2013 MLB Team Preview: Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are usually in the hunt but they have fallen on hard times the last few seasons. Their 2012 lineup had a few nice surprises but the pitching was absolutely miserable.
- American League Central Odds: +2250
- Odds to win AL Pennant: +10000
- Odds to win World Series: +20000
Key Additions:
Jeff Clement (1B), Kevin Correia (P), Vance Worley (P)
Key Subtractions:
Ben Revere (OF), Denard Span (OF),
They made a couple of moves to at least add some major league quality arms over the offseason but they are still going to struggle to be competitive. That is because they lost two thirds of their outfield from last year and they are not replacing them with improvements. 2013 looks like more of the same for the Twins. There is not much to get excited about.
Offense – There are some familiar names on this team but not much pop. It may be sacrilege in the state of Minnesota but to me Joe Mauer is one of the most overrated players in the majors and has been for a while. I acknowledge that he knows how to handle the stick but he has never had 100 RBIs or 100 runs scored in a season.
There is upside from some unknown quantities in the lineup, chief among them corner man Trevor Plouffe. For a month he was the best slugger in the game but he faded badly in the second half. 2B Jamey Carroll really shouldn’t be starting for anybody and the Twins are batting him second.
Projected Lineup
- CF – Darin Mastroianni
- 2B – Jamey Caroll
- C – Joe Mauer
- LF – Josh Willingham
- 1B – Justin Mourneau
- DH – Ryan Doumit
- RF – Chris Parmelee
- 3B – Trevor Plouffe
- SS – Pedor Forimon Jr.
Pitching – The rotation may have more experience coming into this season but all the arms on the staff are one’s that other team’s didn’t really want. Vance Worley and Kevin Correia had occasional success with Philadelphia and Pittsburgh respectively but neither team saw them as part of their future.
Given the state of the team overall the Twins management was looking for players that would at least make them competitive on paper but really don’t have much upside. Scott Diamond was way better than anyone could have expected last season but all the statheads out there are already predicting a major regression in 2013. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
The bullpen as a unit might be the most competitive aspect of the team. Glen Perkins may not be the most fearsome closer but he was getting the job done last season and Jared Burton was once very highly thought of in the Reds system.
The Twins probably carry more long relievers than any other team out there because they know there are going to be some days where they just get shelled.
Projected Rotation
- Scott Diamond
- Vance Worley
- Kevin Correia
- Mike Pelfrey
- Liam Hendriks
- Projected Bullpen
- Glen Perkins
- Jared Burton
- Brian Duensing
- Anthony Swarzak
Projection: 5th place American League Central
The Twins and Astros should wage a nice battle for the worst team in the American League and likely the Majors. Minnesota is usually good in player development but the wave after Mauer and Mourneau has failed to have an impact and they have little to show from the deals they have made.
Last year they had the second worst pitching in the league and this year it will only be marginally better….with no guarantees.
For bettors Minnesota banked 6+ units on the road last season.
They won 43% of their roadies as compared to 38% at home, a rare split given the state of the club. I am not sure there is enough to read into that stat heading into this season, the same way that there is little to glean from the fact that the Twins were a perfect 6-0 in double-header games.
The truth is this team is bad in so many ways that they are probably worth fading throughout.
That strategy would have netted you 13 units last year.
