Article: 2015 Twins: An Afterthought in the AL Central (And Why That is a Good Thing)

[Willihammer]

and their rotation might very well be the best in the AL.

They definitely have talent behind Kluber. I think Bauer could be good if he focused on 3-4 pitches instead of the exotic euphuses and screwballs and stuff.

 

Personally I'm not sold on the demise of Verlander just yet. He still threw 200 innings and made 32 starts while recovering from abdomen surgery. If he's over that I would expect a bounceback, although probably not to CYA levels.

 

Of course the Whities could have Carlos Rodon as their FIFTH starter, so there's that.

[jimmer]

 

The one I think is that a lot of people don't realize how much worse than everyone else the Twins have been the last few seasons. Sure they may improve, but not enough to really make a huge difference in the standings.  Their starting pitching is bound to be better, but just being better doesn't guaranty more wins, if the other guys still are better than yours. 

This is the 3rd offseason that our starting pitching has been labeled as bound to be better.  

[troyhobbs]

Not at all.  Effectively saying we will be ahead of one, maybe two of the other four teams is noting that we are not a very good team.

 

I think the Royals outperformed last year and they lose their best pitcher.  Ventura is a regression candidate.  That leaves them with an average at best rotation and a below average offense.  Pen be dammed, they could slip.

 

The Tigers are going to fall from grace rather spectacularly.  It is probably still a 2016 event but this is an aging team.  Verlander looks about done and they lost a 6 WAR pitcher and Victor will never have another season like last year.

 

With the Indians, is Kluber a 7 WAR pitcher?  He never looked it prior to last year. 

 

And the Sox, our pythag last year was actually better than theirs and they needed 10 WAR from Sale and Quintana to have a pythag of 71.  

 

So I think you have a lot of moving parts.  I don't think anyone is expecting anything out of 4-5 young players that could have an impact for us this year.  If 1-2 come up and contribute I think we jump 1-2 teams.  That's all. 

Ya, I pretty much agree with those points.  All my optimism is just of the cautious variety after the past few years but I could see them finally turning a corner this year although I wouldn't put any real money down on it.

[Dantes929]

I would argue we have more regression candidates (Santana, Escobar, Plouffe, Collabello's April, and Dozier) as we do guys that may bounce back (Nolaso, Mauer, etc.).   I think if the Twins surprise people it is going to be a few young, talented players that come up and give this team a shot in the arm.  I think about Matt Harvey in his first year, If Meyer or May could have a year that looks anything like that....or Sano or Buxton come up and perform well that is where the upside will come from

 

Not sure if posting videos is allowed but this is a great one.