Minnesota Twins: 5 Questions Twins Fans Hope to Answer During Spring Training

Last season was beyond a disappointment for the Minnesota Twins.  They have become accustomed to competing for the American League Central crown and last season not only did they not do that, but they put up one of the lowest win percentages in franchise history.

This season there is hope, but it hinges on five keys to watch during spring training.

Are They Healthy?

Last season the Twins were ravaged by injuries up and down the lineup.  However, there were three that really hindered this team.

Justin Morneau was limited to 69 games.

Joe Mauer played in only 82 contests.

Denard Span notched 70 games.

For the Twins to be competitive it means that Span must be in his customary leadoff role and the Twins version of the M&M boys need to be hitting third and fourth.

If the two former AL MVPs on this team can both have productive seasons, this team will win more games than last year.  If everyone else remains healthy, they have as good a shot as anyone to make a run at the preseason favorite Detroit Tigers.

Who Will Get the Ball to Glen Perkins?

Glen Perkins emerged as a top-tier setup man last season.  When he takes the mound with a lead in the eighth inning, fans breathe a sigh of relief.  The question is who is going to get the Twins to the eighth inning with a lead?

The only move the Twins really did to shore up the pen this year was to add Joel Zumaya, who is now done for the season and contemplating retirement after yet another serious arm injury.

So who will round out the Twins bullpen to make sure that Glen Perkins can hand a save opportunity over to Matt Capps?

Alex Burnett, Brian Duensing and Anthony Swarzak seem to be locks to fill some room in the bullpen but who else will show something to Twins manager Ron Gardenhire?

Can the Twins Starting Staff Rebound from Last Year?

The only starting pitcher for the Twins that had a good season last year was Scott Baker.  Unfortunately, he missed some time nursing injuries as well.

If the Twins hope to compete, the starting five is going to need to have a much better season than they did last year.  The addition of Jason Marquis should help, but he didn't have a very good season last year either.

If the starting five can stay healthy, the presence of Duensing wanting to get into the starting rotation might help push them all to a better season.

How Many Chances Is Alexi Casilla Going to Get?

Alexi Casilla has been given so many chances to be a starter for the Minnesota Twins.  It seems every year the talk is that manager Ron Gardenhire expects Casilla to come into camp ready to compete for the starting job at either shortstop or second base.

The real question is why?  He is a career .252 hitter with an on-base percentage of .310.  In the back of most Twins fans' minds is whether he even deserves another chance this year.

Hopefully the answer is this camp will be his last chance to do something to distinguish himself as a major league player.

Is Tsuyoshi Nishioka for Real or Just Overhyped?

Tsuyoshi Nishioka came to the Twins with talk of him being the next great Japanese player in America.  A career stat line in Japan that reads .305/.380/.443, everyone had high expectations for the slick-fielding shortstop.

Except when he got to camp he became a second basemen because he was having trouble handling the fielding duties at shortstop.

Then came the broken left fibula that he suffered just six games into the season at the hands, or foot more appropriately, of Yankee outfielder Nick Swisher.

He ended up playing in just 68 games for the Twins and had a stat line of .226/.278/.249.

After a disappointing season, it will be interesting to see if Nishioka has made any adjustments to the differences between Major League Baseball and the Japanese Leagues.

Is he the real deal or just another swing and miss by Twins management to bring in a big-time free agent?