The Minnesota Twins Are Finally Ready to Put 2011 Behind Them

The Minnesota Twins started the 2012 season slow. So slow that they were the last team to win their first game, opening the season 0-4.

For Twins fans, the specter of 2011 was still looming over Target Field as the team stumbled and bumbled through three games in Baltimore. 

However, the skies have started to brighten over Target Field.

Since then, the Twins have gone 5-6 against the Angels, Rangers, Yankees and Rays—all finishing last season with a winning record, and three of them making the playoffs.

The improved play has buoyed the Twins to the point where they are not the worst team in baseball, the American League or even their own division—thank you, Red Sox, Royals, Cubs and Padres.

The resurgence of the Twins offense has been just the salve needed to help the memories of last season's 99 losses start to fade.

Certainly, the fact that they played well in New York is a very promising sign.

In their recent four-game series with the Yankees in New York—where the Twins are 5-28 since 2002—they split the series, going 2-2 and matching the Bronx Bombers run for run, being outscored 23 to 22.

It's the first time since 2001, when the Twins took two of three from the Yankees, that they had won two games in a series in New York.

Even though things feel better, the Twins are only one game improved over last season after 14 games.

On the positive side, the offense is better.

Last year at this point, the Twins offense was sputtering along with a .234 batting average, scoring an average of 2.93 runs per game.

This season, the Twins are hitting .270 after their 5-4 win over the Rays. So far, they have averaged a full run more in 2012 at 3.93 runs per game.

Last season, with Michael Cuddyer, Jason Kubel and Jim Thome in the lineup, the Twins had only hit three home runs in their first 14 games. So far this season, the Twins have 12, led by Josh Willingham's five home runs.

Justin Morneau has proved he is recovered from the the effects of the concussions that limited him to only 81 games in 2010 and 69 games last season, and has hit four home runs, playing in 12 of the team's 14 games.

Joe Mauer has also proved he is healthy and ready to produce at the top of the Twins' batting order, having played in all 14 games this season, behind the plate for eight of them, at first base for three and as the designated hitter for three. His average is once again above .300, at .302, and is currently second on the team with nine RBI.

On the other hand, the starting pitching is in trouble.

The Twins' starting rotation took an early hit when Scott Baker started the season on the DL. In his first appearance for the Fort Myers Miracle, he was only able to pitch one-third of an inning. Upon having surgery to repair his elbow, it was determined he needed Tommy John surgery and will miss the entire 2012 season. 

On top of that, Jason Marquis missed his first two turns in the rotation to tend to a family emergency.

In 2011, Twins starters opened 4-5 with a 5.05 ERA, averaging almost six innings per start.

This season, the Twins have already used six starters. So far, they are 2-7 with a 6.52 ERA, with only three starts lasting through the seventh inning. 

The biggest concern has to be with Francisco Liriano. The Twins keep waiting for him to step up and become the ace the team desperately needs.

In three starts, Liriano has yet to complete six innings, going only 2.1 innings in his last start against the Yankees. He has given up five earned runs in each of his starts and currently has a staff-worst 11.91 ERA.

So far, the relievers appear to be improved.

While the Twins' starting pitching has been worse than last season, the bullpen appears to be improved.

Through April last season, the bullpen had a 2-3 record with a 4.68 ERA with 73 innings pitched in 76 appearances. Closers Joe Nathan and Matt Capps were a combined seven of 10 in save opportunities. Nathan, recovering from Tommy John surgery, had a 10.0 ERA in 10 appearances to open the 2011 season.  

Attempting to find the right combination of arms in the bullpen, the Twins used 10 different relievers in April last year.

Gone are Eric Hacker, Kevin Slowey, Jose Mijares, Jim Hoey, Dusty Hughes and Nathan.  

So far this season, the Twins relievers are 3-2 with a 3.69 ERA in 44 appearances. Closer Matt Capps has converted all four save opportunities this season.

The only troubling stat is Glen Perkins, who led the Minnesota pitching staff with a 2.48 ERA last season in 65 appearances, has struggled this year and currently has the highest ERA of any reliever at 8.44, having pitched 5.1 innings in six games.

Where will the Twins finish in 2012?

The month of April was seen as one of the toughest stretches in the Twins' 2012 schedule and they find themselves 4.5 games behind the Detroit Tigers, who are favored to win their second straight AL Central Division title in 2012. This is a slight improvement, considering the Twins were already six games back of the Tigers at this point in 2011.

While it will be extremely difficult for the Twins to challenge for the division, they should have a very good shot of finishing ahead of the Royals, White Sox and Indians.

The Twins should be able to win somewhere around 80 games this year, especially if the trio of Willingham, Morneau and Mauer can continue their early trend.

If general manager Terry Ryan can find some help for the starting pitching, the Twins might even be able to compete for a wild-card spot in the playoffs.

Hope springs eternal, and the recent success of the Twins might be enough momentum to start turning things around for Minnesota.