Unless you’re a blindly loyal fan, or the Minnesota Twins sign your paycheck, chances are you have minimal hopes about the local team winning the World Series this year. The National Sports Advisors Web site, for example, sets the Twins odds at 50/1 to win the series (www.nsawins.com). The Boston Red Sox are 4/1 favorites, the most popular choice to become baseball’s champions (again).
Rebuilding season? Developmental year? Choose whatever term pleases your keyboard but expectations are understandably low for the Twins while they prepare for the season during spring training in Florida. A poll of fans and media predicting the order of finish in the American League Central Division probably would look like this: Detroit, Cleveland, Chicago, Minnesota and Kansas City.
The Twins have impact players to be sure. Guys like reliever Joe Nathan, catcher Joe Mauer, first baseman Justin Morneau, and outfielders Delmon Young and Michael Cuddyer. It’s just that trying to make sense of the starting pitching is like peering into a cosmic black hole.
The infield is unsettled, too, with third baseman Mike Lamb, shortstop Adam Everett and second baseman Brendan Harris needing to prove themselves. It’s interesting, too, that high potential second baseman Alexi Castilla, the starter at season’s end last year, is apparently headed to the bench or the minor leagues. Some how, too, you have to believe the versatile Nick Punto, who can play third, short, and second, will be part of manager Ron Gardenhire’s plans.
If the Mets trade had brought immediate, proven help, fans would have a little more bounce in their steps while they followed spring training. The guess here is that eventually 18-year-old pitcher Deolis Guerra will be the prize player from the deal that sent Johan Santana to New York for four players.
In the meantime, the Twins will continue to draw comment for not improving themselves more in a deal for Santana, a two time Cy Young winner. The second guessing could really be intense this summer in New York if Santana and the Mets are rolling, and the Yankees, who couldn’t pull off a deal with the Twins, are struggling.
Watch to see whether the Twins can sign Nathan to a contract extension. If they don’t do it sometime soon and then the team isn’t competitive by late spring, a trade seems likely. It might be that kind of season.