Every year at the start of ST I get hopeful. Baseball is back, being played, our favorites are on the field, the grass is green, the sky is blue, the sun is warm … well, in Florida it is. ST has always been this great confluence of baseball generations from Carew and Oliva down to Lewis and Lee. It makes me giddy and that makes me hopeful. ST is a new day. Last year is done, over and gone. This year has yet to unfold, where anything is possible, anything can happen, despite the probabilities. That’s how I look at it this time of year. Baseball is being played again signaling the end of the off-season. The new year is here and there is much to look forward to. What are you looking forward to this season?

How can you have Rally Monkey as an option but not Rally Goat?

8 minutes ago, cHawk said:

How can you have Rally Monkey as an option but not Rally Goat?

Rally Monkey is the traditional option going back a decade or two. It’s just not a legitimate poll without it. And considering the superstitions in sports, it would be dangerous for me to alter it in any way

I had a tough time choosing between solid pitching w/o the Happ's and Shoemaker's vs a healthy Kirilloff/Larnach but I had to go with the former as it is the first time in what seems like forever where I will feel like we can win with whatever starting pitcher is on the mound.  That my friend is refreshing.

14 minutes ago, Bigfork Twins Guy said:

I had a tough time choosing between solid pitching w/o the Happ's and Shoemaker's vs a healthy Kirilloff/Larnach but I had to go with the former as it is the first time in what seems like forever where I will feel like we can win with whatever starting pitcher is on the mound.  That my friend is refreshing.

I’ve made it now so you can choose more than one answer 🙂 But I agree about the pitching, hence it being a choice. Some get caught up in the ‘we need an ace or all is for naught’ mindset. I think we have the potential where one or two of our pitchers could have years that give us that legitimate 1-2 punch. I don’t think we need that one pitcher that is a career ace, we just need one of pitchers to have that kind of a year … and I think there is the potential for that. But that said, not having the 4s and 5s we’ve had in past years I think gives this rotations a huge boost and will give us a fun year to look forward to!

I chose no Happ, Shoemaker, Bundy types to start the year.  Its a complete 180 from where they started last year and thats gotta be good.

All of the above.

Excited for season, just bummed I can't watch them.  

2 hours ago, cHawk said:

How can you have Rally Monkey as an option but not Rally Goat?

IKR!

2 hours ago, Bigfork Twins Guy said:

I had a tough time choosing between solid pitching w/o the Happ's and Shoemaker's vs a healthy Kirilloff/Larnach but I had to go with the former as it is the first time in what seems like forever where I will feel like we can win with whatever starting pitcher is on the mound.  That my friend is refreshing.

And starter 6,7, &8 are all legit big league pitchers who need to get their feet wet. The depth is really good!

1 hour ago, Craig Arko said:

All of the above.

Concur!

I really want to see what a healthy Kirilloff and Larnach can do.  The glimpses we've seen show a lot of promise. The offense needs them to be productive in order for this team to be capable of winning the division.

7 hours ago, Squirrel said:

Rally Monkey is the traditional option going back a decade or two. It’s just not a legitimate poll without it. And considering the superstitions in sports, it would be dangerous for me to alter it in any way

Rally monkey is an Angels thing.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rally_Monkey

Do you remember 2002? Yes, you do!! This is Twins territory. We don't need no stinking rally monkey!!!

16 hours ago, Squirrel said:

It’s just not a legitimate poll without [rally monkey].

All of the big polling firms agree, they always have it as an option.

I picked Lewis and Lee, but really I’m interested in watching all the rookies. Hope theres room for any of them doing well in St. Paul.

I never thought I'd be wishing for a happless pitching rotation, but here we are and I'm pleased so that's how I voted.

6 hours ago, AlwaysinModeration said:

All of the big polling firms agree, they always have it as an option.

I believe it’s finally going to make it to the Census form.