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[Vikefan79]

Old thread is almost 100 pages and I don't think Tdub has posted in awhile.

Time for us to take the Central....again

2011 Projected Lineup
1. Denard Span CF
2. Tsuyoshi Nishioka 2B
3. Joe Mauer C
4. Justin Morneau 1B
5. Michael Cuddyer RF
6. Delmon Young LF
7. Jason Kubel DH
8. Danny Valencia 3B
9. Alexi Casilla SS

2011 Starting Rotation
1. Carl PAvano
2. Fransisco Liriano
3. Scott Baker
4. Brian Duensing
5. Nick Blackburn

Some questions entering 2011 season
1. Will we see Justin Morneau return to his old form?

2. Will Joe Nathan be a top 3 closer in baseball again?

3. Have we finally found our second basemen in Nishioka?

4. Was Valencia a one year wonder at 3rd base?

5. Will there be enough at bats for Cuddyer, Thome, Kubel, and Young?

6. Can our bullpen with the losses of Crain, Rauch and Guerrier still be successful?

7. Is a rotation of Pavano, Liriano, Baker, Duensing, and Blackburn good enough to win the central again?

8. Are the Twins even after the moves the White Sox and Tigers made the best team in the Central?

9. Will Casilla finally take advantage of his opportunity to start?

10. What player is most likely to be traded if the Twins need to make a move to improve the team?


Season starts April 1st @ Toronto
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[The Gnat]

Alright time to answer questions:

1. I think he returns near that, I also think that we will see him DH'ed more often and more Cuddyer at first and Kubel in right than we have in previous years.

2. So far he has looked good in spring training with three scoreless outings. I think that he will be top 10, not back 100% though, and I think that Capps will get some chances too, just to keep Nathan from being over worked.

3. I am going to say yes, but I'm also going to say that he isn't elite. I think he is going to be a solid hitter .280 average with a little gap power and a decent OBP, which I'll take.

3. My thoughts on Valencia are that he's been hitting this spring, I see no reason that he isn't the third basemen for a little while longer for the Twins. He might not be a masher at third, but he is going to be solid.

5. Trying to figure out this one, I'm going to say "no", and the reason for the quotes is because there are going to be enough at bats for Cuddyer, Kubel, and Young, but Thome, not as much, but having Thome as a pinch hitter is a pretty good thing.

6. If history has taught us one thing with the Twins bull pen, every year it is considered to be a weakness, and every year it does well, will it be as statistically good as last year, I doubt it, but with Nathan back and Neshek back we have a solid foursome back there with Capps and Mijares, there will be rough patches, but overall it will be solid.

7. It is good enough to compete, if we win the Central again or not is going to depend on the batting order. The starting staff will keep us in games, but, it will depend on the likes of Delmon Young and Jason Kubel if the Twins win the central or not.

8. It is going to be very tough, like it always is. I have faith in the Twins, but I have a feeling it is going to be a dog fight the whole way through.

9. Define take advantage, play good defense and bat better than Nick Punto, yes, he will do that, will he have a repeat of 2008, I doubt it, I think he will have a 2010 type of season, where he batted a decent .270, but I don't have faith in him to play much better than that.

10. Jason Kubel, has value as a power bat to many other teams and would clear up a log jam and potentially make room for someone like Ben Revere to take over a starting OF position and Cuddyer to make the move to 1B and Morneau to DH.
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Gnat's Movie Reviews

[The Gnat]

Morneau got some action today in a B game, he doubled and drove in two and grounded out in the two at bats that I know of, and he scored a run on a bloop single and slid into home plate.
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Gnat's Movie Reviews

[Vikefan79]

[Canadian Saint]

Can Hughes play SS?

I wouldn't mind giving him a shot over Casilla at SS if his fielding is up to par.

With regards to Valencia, I like the solid 3B projection. Not a huge hitter, but a solid .280 BA

Biggest issue for us to win the Central this year will be pitching.

If Liriano can continue to play at high level, and Slowey and Baker put in better years and Duensing takes a step forward, then we have a good shot to win the central.

I really wanted up to improve the OF D to be honest.
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^^^ Props to SHSTE92

NFL: New Orleans Saints
NHL: Edmonton Oilers
MLB: Minnesota Twins/ Toronto Blue Jays
NBA: Phoenix Suns/Toronto Raptors

[Vikefan79]

http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/271793?eref=fromSI

While Twins Nation looks for some news on when Joe Mauer might start catching again, a would-be battery mate is also being watched closely: Kevin Slowey. Toronto had three scouts -- including one with a video camera -- watching Slowey during his three-inning outing during the B-game. The Blue Jays have relievers to offer if they want to make a play for Slowey.
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[McNabbMcFadden]

Joe Nathan didn't look so good today.
Since I like the twins a little I don't really want to see you guys play bad.
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[Vikefan79]

[Vikefan79]

http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/blogs/118292389.html

[Vikefan79]

Mauer had a great game today.
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[iavikefn]

Evidently Pat Neshek has been traded.

"I just got news that I am now a member of the San Diego Padres, packing up & heading west."

[url]http://twitter.com/#!/PatNeshek/status/49527294317953024[/url]
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For immediate reaction to the NBA Draft happenings, go here.

[Vikefan79]

I read he was claimed off waivers. That kinda sucks!
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[Robbroy45]

[Vikefan79]

http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110322&content_id=17070068&vkey=news_min&c_id=min

[The Gnat]