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Taking KB's idea and hoping that we can all get a little insight about our home clubs.
Looking at the 2013 Twins, there's not much to get hopeful about, IMO. The offense could be downright pathetic, the Defense OK, and the pitching better than last year, but still abysmal.
Catcher
Joe Mauer bounced back big time last year, and was one of 2 catchers to go .300/80/80. He tossed in 8 steals to boot. He's always an injury risk, but I doubt that he'll catch anywhere close to 100 games this season, so he should be fine.
Infield
This is a sore spot indeed, you could have as many as 3 black holes for average, and absolutely no power or speed in the middle infield. Pedro Florimon is the leader to start as SS...he has no power, a horrible BA, and mediocre speed, which really won't matter since he's not going to get on base enough to use it. He is however, a defensive whiz for those of you who use defensive metrics in your leagues. Brian Dozier is going to give it a go at 2nd...again, not much of an average, bit potential double digits in Homers and steals if he gets 500 AB's. Jamey Carroll is likely to back up all infield positons other than 1st, he's a WYSIWYG guy at this stage of his career. Empty average and little else. Eduardo Escobar could get one of the slots, if the other fail...nothing to see here either.
At 1st base, you have former MVP and concussion victim Justin Morneau...I look for him to bounce back and have a good year. Say, 25+ HR's and close to 100 RBI, if there's anyone to drive in. They keep trying to replace Trevor Plouffe, but they have NOTHING close to being ready. Eventually Miguel Sano is going to be there, but probably not until 2015. So you have Trev, who has good power, and little else. But he's going to be there...so expect 20 HR's with about a .230 or so average and not
much else.
Outfield
Apparently, the Twins feel so good about there OF situation that they decided to trade their only legitimate center fielders...I guess that they needed the power arms they got in return, but it leaves them with Darin Mastroianni as the starting CF as of right now. He'll give you a little power, a lot of speed, and probably some splinters in his ass when they decide to bring Aaron hicks up full time, most likely in June. Hicks is the former wunderkind who hit some hard times, disappeared off most people's radar, and then returned last year in AA to have a solid season. He projects to have good speed, moderate power, and a pretty good approach at the plate. He's worth a late round flyer in very deep leagues. Chris Parmalee is going to be the RFer, and he's unlikely to do anything special...good power potential and a middling average, he'll also qualify at 1st. Keep an eye on him early...he could surprise. And Willingham will do what he does, hit a lot of homers, and probably get injured along the way, and then get traded for something come July. But he is a certified major league hitter, so that's something.
Pitching
Ugh, the less said about this the better, they should finish last in the majors in K's, and really have no #1, or #2, Or #3...they have several four and five guys however, so that'll be something to look forward to. Pelfrey, Corria, Diamond, Worley, and former 1st rounder and TJ recipient Kyle Gibson, should eventually form the starting rotation. Ugh. Other than Glen Perkins, the bullpen is likely to be Ugh as well...nothing to see here, IMO.
The good thing is that the farm system is very good, and the Twins have finally decided that pitching to contact really doesn't work all that well. So eyel are on 2015 and beyond, with the hope that these kids are as good as some scouts say thay are.
Looking at the 2013 Twins, there's not much to get hopeful about, IMO. The offense could be downright pathetic, the Defense OK, and the pitching better than last year, but still abysmal.
Catcher
Joe Mauer bounced back big time last year, and was one of 2 catchers to go .300/80/80. He tossed in 8 steals to boot. He's always an injury risk, but I doubt that he'll catch anywhere close to 100 games this season, so he should be fine.
Infield
This is a sore spot indeed, you could have as many as 3 black holes for average, and absolutely no power or speed in the middle infield. Pedro Florimon is the leader to start as SS...he has no power, a horrible BA, and mediocre speed, which really won't matter since he's not going to get on base enough to use it. He is however, a defensive whiz for those of you who use defensive metrics in your leagues. Brian Dozier is going to give it a go at 2nd...again, not much of an average, bit potential double digits in Homers and steals if he gets 500 AB's. Jamey Carroll is likely to back up all infield positons other than 1st, he's a WYSIWYG guy at this stage of his career. Empty average and little else. Eduardo Escobar could get one of the slots, if the other fail...nothing to see here either.
At 1st base, you have former MVP and concussion victim Justin Morneau...I look for him to bounce back and have a good year. Say, 25+ HR's and close to 100 RBI, if there's anyone to drive in. They keep trying to replace Trevor Plouffe, but they have NOTHING close to being ready. Eventually Miguel Sano is going to be there, but probably not until 2015. So you have Trev, who has good power, and little else. But he's going to be there...so expect 20 HR's with about a .230 or so average and not
much else.
Outfield
Apparently, the Twins feel so good about there OF situation that they decided to trade their only legitimate center fielders...I guess that they needed the power arms they got in return, but it leaves them with Darin Mastroianni as the starting CF as of right now. He'll give you a little power, a lot of speed, and probably some splinters in his ass when they decide to bring Aaron hicks up full time, most likely in June. Hicks is the former wunderkind who hit some hard times, disappeared off most people's radar, and then returned last year in AA to have a solid season. He projects to have good speed, moderate power, and a pretty good approach at the plate. He's worth a late round flyer in very deep leagues. Chris Parmalee is going to be the RFer, and he's unlikely to do anything special...good power potential and a middling average, he'll also qualify at 1st. Keep an eye on him early...he could surprise. And Willingham will do what he does, hit a lot of homers, and probably get injured along the way, and then get traded for something come July. But he is a certified major league hitter, so that's something.
Pitching
Ugh, the less said about this the better, they should finish last in the majors in K's, and really have no #1, or #2, Or #3...they have several four and five guys however, so that'll be something to look forward to. Pelfrey, Corria, Diamond, Worley, and former 1st rounder and TJ recipient Kyle Gibson, should eventually form the starting rotation. Ugh. Other than Glen Perkins, the bullpen is likely to be Ugh as well...nothing to see here, IMO.
The good thing is that the farm system is very good, and the Twins have finally decided that pitching to contact really doesn't work all that well. So eyel are on 2015 and beyond, with the hope that these kids are as good as some scouts say thay are.
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