Minnesota Twins

**VikesFan28** · 03-24-2012, 02:23 PM

Any Twins fans out there? I'm excited for the season to start and came across this spring training video which got me even more excited. Here's to a successful and healthy 2012.

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?co...y_20191385&v=3

**FDWxMan** · 03-24-2012, 02:32 PM

Morneau finally hit his first homer of the spring a couple minutes ago off of Hellickson.

**clonehenge** · 03-24-2012, 02:40 PM

From the looks of that video Mauer is going to be playing some 1st base...which makes me think Morneau may not be ready to go quite yet...hopefully Morneau makes it back and isn't done because of concussions...it's taken him awhile to even get where he's at now.

Going to be interesting to see how they do without Nathan, Cuddyer, and Kubel.

**clonehenge** · 03-24-2012, 02:41 PM

Originally Posted by FDWxMan

Morneau finally hit his first homer of the spring a couple minutes ago off of Hellickson.

That's good news...I really hope he can get back to his old self...

**VikesFan28** · 03-24-2012, 02:43 PM

I'm glad Morneau finally got one. And yeah, it'll be an interesting year. We lost some big players and added some guys who can hopefully help out.

**VikesFan28** · 03-24-2012, 02:46 PM

Originally Posted by clonehenge

From the looks of that video Mauer is going to be playing some 1st base...which makes me think Morneau may not be ready to go quite yet...hopefully Morneau makes it back and isn't done because of concussions...it's taken him awhile to even get where he's at now.

Going to be interesting to see how they do without Nathan, Cuddyer, and Kubel.

Mauer's actually playing 1st today.

**KCClone1** · 03-24-2012, 03:14 PM

I think the offense and defense will be fine, but the pitching really worries me. Capps is not a good closer, and the starters are too inconsistent.

**DistrictCyclone** · 03-24-2012, 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by KCClone1

I think the offense and defense will be fine, but the pitching really worries me. Capps is not a good closer, and the starters are too inconsistent.

+1. Liriano pitched 5 scoreless the other day, but he could easily come out and give up 9 runs in 2 innings next time. When Gardenhire announced Pavano as the opening-day starter way back in early February, I knew we were in for a long season...

**FDWxMan** · 03-24-2012, 03:21 PM

Originally Posted by clonehenge

From the looks of that video Mauer is going to be playing some 1st base...which makes me think Morneau may not be ready to go quite yet...hopefully Morneau makes it back and isn't done because of concussions...it's taken him awhile to even get where he's at now.

Going to be interesting to see how they do without Nathan, Cuddyer, and Kubel.

Over the last week or so, a lot of the reports seem to be that Morneau is going to be mostly a DH this year. Or at least more DH than 1B.

**DistrictCyclone** · 03-24-2012, 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by FDWxMan

Over the last week or so, a lot of the reports seem to be that Morneau is going to be mostly a DH this year. Or at least more DH than 1B.

I though we signed Doumit to be the everyday DH, but I haven't read much in the past couple weeks. Does this mean Doumit will be playing more C with Mauer playing more 1B?

**FDWxMan** · 03-24-2012, 03:36 PM

Originally Posted by DistrictCyclone

I though we signed Doumit to be the everyday DH, but I haven't read much in the past couple weeks. Does this mean Doumit will be playing more C with Mauer playing more 1B?

Possibly...but it sounds like they might try to get away with Doumit playing some first as well.

Morneau made 7th straight start at DH today.

Here's one of the articles.

The nice thing if Morneau is the DH more often than not, the Doumit can really be the true backup catcher and they won't have as much a need for Butera. If Doumit is always DHing, then if something happens to Mauer they would have to punt the DH spot to move Doumit mid-game.

The prospect of him out at first is pretty scary though, so we'll see. Parmelee having a nice spring too and they actually threw him into RF today.

**Iastfan112** · 03-24-2012, 03:50 PM

Originally Posted by FDWxMan

Possibly...but it sounds like they might try to get away with Doumit playing some first as well.

Morneau made 7th straight start at DH today.

Here's one of the articles.

The nice thing if Morneau is the DH more often than not, the Doumit can really be the true backup catcher and they won't have as much a need for Butera. If Doumit is always DHing, then if something happens to Mauer they would have to punt the DH spot to move Doumit mid-game.

The prospect of him out at first is pretty scary though, so we'll see. Parmelee having a nice spring too and they actually threw him into RF today.

I'm guessing when/if Morneau's bat gets really going you'll see him move back to 1st more consistently. Right now it just feels like the focus is on getting bat back to par.

**VikesFan28** · 03-24-2012, 03:54 PM

We're absolutely annihilating the Rays. Morneau hit his 2nd homer of the day. 14-2 after 4 innings.

**FDWxMan** · 03-24-2012, 04:05 PM

Originally Posted by Iastfan112

I'm guessing when/if Morneau's bat gets really going you'll see him move back to 1st more consistently. Right now it just feels like the focus is on getting bat back to par.

I don't know...he reaggrivated the concussion last year diving for a ground ball.

Frankly I'd rather he not be out there. I don't know what the 1B solution would be, but I'd rather he just DH and get a full year of health before trying to put him back out there.

If you get him on a roll at DH, I'd just as soon not mess with it.

But you're probably right, they'll probably try to ease him back out there.