is a high .200's, possibly a .300 hitter with a little bit of pop. Some could say Harris is an improvement, just not quite the speed.

The real loss in this lineup is Hunter, and he has been replaced with the pickup of Young. Young is probably a better hitter than Hunter. If not 2008, he surely will be in the long run.

Bartlett never provided us with any consistency, so I don't look at that as a loss.

We don't know with Lamb yet. If he can hit like he normally does the entire season, we can expect .280 and possibly 25 HR's from him.

If Harris is an upgrade from Castillo, why aren't the Twins handing him 2B? I was appalled after the trade when Smith kept saying "we need to fill the hole at 2B". Then why trade for another utility-style infielder, don't we have enough already? Throw in Castillo's vastly superior glove & the fact that we have no legit leadoff hitter & the Twins will feel the loss of Castillo.

Bartlett to Everett...if you don't think that's a loss go look at their stats the past two years. Serious ouch.

Lamb? That's a straight-up fantasy. If he was a 25HR, .280 guy, he'd have found an everyday job by now. The most ABs he's had since 2000 is 381, not even close to full-time. I think the best we can hope for is what he did last year, 12HR & 50RBI, give or take. You know Gardy is going to sit him against lefties to get Punto some time in the lineup.

[Dahitman44]

Lamb --

My guess is that you guys will be surprised a little.

His stats should be right inbetween -- 19 hrs and 75 RBI -- that is a massive upgrade over Punto or anyone else we have had since ... ummm ... the G-man, I guess.

[frogtosser]

they are not starting liriano, why would they risk pushing him so fast he will be in the pen.

[Willy]

 Originally Posted By: frogtosser

they are not starting liriano, why would they risk pushing him so fast he will be in the pen.

He might be, but everything I have read says that he will be given a chance in ST to show that he is ready and CAN win a rotation job right out of the gate.

[10,000 Casts]

They should have kept Santana one more season and let him walk, spent a little money on a center fielder and make a run at it.

NOW LOOK AT WHAT THEY HAVE, A SUB 500 Club with no Offence and no pitching... should be fun to watch, way to go twins!

[10,000 Casts]

But hey, we have an awesome bullpen and one of the best closers in Baseball. The bottom innings should be fun to watch when everyone is 0-4 and 1-4.

Does this not make sence to anyone else?

[Scott K]

I am optimistic, but I think the Twins will be as good as last year. They may miss the playoffs, but they will keep it close and still be in it till the end.

[frogtosser]

Detroit is making a big run and cleveland is going to be very good too the twins sadly will be a distant 3rd or 4th depending on the white socks which sucks cause I love the twins.

[tisosy11]

The gardy angle and the anderson angle will help. I've heard that they are going to treat Liriano as a starter because he is a starter. I would not be surprised to see him in AAA to start just to get the confidence there and get some innings behind him...not to mention his DUI/Visa troubles delaying his arrival...

[tisosy11]

Twins will have their work cut out to reach 2nd place in the central...i see them finishing third.

[Dahitman44]

I hear what you mean by third, but I just think the CC ship in Indian-land will cause a major shipwreck and the Twins will sneak into second.

But you never know -- many of us were surprised when we beat the Pale Hose and Indians so many years in a row???

Yeah, I know ... I'll grab another beverage.

[tisosy11]

Ahha - yeah the indians will have to deal with CC, while still winning games...stick to fantasy baseball...CC will be fine Dahitman