MLB: 2015 Minnesota Twins thread

Steve

Well-Known Member
Apr 11, 2006
4,211
778
113
Pre-season is the time for optimism so I'll take the plunge and expect a 85 win season. I actually see enough upgrades from last year to justify the thought of winning an additional 13 games.

If nothing else, Santana can save the bullpen by eating up 200 innings. He got back on track last year by fixing a mechanics flaw that hurt his effectiveness the previous several years.

I don't see much of a regression from Hughes. Last year wasn't a lucky fluke or playing above his talent level. He was simply more consistent after scrapping his slider. His fastball/cutter/curve mix is more than enough to get hitters out. He is working on adding a few more changeups, but he will be fine as long as he leaves the slider alone.

Gibson should be a few games better as a starter. He tired down the stretch last year in his first full season after the elbow surgery. This spring he is reportedly stronger and has added about 3 mph to his fastball. The added strength should make his go-to sinker pitch much more effective.

Nolasco can't be any worse this year. If he is, he won't have a spot in the rotation by July with some of the other potential starters available. He did the team a disservice last year by not coming clean about the nagging injuries that affected him the majority of the season. When he finally got properly rehabbed, he finished strong with 5 September starts with a sub 3 ERA.

The 5th starter spot at least has multiple options. Meyer has the most upside and still appears to have ace potential. This spring as well as AAA last year, he has shown that he can dominate is spite of issuing 4 plus walks per game. He will never be a pinpoint control pitcher with his height, but he doesn't have to be given his stuff. He won't be on the active roster until at least July due to contract experience credit, but he will likely get his feet wet later in the year.

Any of the other 3 fifth starter candidates will probably be an upgrade from the guys the Twins trotted out last year. May struggled during a 0-4 Aug debut last year. He settled in and had a couple of quality starts in Sep. He has had a solid spring, but his lack of innings suggest that he is not leading the starter competition.

Both Milone and Pelfrey have a track record of being serviceable #5 starters - just not with the Twins. Their struggles with the Twins are tied to injuries. Elbow for Pelfrey and neck nerve for Milone. Both are supposedly healthy and ready to go following corrective surgeries. Both have been decent but not dominant this spring. The Twins have more invested in Pelfrey, but Milone is the only LH starter. If I had to guess, the Twins begin the season with Milone starting and Pelfrey in long relief.

The other big improvement for the Twins will be corner outfield defense. They were the worst in the league last year with the likes of Willingham, Arcia in right, Collabello, and Parmelee. They will not be gold glove level, but will at least close the gap this year. Arcia looked like the bad news bears at times trying to play the right field caroms in Target Field. He will be a huge upgrade this year over Willingham in left. Hunter has slipped from his former gold glove level, but still has the veteran experience to handle the quirks of right in Target Field.

While it might only last as long as the next injury, Mauer claims that he had his best offseason in several years. I'm hoping that Molly breaks the mold and improves two spots in the batting order. Sliding Mauer to the 2 hole and Dozier to 3 would make better use of both of their skills.

Other random improvements are that the Twins will not begin the season with the likes of Kubel at DH and Bartlett and Florimon at SS. Escobar had a breakout year in '14 and looks to have raised the bar even more this spring. If D Santana can hold down the SS position, Escobar can win some games this year in the role of super sub.

The two biggest questions that I have are at catcher and DH. Suzuki played at a career best level for the first 4 months, but wore down when the dog days of August hit. The Twins probably need to utilize the yet to be determined backup catcher more this year. Vargas has shown his power and run production in the minors, his call up last year, and this spring. Molitor believes that he can be a complete hitter and is working with him to tweak his approach to develop as a hitter. The success or failure of the Vargas development can be a 5 win swing in either direction. If his hitting goes south, Rosario is probably the call up whose swing is closest to being major league ready. He tore up the AFL last fall. He could slide into an OF slot and let Arcia/Hunter/Escobar share the DH duties.

The bullpen is probably a year away from being playoff quality. The Twins minor league system has the best collection of power arm relievers that I can recall. The issue is that none of them will start the year going north with the big club. There are 4-5 guys who are locks to begin the season along with 2-3 guys still battling for spots. I don't see any of them as locks to be there all season - including Perkins. I expect that a couple of guys in the pen will pitch themselves out of a spot and open the door for some of the younger hard throwers later in the year.
 

VikesFan22

Well-Known Member
Nov 9, 2011
16,574
1,315
113
Ames, IA
Glad to see a thread on the Twins with fans like you guys. I'll excited for this year. I'm tired of 90+ losses and I'm thinking we break that steak. I'm really hoping we see Sano and Buxton in action. There's a lot of hype around them.
 

Dormeezy

Well-Known Member
Nov 2, 2006
1,301
158
63
Cedar Rapids
Oh, I hope it doesn't happen either. I'm just saying I didn't take advantage of the chance to see him in CR, and I wouldn't pass it up again if it came along.

Nick Gordon should be on the Kernels roster this year (likely for the entire season) so that is a guy worth checking out in CR.
 

JSmoove

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Jan 19, 2012
797
370
63
2611 Helser, Louden
Nick Gordon should be on the Kernels roster this year (likely for the entire season) so that is a guy worth checking out in CR.
Definitely check this guy out. Plus the Kernels stadium really isnt that bad and is one of the better places to be on a nice summer night in Cedar Rapids.
 

VikesFan22

Well-Known Member
Nov 9, 2011
16,574
1,315
113
Ames, IA
Definitely check this guy out. Plus the Kernels stadium really isnt that bad and is one of the better places to be on a nice summer night in Cedar Rapids.
My hometown is 15 miles north of Cedar Rapids so I went to quite a few Kernels games. Games were even better when my family would go for my dad's work outings where we could eat as many hot dogs, brats and burgers as we wanted in a certain amount of time.
 

somecyguy

Well-Known Member
Jun 19, 2006
3,522
4,003
113
The kernels changing to a Twins affiliate was really quite a coup. I enjoy going to a few games a year, but being an Angels minor league team doesn't really move the needle.
 

clone52

Well-Known Member
Jun 27, 2006
8,320
4,460
113
I'm in the same boat as you. If Hughes was consistent, he would still be wearing pinstripes. It was nice to see his name last year and actually feeling like we were going to win when he took the mound, though.

I look for Gibson to make a jump this year. He has great stuff, but was really up and down last year.

I'm curious to see how Molly manages this group.

I don't think Hughes will be quite as amazing as last year, but I don't think there will be a huge dropoff. Target field fits him better and I think Hughes kind of wilted under the bright lights of New York.
 

CTTB78

Well-Known Member
Apr 7, 2006
9,540
4,518
113
Rosario is probably the call up whose swing is closest to being major league ready. He tore up the AFL last fall. He could slide into an OF slot and let Arcia/Hunter/Escobar share the DH duties.....
.

I think Molitor likes Rosario in the line up over Arcia. Arcia may be falling into that undisciplined player label that usually does not go over well with the Twins.
 

Steve

Well-Known Member
Apr 11, 2006
4,211
778
113
I don't think Hughes will be quite as amazing as last year, but I don't think there will be a huge dropoff. Target field fits him better and I think Hughes kind of wilted under the bright lights of New York.

While Hughes' Target Field splits were better in '14 compared to Yankee Stadium in '13, his away splits also improved considerably and were much better than his home splits. This is more evidence that the main reason for his improvement was the change in pitch mix by dumping the slider and relying more on his above average curve.

Both Hughes and the Twins are confident that he can repeat his success based on the 3 year extension that ties him to the Twins for 5 more years. The Twins actually wanted another year or two in the deal, but Hughes camp believes that he can continue to establish himself as a top line pitcher for the next 5 years. Their goal is to be able to hit the open market a age 34 to finish his career with a top dollar contract. The next 5 years should be a win-win for Hughes and the Twins.
 

RING4CY

Well-Known Member
Bookie
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Mar 20, 2010
8,915
2,085
113
Ames, IA
Our Paulie,
who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy stadium come.
Thy will be done.
On grass as it is at Target Field.
Give us this day our daily runs.
And forgive us our errors, as we laugh at those who error against us.
And lead us not into extra innings,
but deliver us from the White Sox.
For Mauer has the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.
Twins win.
 

VikesFan22

Well-Known Member
Nov 9, 2011
16,574
1,315
113
Ames, IA
No one's mentioned Santana? I wasn't happy to hear about his suspension for nearly half the season for PED use. That really hurts us.
 

stormchaser2014

Well-Known Member
Mar 12, 2012
23,831
12,671
113
Wisconsin
Will be in Minneapolis this summer when the Yankees are there. Of course the prices are jacked up that weekend. Obviously I'm not a fan of either team, but it will cross those 2 off my list as well as Target Field.
 

mj4cy

Asst. Regional Manager
Staff member
Mar 28, 2006
31,832
14,792
113
Iowa
Well...still undefeated. Twins at least won't have to face Verlander. Without Santana, this pitching rotation is a whole pile of yuck.
 

Mtowncyclone13

Well-Known Member
Oct 10, 2012
20,023
9,769
113
grundy center
If Buxton is sent back to CR, I'm making a trip over for a game. Made the drive over last summer when Mauer did a rehab stint with the Kernels.

I went to Mauer's HS (even wore our old baseball shirt) and ran into some old teachers a the Jimmy Buffet night last summer. Mauer wouldn't sign even autographs. Went from my favorite MLB player to "meh" in an instant.

I have no expectations for the season other than please don't be worse than last year.
 

mj4cy

Asst. Regional Manager
Staff member
Mar 28, 2006
31,832
14,792
113
Iowa
I went to Mauer's HS (even wore our old baseball shirt) and ran into some old teachers a the Jimmy Buffet night last summer. Mauer wouldn't sign even autographs. Went from my favorite MLB player to "meh" in an instant.

I have no expectations for the season other than please don't be worse than last year.

Did he say why he wouldn't? I suppose some of that could be from his agent or contractually....which IMO sucks.

At some point, Twins need to move on from Mauer and use his salary to bolster young guys and young talent.
 

coolerifyoudid

Well-Known Member
Feb 8, 2013
17,320
27,037
113
KC
Will be in Minneapolis this summer when the Yankees are there. Of course the prices are jacked up that weekend. Obviously I'm not a fan of either team, but it will cross those 2 off my list as well as Target Field.

The only obvious thing is to cheer against the Yankees if you're not a fan of either team. I'm pretty sure it's a law.
 

mj4cy

Asst. Regional Manager
Staff member
Mar 28, 2006
31,832
14,792
113
Iowa
Only took a couple innings for the Twins to be the Twins...sigh.