2009: The Season That Can Be for the Minnesota Twins

The calendar pages have turned to April. The scent of spring is in the air. The grass is turning green again, unless you play in a dome where the turf is always looking its best. It is that time of year again, one that is full of potential and great optimism.

It's time for Twins baseball.

The expanded spring training is just about finished as the team makes its way from Florida back to Minnesota for that last exhibition game vs the Pirates on Saturday when upon completion the final roster of coach Ron Gardenhire's gang will be assembled.

And from my point of view its the most complete roster in a few years.

The competition that has happened this spring is going to bring out the best of everyone on that roster. From having the depth in the outfield/dh positions and a bench filled with role players, the young experienced pitching staff and solidified bullpen this team is ready for battle.

The only competition for the Minnesota Twins are the Twins themselves. They have the potential for a successful month of April and from there to successfully pace and guide themselves to October. Their season starts off with 14 home games and eight road games sprinkled with three off days. 

Three games each against division rivals Chicago and Cleveland on the road, a quick two game visit to Fenway, and three games versus the Rays on our turf should set the tone for the season that will be.

If you include a four game home stand with the Mariners and Blue Jays and three with the Angels, they have an excellent chance to be eight games over .500 to start the season. That in itself is feat they have not been able to perform themselves in the past. Here are the reasons why they should be able to do so.

If you look at this years lineup they have the ability to once again score a great deal of runs. Last year they scored the third most runs in the league (829) and that was with a lineup without Joe Crede and a healthy season from Michael Cuddyer.

Sprinkle in a year of maturity and experience for Delmon Young, Carlos Gomez, Alexi Cassilla and Dennard Span this lineup will create headaches for opposing teams.

I look at this team being able to score 900 runs this season and be able to take some pressure off the starting rotation a bit and let them extend their starts to the seventh inning and let the bullpen be able to close out games the last two innings.

Not many teams can compare to the rotation the Twins have put together. Last years tight season of ups and downs and tight finishes gave them the experience of what it is like to pitch in a pennant race.

This gathering of pitchers is something the like we have not seen in years past. We have not been privileged to having a rotation this deep and the ability of three pitchers I believe in being opening day starters in Liriano, Baker, and Perkins. Each of them have the ability to take on other teams Ace and be able to come out ahead.

It is because of these three starters along with Blackburn and Slowey that I do not see an extended loosing streak happening of more than three games at any point this season.

You combine this pitching staff together with the offense and we should have the ability to compete with every team in the league and be able to hold our heads high after each game knowing they are a complete team.

If you look around the division there are too many question marks on their teams.

Will the Indians be able to score enough runs with their aging roster and get enough quality innings from their staff to compete. Hafner and Martinez are at the point where they spend more games on the DL than the active roster.

Grady Sizemore is so good and unprotected in that lineup that for the best chance for him to get quality at-bats is in the leadoff slot. The bottom of their lineup is full of so many holes that it will only be a matter of time when they have no choice but to call up their top prospect of Matt Laporta.

Their starting rotation has three pitchers, Carl Pavano, Scott Lewis, and Anthony Reyes that threw less innings (34.3, 24 and 49) than their closer of Kerry Wood (66.3 innings pitched). And if you believe that Cliff Lee is going to have another season like last year, you are wrong.

And the organization is waiting for the real Fausto Carmona to take the mound. The one that pitched in '06 that was 1-10, the one in '07 that was 18-8 or the one from '08 that was 8-7 and couldn't stay healthy. For me there are too many question marks on this team for them to be picked to compete for the division title.

The White Sox, who in my opinion is our biggest rival are in somewhat the same situation. There were way too many unnecessary changes from last years roster which  I feel the loss of those players will translate to losses on the field this season.

The players that are gone include Javier Vasquez, Joe Crede, Nick Swisher and Orlando Cabrera and I don't feel they were properly replaced.  

They have a heart of the order that includes Thome and Konerko and they don't know themselves if they are going to be in the trainer room or lineup each and every day.

They have question marks in their outfield too with DeWayne Wise taking over CF everyday and hope they can keep Carlos Quentin health for a full season and hope he produces like last year.

The bottom of their order does include an up and coming star in Alexi Ramirez as Shortstop but questionable production to expect from Josh Fields and Chris Getz. Its possible that Sox fans can get nothing but heartburn and upset stomach from the teams performance on a nightly basis.

Their back end of the rotation doesn't leave too much to desire with a broken down Jose Contreras and Bartolo Colon competing with a young Clayton Richards for the last two spots in the rotation.

I feel that the only thing opposing teams should be fearful is when Bobby Jenks gets the ball you can just about start your post game plans.

The Detroit Tigers are a team that is going to go as far as Maglio Ordonez and Miguel Cabrera can carry them on their backs. Their lineup includes a Twins castoff from last season in Adam Everett and we all know firsthand what he brings to the table.

Carlos Guillen and Placido Polanco know how to get the job done and show up to play every game and cause headaches for opposing teams. Brandon Inge just wants to be pencilled in the lineup on a regular basis and will play where ever needed be it First base, Third base, Cather or Outfield.

We will see if the organization made the correct move in releasing Gary Sheffield to make room for Marcus Thames in the lineup. The chance to see Sheffield hit Homerun number 500 may have been one of the few opportunity's they get to stand up and cheer like crazy in Detroit this season.

Their rotation is also filled with question marks as they once again have an unhealthy Dontrell Willis to start the season and will loose some starts from Jeremy Bonderman to start the season.

Their rotation includes Justin Verlander who at times can dominate, and Armando Gallaraga who at times last season showed ability to take over games. I believe that when a team gets past those two in the rotation they should have much success against Zach Minor, Nate Robinson and Edwin Jackson.

Brandon Lyon closing out games is not much of an improvement over Todd Jones, its going to be pot luck for closing out games. This staff will really need newcomers Ryan Perry, Rick Porcello and Andrew Miller to blossom and be successful if the Tigers are to make some noise.

The team I am most concerned about are the Royals. They have started making up their roster and organization in a similar fashion to the Twins. Development from their farm system that may finally pay off this season. 

From top to bottom this is a roster of players that have developed and played together for a few seasons, and they are still young at heart. They added Coco Crisp to get the offense started in the leadoff spot and play center field on a regular basis.

The emergence of Mike Jacobs, Mark Teahen, Mike Avilles and Alex Gordon make up one of the better infields in the American League. There time to succeed has arrived and I believe they are ready for the challenge.

Mix in the power of Jose Guillen and add a splash of Billy Buttler and this team will be able to score in bunches this season.

Their pitching rotation is starting to come together with Gil Meche once again being the ace, followed by Zach Grienke who may have finally developed his Cy Young potential this season and cause may hitters to shake their head in disbelief when they deal with his stuff.

Their trouble spot may be the back end of the rotation, but they do have some prospects due to arrive this season.

If these three spots can give the team some innings and a chance to keep games close, the bullpen of flamethrowers Juan Cruz and Kyle Farnsworth should set up Joakim Soria for success once again this season.

Of all the other teams in the division, this is the team I would watch out for, Twins fans. They can possibly be this years Rays.

This is the how I see the division shaking out with the Twins winning 90 games plus and not worrying about a tie braking game this season and winning the division by themselves.

The Royals, Indians and White Sox battling it out and finishing within five games difference between second and fourth, but about six to 10 games behind the Twins and then the Tigers suffering through a long season of questions and being unable to answer many of them finishing back in fifth just being able to win 75 games themselves which is just as successful as last season.

Just remember that the baseball season is just like a marathon and not a sprint. But this season the Twins will have a comfortable lead from the start of the season and be able to pace themselves to a successful season and postseason.