Twins Preview '09

After an offseaon that featured the multi billionaire owner dying, the biggest free agent signing in years of a past his prime guy who hasn't played a full season in 2 years, and Nick Punto still being a shitty baseball player, it's time for my gut reaction preview of each position.

Starting pitching - B+

If Franchise Liriano returns to 2006 form, this could easily be an A-. But we have to assume that youngsters Baker, Blackburn, Slowey and Perkins won't get as lucky as they did last year. I could easily see 2 of these guys having below average to very shitty seasons, given their lack of electric stuff. Ok, that was depressing. Let's downgrade this to a B-.

Relief Pitching - This group scares the shit out of me and single handedly cost us the playoffs last year (not in the final game itself, but in the many collapses throughout the season, including the unforgettable game when Nathan threw a routine play at 3rd base into the bullpen and allowed the Oakland A's to score 2 in the bottom of the 9th. Fuck that pissed me off.) Nathan needs to stop hyperventilating on the mound and needs to bring back the heat. I think his fastball is down to a very hittable 90-92 mph. Let's go with a C- for this group.

1st Base - Justin Morneau. He'd be an A+ if he weren't Canadian. A.

2nd Base - Alexi Casilla, which sounds like a girls name, is surprisingly not terrible. He can steal and field. Brendan Harris improved his .185 average in the second half of the season. I'll go with a B-.

SS - Nick Punto with Harris as a backup. A good glove will only get you so far. Punto will hit .217 this year, with 12 RBI's, 7 SB's and 1 homer in 450 AB's. D-.

3rd base - Was I the only Twins fan not that excited by the Joe Crede signing? Would starting a younger Brian Buscher with 500% more upside be that bad? Oh well, we know Crede's back will only last a few months and Buscher will get the starting nod. Both of them are decent hitters that play good defense. It would be awesome if Crede started taking HGH and steroids again. B.

Outfield - We actually have a good problem in that we have 4 outfielders trying for 3 spots. Carlos Gomez, who may break Rickey Henderson's record someday, will also break the record for "Most shitty at bats attempting to bunt for an infield single". Michael Cuddyer is back healthy again (allegedly). Denard Span is really fast and really good. He's like Gomez, except he can hit and doesn't make shitty plays in the outfield. And finally there is Delmon Young, who once hit an umpire with a bat. I say Young sits and the rest start. Nobody in this group will have the power stats, but they can hit, score runs and play great defense (except when Gomez slides and gives up inside the parkers). B+.

DH - Jason Kubbel - Looks like one of the bad guy from one of those James Bond movies in the 70's. A decent hitter. I give him a solid B.

Catcher - Mauer. Or as one blogger on here named appropriately named him "Butt Stink". Great hitter for average. Power numbers suck because he would rather have his swing look pretty than swing for fences. Led league last year in "grounders hit to 2nd basemen to cause inning ending double plays." There is a lot of hate for sideburn Joe, but the bottom line is, if he were your catcher, you would take him in a second. A-.

Generic-ass Team prediction. 91-71 and lose 1-0 to Cleveland in a one-game tie-breaker.

I don't think we have enough talent (or did enough in the off-season) to take the next step. I think our young pitchers pitched out of their ass last year. I see too many teams catching on to their amazing "over the plate" pitch.