The Minnesota Twins never really put anything together in 2007, stumbling out of the gate and never really recovering, finishing with the first sub-.500 record in manager Ron Gardenhire's tenure, at 79-83.  During the off-season, the news went from bad to worse, as Torii Hunter (Angels), Carlos Silva (Mariners), and Johan Santana (Mets) left in free agency.  The Twins dealt promising, yet enigmatic starter Matt Garza,  and Jason Bartlett to the Tampa Bay Rays, and received Delmon Young (.288, 13 HR's, 93 RBI's) and Brendan Harris (.286,  12 HR's, 59 RBI's).  Mike Lamb (.289, 11 HR's, 40 RBI's in 311 AB's) and Adam Everett (.232, 2 HR's, 15 RBI's in only 220 AB's) will form the left side of the Twins' infield, and Harris will start at second base.

Reasons for Optimism:

     1.  Joe Nathan-- The closer signed a four-year extension that will keep him with the club through 2011, (with a club option for 2012.)  He was 4-2, with a 1.88 ERA and 37 saves, allowing 54 hits with 19 walks and 77 K's in his 68 appearances in 2007.  Nathan's 160 saves in the last four seasons (2004-07) tie him with Mariano Rivera for the most in the AL during that span.

     2.  Justin Morneau--  The first baseman also signed an extension in the off-season, and is looking to post numbers that are closer to his 2006 AL MVP stats (.321, 34, 130) than last years (.271, 31, 111)

     3.  Joe Mauer--  Has done quite a bit of flexibility work this off-season, in the hopes that it will make him more durable, and return to his 2006 form (.347, 13, 84) than last year's drop-off (109 games, .293, 7, 60)

     4.  Delmon Young--  Acquired in the off-season, Young will start in left field for the Twins, and promises to be a significant upgrade over last year's platoon of Jason Kubel and Rondell White.  Only 22, Delmon hit .288, with 13 HR's and 93 RBI's, and only looks to improve as he continues to develop.

     5. The bullpen--  If it doesn't get overworked by the lack of proven starters, it remains one of the best in baseball, with Matt Guerrier, Jesse Crain, Pat Neshek, Dennis Reyes and Juan Rincon building a bridge from the starters to closer Joe Nathan. 

Causes for Concern-- While the Twins announced that Livan Hernandez (11-11, 4.93 ERA w/Arizona) will be the Opening Day starter next Monday against the Angels, the other four spots in the rotation are wide-open, and will need many of the Twins' pitchers that are in camp to step up.  The starting rotation will be as follows:

     1. Livan Hernandez--  Proven innings eater, pitching over 200 innings each of the last nine years.

     2.  Boof Bonser-- (8-12, 5.10 ERA)  Boof lost over 30 pounds in the off-season, and has looked better in Spring Training this year.

     3.  Kevin Slowey--  (4-1, 4.73 ERA)

     4.  Nick Blackburn or Brian Bass--  Will look to make a start or two, as Francisco Liriano will stay in extended Spring Training to build up his endurance and arm strength.

     5.  Scott Baker--   (9-9, 4.26 ERA)  Scott missed 10 days with a severe bout of the flu, losing 15 pounds, and is penciled in to make his first start on April 4th against the Royals(the team's fifth game).

     Francisco Liriano will hopefully rejoin the club by late April, but the last thing the club wants to do is rush him back from his 2006 Tommy John surgery.

Opening Day Lineup--

     1. Carlos Gomez-- (.232, 2 HR's, 12 RBI's, 12 SB's in 58 games and 125 AB's)

     2.  Joe Mauer--  (.293, 7 HR's, 60 RBI's, in 109 games and 406 AB's)

     3.  Michael Cuddyer-- (.276, 16 HR's, 81 RBI's)

     4.  Justin Morneau-- (.271, 31 HR's, 111 RBI's)

     5.  Delmon Young-- (.288, 13 HR's, 93 RBI's)

     6.  Jason Kubel-- (.273, 13 HR's, 65 RBI's in 418 AB's)

     7.  Brendan Harris-- (.286, 12 HR's, 59 RBI's)

     8.  Mike Lamb--(. 289, 11 HR's, 40 RBI's in 311 AB's)

     9.  Adam Everett-- (.232, 2 HR's, 15 RBI's in 220 AB's)

5 BOLD Predictions--

     1. The Twins' young pitchers (Baker, Bonser, Slowey, and Liriano) come through, helping the team to possibly win 90 games.

     2.  Morneau will become the force he was in 2006, hitting over .300, with 35-40 HR's, and 130+ RBI's.

     3.  Mauer will manage to not break down, and play over 130 games, hitting .325 or better.

     4.  Liriano will make it most of the way back this year, and win 12-14 games.

     5.  The improved offense from last year will help offset the loss of Santana (and Silva and Garza), although I feel Hernandez can match or better Silva's numbers, and Bonser, Baker, and Slowey can step up, and be reliable starters.

2008 season prediction:  82-80, 3rd in AL Central

Sources for Twins Info:

     MLB.com

     Mpls.-St.Paul Star Tribune

     St. Paul Pioneer Press

Utility Men: (recommended blogs)

     Russo's Rants (Star Tribune writer Michael Russo)

     Aaron Gleeman

     Twinkie Town

     Stick and Ball Guy

     I will also try to do as many blog entries as I can this year(time permitting).