Countdown to Opening Day: #27 Minnesota Twins

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Lansdale Reporter

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

#27: Minnesota Twins: You Twins some, you lose some

PROJECTED LINEUP
CF Aaron Hicks
SS Brian Dozier
C Joe Mauer
LF Josh Willingham
1B Justin Morneau
DH Ryan Doumit

3B Trevor Plouffe
RF Chris Parmelee
2B Jamey Carroll

PROJECTED ROTATION

Vance Worley
Scott Diamond
Kevin Correa
Liam Hendriks
Kyle Gibson

PROJECTED BULLPEN

Closer: Glenn Perkins

Set-up: Jared Burton

Top Prospect: Kyle Gibson (RHP)

Kyle Gibson

Days after Joe Mauer gives birth to Twins (no joke), we take a look at what happen to mid-market contenders of the 2000s. It seems like it was the perfect storm and not even Ron Gardenhire, one of my favorite managers, could handle it. Months before opening up Target Field they signed Mauer to an eight-year, 184 million dollar deal. Not only has Mauer been unable to be more than a good batting average, Target Field was built for pitchers - not hitters.
So as Mauer and Justin Morneau's health and homers decreased, the pitching staff was nowhere near up to snub. Johan Santana was traded, Francisco Liriano was erratic, and nobody liked playing outdoors in the cold Minny weather.
Enter 2013 and the pitching is still a problem, though it seems reinforcements are on their way. There is not a bigger fan of Kyle Gibson than me, but if the Opening Day nod goes to their off-season prize aquistion, Vance Worley, signifying her is the most established pitcher, they are in trouble this summer.
Like I said earlier, if Gardy has any resemblance of talent the Twins could sneak up on people, but with young faces in important places (Aaron Hicks in center field, Brian Dozier at shortstop), the Twins are probably a year or two away.
Mauer has not been a complete bust, still one of the best catchers in the game, but it will be a long time for the Twinkies burst their budget on one player again. They have been strapped ever since.

Joe Mauer

THEY CALL ME MR. SUNSHINE - After two seasons in the cellar the Twins have finally learned how to play to their ballpark. The Twins have sewed up the defense up the middle and added tons of depth to the starting pitching. They may not have the sexy ace, but they are eight deep and all at different times will be able to keep the Twins in the ballgame. Mauer and Morneau return to 2008-2010 form and along with Josh Willingham they have one of the most balanced teams in the bigs.

REAL TALK - While they do have promising players and big-time sluggers they just do not compare with the Detroit Tigers and the other teams in the AL Central. The Twins could be selling off every ounce of value come July, leaving Mauer with 24 muts for another wasted season in .

his home tow.

Breakout: Kyle Gibson (RHP)

Bust: Vance Worley (RHP)

Fantasy Baseball Sleeper: Trevor Plouffe (3B)

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 66-96 (5th in AL Central)

PROJECTED 2013 FINISH: 68-94 (5th in AL Central)

**Check back tomorrow for the Milwaukee Brewers**