Charlie Klein
Key Additions:
Orlando Hudson (2B)
J.J. Hardy (SS)
Jim Thome (DH)
Key Departures:
Orlando Cabrera (SS)
Carlos Gomez (CF)
Joe Crede (3B)
R.A. Dickey
I decided to take the Chicago White Sox in this division for a very simple reason. Pitching wins pennants. The one through four at U.S. Cellular eclipses by far what the Twins are going to throw out in their inaugural season at Target Field. And while everyone continues to laud the Twins lineup (and there is nothing wrong with doing that) people just sort of assume that the Twins will have the pitching to get it done.
Before I slip into hater mode, I will cover what I believe to be the Twins' strongest asset, their hitting. This has not always been the case in the Twin Cities and Minnesotans can thank the rise of Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Jason Kubel, and Michael Cuddyer for adding punch to the Twins lineup.
Not very many people are aware of this fact, but Michael Cuddyer it 32 homeruns last season. The performance of Kubel and Cuddyer this season will be the true key to whether or not the Twins are able to produce runs. Everyone knows about Mauer and Morneau's (the new M&M boys) abilities to swing the bat, but the supplementary power that is required for a team that is lacking in rotation depth is absolutely essential to win a division.
As previously stated, I am no fan of the Twins rotation. There is no number one starter on this staff. Scott Baker, the ace according to the Twins website, was a 15 game winner last season, albeit with a 4.37 ERA and an opponent batting average of .247. Kevin Slowey, the number two on the staff, is no oil painting either. Slowey was 10-3 with a 4.86 ERA and an opponent batting average of .309. Most hitters would love to hit for that average.
And on down the line it goes. The one wild card in the Twins rotation is Francisco Liriano. The year 2009 was not so kind to Liriano, as he went 5-13 with an ERA of 5.80 in 136.2 IP. If Liriano can come anywhere close to his 2006 production (12-3, 2.16 ERA, 144 K's in 121.0 IP) I might have to take back everything I've said about the Twins in this preview. He has that kind of potential. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire has a difficult decision to make about Liriano. There have been discussions that Liriano could fill in for closer Joe Nathan, who will be out for the duration of 2010 following Tommy John surgery. If the Twins need Liriano to close, that will damage their rotation and if he cannot close, could ultimately ruin Liriano.
I guess I am the only one not drinking the Twins Kool-Aid this offseason. Perhaps I am way off here, but from everything I have seen, I cannot justify picking them in this division, as much as I may want to.
Projected Starting Nine:
1. Denard Span (CF)
2. Orlando Hudson (2B)
3. Joe Mauer (C)
4. Justin Morneau (1B)
5. Michael Cuddyer (RF)
6. Jason Kubel (DH)
7. J.J. Hardy (SS)
8. Delmon Young (LF)
9. Nick Punto (3B)
Projected Starting Rotation:
1. Scott Baker
2. Kevin Slowey
3. Carl Pavano
4. Nick Blackburn
5. Francisco Liriano
Best Reliever: Matt Guerrier
Closer: Jon Rausch
Predicted Finish: Second in the AL Central
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