Minnesota Twins 2012 Spring Training Preview: Another Bad Season Looms

Terry Ryan and his white horse arrived back in the general manager saddle on Nov. 7 and said his "batteries are recharged" and vowed to "take the job head on."  Ryan, of course, had built the Twins into a perennial winner during his last stint as GM, so Twins fans had reason to celebrate.

The party began by acquiring a 38-year-old shortstop, an oft-injured backup catcher, a starting pitcher whose ERA was pushing 7.00 two years ago and a power-hitter who posted career lows in OPS and batting average last year.  Sound like a familiar plan?

Before you get too excited about Jamey Carroll, Ryan Doumit, Jason Marquis and Josh Willingham, ask yourselves how well Jose Offerman, Tony Batista, Jeff Cirillo and Ruben Sierra worked out?

This is what Ryan does in free agency.  He will say they bring veteran stability, but it's code for a discounted player due to injury or being at the twilight of their career.  I can understand a guy here or there once in a while, but not to try to turn around a 99-loss club.

The Twins' roster is already littered with question marks, and their three best players are all coming back from major injuries.  

Joe Mauer had something called bi-lateral leg weakness, which I think is a made-up injury that took most of his season.  To make matters worse, Justin Morneau and Denard Span lost time due to concussions and have struggled to shake off the symptoms.  It makes you wonder how they will do looking into the sun all season doesn't it?  

Morneau also had surgery on his left wrist in the offseason and was just cleared to hit from a tee. Not exactly what you want to hear about your power-hitting first baseman.

The pitching staff doesn't give reason for optimism either.  

They haven't had an ace since Johan Santana, and they are counting on Jason Marquis to fill innings.  This is the same Marquis that has twice posted an ERA over 6.00 in his career.  

Francisco Liriano has shown flashes of brilliance, but a quick glance at his winter league numbers, and you see things like 0-3 and a 7.36 ERA.  

The Twins can only hope that Scott Baker will build off last year and develop into a consistent front-end starter.

Let's just assume that they will be in position to win a few games, though.  What happens when they have to protect a lead late in the game?  

In 2011, the Twins finished with the worst bullpen ERA in the majors.  Ryan addressed that by letting Joe Nathan sign with the Rangers and then re-signing Matt Capps to be the closer.  2011 highlights for Capps include nine blown saves and losing the closer role in July.  

The flicker of light is that Glen Perkins had an outstanding year and might have the chops to be the closer should Capps falter again.

When you look around the rest of the division, you see the Tigers spending money (Prince Fielder) and making big trades (Miguel Cabrera).  You then see the Indians on the rise and the Royals with young players full of potential.  Even though the White Sox are rebuilding, they at least won the World Series in 2006.

When I look at the 2012 Minnesota Twins, I see a team with more questions and doubt than answers and hope.