I am actually very optimistic about this club. It's been a long time since we had four credible starters in the rotation. Heck, it's been a long time since we had three

I never had much luck with filling inside straights, but let's say you are right. If the Twins get on a roll and a pace for 85 wins, several things will happen. The normal glacial pace of change by the FO will slow even more. Not wanting to disrupt a new winning atmosphere the roster will stay as is. The story line will be all about the race for the wild card, or so the story will go. And the Twins would/could/maybe/might end up in third place? Is that what is best for the orginisation going forward? This roster will struggle to make .500. If it doesn't and gets blown up it still won't make .500. But it will be laying the groundwork for the future. And there should not be one decision that this team makes, that does not look to that future!

I generally agree, Stringer.  The key to baseball is good starting pitching and the Twins have their best rotation in years.  They scored plenty of runs last year and certainly can be a 500 ballclub.

The Twins will incorporate younger players when they are ready, sometimes earlier as they have done with several players.  I believe they are coming north with a group they believe gives them the best chance to win some games early and change the losing culture.  Its a long season with plenty of time to change out parts as things develop.

Sorry, optimism is not to be found in many of us fans for good reasons.  When we are not just reading Twin centric postings and look at other sites we get a sense that no one even wants to talk about the Twins.  The Tigers look good with three potential studs in the rotation and massive bats in the lineup.  Cleveland is developing a quality staff (note developing not free agents, not wily old vets) and is picked by some. The White Sox got hitters and pitchers and is the most improved time but still third. KC went to the world series and is picked fourth.  That is the division - oh wait, the Twins are there too.  Maybe a slightly better than last year fifth.

I keep looking for optimism and I would rather than a really young club that did have a future.

Starting pitching should be better which should take some stress off of the suspect bullpen, but the bullpen feels like it will be worse (at least initially). Runs scored should be in the top half of the AL, but defensively the outfield could be a real mess. Different in-game approaches by the new management team should be helpful this year.

I don't see 85 wins this year but could see 78-80...with a LOT of prospects making their Target Field debuts during the last three months of the season.

I'm fairly optimistic this year, but I've stopped thinking in terms of a wave or group of prospects that will all arrive together. They will come one at a time and with no particular rhyme or reason. The Twins seem too willing to extend the older ballplayers, limiting open spots and flexibility. 3/5 of the rotation is under contract for no less than the next three seasons, leaving no room for a possible intriguing core of guys that might have included Gibson, May, Meyer and Berrios. The Twins are capable of playing .500 which will be fun for a change, but .500 is their ceiling for the foreseeable future.

I'm optimistic also, for a much better season and to verify the Twins are turning the corner. Yes there are some holes, like the outfield especially CF, but the stopgaps in place have better alternatives on the way. I believe several of those get their chance this year.

A personal observation. It seems there is plenty of optimism here. Some view this year as the beginning of change while others seem to hold theirs in the coming talent. The latter do however have a large level of pessimism that will take too long. I am still somewhat patient. We shall see next fall.

Well Stringer, you got your wish regarding Hicks.  I have to think that the Twins feel that Buxton may be ready sooner rather than later.  Otherwise I would have thought they would have given CF to Hicks or Rosario for most of the year to see if they could hack it.  It seems to me now that if he does well it's just icing on the cake.  They seem ready to move on from Hicks.

I suspect the AL Central is going to be a battle this year.  I think the winner may end up under 90 wins.  Chicago added some good pieces and Cleveland appears to be on the rise.  I think Detroit is destined to slip this year.  Martinez and Cabrera are having health issues and Verlander is a shell of his former self.  Kansas City is likely to regress. 

I have the Twins optimistically pegged at pushing for a .500 record.  It's conceivable that it might still lead to 5th place, but I think they will be improved.  The pitching staff has a chance to be league average if Nolasco and Santana pitch near their career averages.  I see no reason why the offense can't be near what they were last year, despite some candidates for regression. 

I really feel this will be a tough fight in the division as well.  I honestly could see all 5 teams within 5 games of each other.  The Twins will be tough and I think they will suprise alot of people.  I think they will finish above 500 although maybe a few games, but people will say where the hell did these guys come from.

I strongly beleive Nolasco had a injuy filled year with Gardy saying i dont care how you are feeling you are pitching no matter what.  I know it seems everyone hates him here but he will be a good pitcher in there now that we have a smart manager and pitching coach.

I think it's tough for people to separate optimism for an upcoming season from their disdain from past seasons. You have to be blind not to look at the current 25 man roster as it stands and not see considerable improvement year over year of the past four.

The Twins have four 90 plus loss seasons because they started out in such a bad place. The 25 man is in a competitive state from the get go, and instead of having to trade or pull from outside of the organization, the Twins stand to get better this season by calling up internal options.

I'm not quite at 85 wins, I have them at 79. However, I don't see an AL Central team winning 90 games, or losing 90. The Twins could definitely squeak into the wildcard if everything breaks their way, but the floor is also relatively high as well.

Well Stringer, you got your wish regarding Hicks.  I have to think that the Twins feel that Buxton may be ready sooner rather than later.  Otherwise I would have thought they would have given CF to Hicks or Rosario for most of the year to see if they could hack it.  It seems to me now that if he does well it's just icing on the cake.  They seem ready to move on from Hicks.

 

I suspect the AL Central is going to be a battle this year.  I think the winner may end up under 90 wins.  Chicago added some good pieces and Cleveland appears to be on the rise.  I think Detroit is destined to slip this year.  Martinez and Cabrera are having health issues and Verlander is a shell of his former self.  Kansas City is likely to regress. 

 

I have the Twins optimistically pegged at pushing for a .500 record.  It's conceivable that it might still lead to 5th place, but I think they will be improved.  The pitching staff has a chance to be league average if Nolasco and Santana pitch near their career averages.  I see no reason why the offense can't be near what they were last year, despite some candidates for regression. 

I wouldn't mind Aaron Hicks doing a Glen Perkins imitation.  Perk was thought to be a lost cause after being sent to the minors.  He came back and became an All-Star.  I have been of the opinion that Hicks had to be sent to the minors and it has come to that.  Now I can hope that he figures out how to use his tools to become a standout baseball player. 

Many are complaining that the rebuilding Twins are using zero rookies.  Remember Vargas and Santana didn't start 2014 with the club and Arcia was sent down briefly.  They are now considered the first wave of what could be something very exciting.  One of Rosario, Hicks or Buxton will man center field at some point this season and Miguel Sano will undoubtedly make some noise starting in Chattanooga.  Pitching and young fleet outfielders will make this club much better pretty soon.  I hope it is this year, but it will be soon.

I wouldn't mind Aaron Hicks doing a Glen Perkins imitation.  Perk was thought to be a lost cause after being sent to the minors.  He came back and became an All-Star.  I have been of the opinion that Hicks had to be sent to the minors and it has come to that.  Now I can hope that he figures out how to use his tools to become a standout baseball player. 

 

Many are complaining that the rebuilding Twins are using zero rookies.  Remember Vargas and Santana didn't start 2014 with the club and Arcia was sent down briefly.  They are now considered the first wave of what could be something very exciting.  One of Rosario, Hicks or Buxton will man center field at some point this season and Miguel Sano will undoubtedly make some noise starting in Chattanooga.  Pitching and young fleet outfielders will make this club much better pretty soon.  I hope it is this year, but it will be soon.

Very true, Stringer.   Also, we can't forget about the pitching side.   I think it's highly likely that both Meyer and May spend at least a decent portion of the season in Minnesota, with Berrios lurking in the shadows (September call-up?  2017?).   Plus all those power bullpen arms we've been starting to stockpile, Burdi and Reed, for two examples.   They should be making some positive noise in the not-too-distant future.

It appears to me that the tide has finally started to turn.   The roster on opening day may not bear a whole lot of resemblence to what we'll see prior to roster expansion on September 1, IMO.

Sorry, optimism is not to be found in many of us fans for good reasons.  When we are not just reading Twin centric postings and look at other sites we get a sense that no one even wants to talk about the Twins.  The Tigers look good with three potential studs in the rotation and massive bats in the lineup.  Cleveland is developing a quality staff (note developing not free agents, not wily old vets) and is picked by some. The White Sox got hitters and pitchers and is the most improved time but still third. KC went to the world series and is picked fourth.  That is the division - oh wait, the Twins are there too.  Maybe a slightly better than last year fifth.

 

I keep looking for optimism and I would rather than a really young club that did have a future.

The Twins have incorporated young players over the last couple of years, when there has been some reason to think they are ready.  Just because a team "goes young" doesn't mean it is the best for the development of the individual player nor does it guarantee success.  The Twins had a big youth movement with Rich Becker, Scott Stahoviak, et al and it went nowhere.