Season Total...
Minnesota Twins OVER 67.5.
Twins only won 63 games in 2011 and 66 games last year but they should easily reach 68 wins this year. The line actually opened at 64.5 and people hammered it.
Last season the Twins went through 2 Major Slumps at the beginning and at the end with a good 30 - 45 day stretch. They went through a slump early cause they had guys like Carl Pavano, Franiciso Liriano, Nick Blackburn, and I forget the other stiff's name who they released after about 5 - 6 starts. Those guys were an absolute joke. Granted their pitching staff now isn't going to produce anything that resembles Cy Young but they have enough depth to eat up some innings and pitch better than that crew. You can check out their starting rotation on CBS but they have Diamond rehabbing a bit and Deduno waiting in the Wings, plus their top pitching Prospect Benson (Tommy John) is in triple A with more speed on his fast ball waiting to come up pending an innings count.
Their Bullpen last year was a mess, inexperienced, overused, and spent. Plus they had Matt Freaking Capps closing. This year their pen is more experienced and settled. Burton is a solid 8th inning guy with Perkins slamming the door in the 9th.
The late slump was due to the fact that they called up and played a bunch from the minors and their Pen's arms were falling off. This year the Kids will be improved, as the Twins Minor league system is rated the top 3 in baseball by many.
They traded away Revere and Span, two slap hitters with speed but that paves the way for Aaron Hicks in CF to lead off. This guy should be a special player if he develops, he can do it all he is a 5 tool player. Justin Morneau is back totally 100%. He was hitting .220s in July and ended the season on a torrid streak getting his average up to .267, this year he is going to be more confident with an increase in Power. Look for a big year from Mauer too. He hit .319 last year, after a injury riddled year the year before. I'm thinking around .340 this year. Plus Trevor Plouffe is in his second full season of MLB and should improve on his numbers as well.
So in closing
Better Rotation with More Quiality.
.
Bullpen is settled, experienced, and should not be over used like the past two seasons.
Younger players should be better than they were last year and have a better crop of call ups.
Hitting presence should be improved up and down the lineup, only one real change in line up with Hicks starting at CF.
Mauer and Morneau 100% in second year after both had injury problems in 2011, 2012 was a confidence builder for this season.
Astros are moved into the American league, that should account for few more wins.
More games against National League due to new scheduling.Twins historically own NL.
I am not saying pen this team in for division title or World Series but I have them in the 72 - 75 wins easy, but there is NO WAY this team finishes 67 - 95, that' 28 games below .500. Not happening.
Most confident you will ever see me.
Minnesota Twins OVER 67.5.
Twins only won 63 games in 2011 and 66 games last year but they should easily reach 68 wins this year. The line actually opened at 64.5 and people hammered it.
Last season the Twins went through 2 Major Slumps at the beginning and at the end with a good 30 - 45 day stretch. They went through a slump early cause they had guys like Carl Pavano, Franiciso Liriano, Nick Blackburn, and I forget the other stiff's name who they released after about 5 - 6 starts. Those guys were an absolute joke. Granted their pitching staff now isn't going to produce anything that resembles Cy Young but they have enough depth to eat up some innings and pitch better than that crew. You can check out their starting rotation on CBS but they have Diamond rehabbing a bit and Deduno waiting in the Wings, plus their top pitching Prospect Benson (Tommy John) is in triple A with more speed on his fast ball waiting to come up pending an innings count.
Their Bullpen last year was a mess, inexperienced, overused, and spent. Plus they had Matt Freaking Capps closing. This year their pen is more experienced and settled. Burton is a solid 8th inning guy with Perkins slamming the door in the 9th.
The late slump was due to the fact that they called up and played a bunch from the minors and their Pen's arms were falling off. This year the Kids will be improved, as the Twins Minor league system is rated the top 3 in baseball by many.
They traded away Revere and Span, two slap hitters with speed but that paves the way for Aaron Hicks in CF to lead off. This guy should be a special player if he develops, he can do it all he is a 5 tool player. Justin Morneau is back totally 100%. He was hitting .220s in July and ended the season on a torrid streak getting his average up to .267, this year he is going to be more confident with an increase in Power. Look for a big year from Mauer too. He hit .319 last year, after a injury riddled year the year before. I'm thinking around .340 this year. Plus Trevor Plouffe is in his second full season of MLB and should improve on his numbers as well.
So in closing
Better Rotation with More Quiality.
.
Bullpen is settled, experienced, and should not be over used like the past two seasons.
Younger players should be better than they were last year and have a better crop of call ups.
Hitting presence should be improved up and down the lineup, only one real change in line up with Hicks starting at CF.
Mauer and Morneau 100% in second year after both had injury problems in 2011, 2012 was a confidence builder for this season.
Astros are moved into the American league, that should account for few more wins.
More games against National League due to new scheduling.Twins historically own NL.
I am not saying pen this team in for division title or World Series but I have them in the 72 - 75 wins easy, but there is NO WAY this team finishes 67 - 95, that' 28 games below .500. Not happening.
Most confident you will ever see me.
