Baseball Season is Here: 10 Reasons to Be Excited about the Minnesota Twins in 2020

Most important reason to be excited - baseball is back

Most important reason to be excited - baseball is back

Bad day at game > Good day at office

Bad day at game > Good day at office

Oops. I forgot that there isn’t supposed to be any math.

11.  We've spent two months trying to answer questions for FO.  Two months we'll know what this team will look like.

12.  Spring Training means Opening Day is closing in which means winter ends!

13.  Green grass at Target Field

Baseball is back and we get to read TwinsDaily to follow it.

I recorded both Vikings game. There is a channel called Gaora and they are showing all the playoff games live. My wife said to me, "Sorry about the Vikings," after the sun was setting on another Vikings playoff loss. I told her it was no big deal. Now the Twins ? That's a completely different animal. I've been ready for spring training since the Twins trudged back into their locker room after Game 3.

101 wins is not the team record.  They won 102 in 1965.

Thanks for the upbeat beginning to my morning, Matt.  The most encouraging points to me are speculating what a full year of Buxton could mean to the Twins.  Now lets get his (and Berrios') extensions signed before opening day.  I expect that Arraez will be better defensively at second base knowing that is where he will be every day, rather than playing all over the field last year.  

And speaking about football.  Russell Wilson sure gave my Pack a scare in the second half last night.  Damn, he is impossible to contain.  Now we get our chance to play the 49ers.  Expect the results won't be that different from what you Viking fans saw Saturday...but we can hope for a pleasant surprise, can't we?

Two notes:

First, 101 wins is not the team record. The Twins won 102 games in 1965.

Second, when I look at Arraez, I'm not sure I see the star everyone seems to be sold on (at least everyone on Twitter and in the blogosphere). I see a guy who gets the bat on the ball, but without a lot of authority (35% hard hit rate, 24% FB-IFFB%)). He puts the ball on the ground (42% GB Rate) and last year he benefitted from a .355 BABIP. I guess I see him more as a solid placeholder until Lewis is ready to join the club and take over up the middle, not a reason to be excited about the team.

All of that said, I'm definitely excited about the team, and I think everyone is sleeping on how good Rich Hill can be when he's healthy. If Berrios takes a step forward and Hill comes back healthy, that's a 1-2 that can compete with anyone in the league come October.

Do we have evidence that Buxton is going to be fully recovered by ST, or even by opening day? I remember reading that there was some question about that.

Sorry, but I'm a realist when it comes to the Bombas.

Losing Cron and Schoop (they hit 20+% of the dingers in 2019) AND the change to the ball will likely mean many less this season.  I'm hoping the Twins can adjust and "manufacture" some runs.

I totally agree with the statement that the Twins are a very good team, and should have a very good regular season.

Now if we just do something about those pesky postseason issues...

Your points re: Arraez are fair. I'd argue that there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about him as a long term staple of this team, though. His near 30% line drive rate and excellent plate discipline (2.8% whiff rate and 27% chase rate) show that his 2019 was no fluke. The defense is the biggest knock against Arraez. We'll see how that progresses (or regresses) in 2020.

No guarantees but that is true of everyone new and old alike.    Another nice indicator is that he is only 22 but has hit well over .300 at every level over a 6 year career.

No mention of Dobnak.  All he did was throw 160 innings of sub 2.00 ERA in 2019 over 163 innings between minors and majors.  

Reasons to not be as excited as we could be about the upcoming season:

1). Knowing we aren’t as good as our direct competition for the World Series. We weren’t good enough to merely put up a fight in the playoffs last year....and we did nothing to improve this offseason after blowing hot air and making promises to sell season tickets.

I’m excited for the formality and/or process of baseball. Love having it on the radio in the garage while working, in the boat while fishing, etc. But, I have no expectation of a successful season. I already know that the best case scenario is losing in the division series. Hoping for anything beyond that at this point is delusional and about as futile as attempting to count every blade of grass in my yard.

I can tell you I’m not chomping at the bit to get to any games. If I had season tickets, I’d be pretty pissed off with the organization right now. I’m certainly not signing up for any season ticket packages. I can assure you I’m not alone. Massive wasted opportunity for this franchise to really kick the fan base into overdrive. It’s really a shame.

Two notes:

 

First, 101 wins is not the team record. The Twins won 102 games in 1965.

 

Second, when I look at Arraez, I'm not sure I see the star everyone seems to be sold on (at least everyone on Twitter and in the blogosphere). I see a guy who gets the bat on the ball, but without a lot of authority (35% hard hit rate, 24% FB-IFFB%)). He puts the ball on the ground (42% GB Rate) and last year he benefitted from a .355 BABIP. I guess I see him more as a solid placeholder until Lewis is ready to join the club and take over up the middle, not a reason to be excited about the team.

 

All of that said, I'm definitely excited about the team, and I think everyone is sleeping on how good Rich Hill can be when he's healthy. If Berrios takes a step forward and Hill comes back healthy, that's a 1-2 that can compete with anyone in the league come October.

Sure, Rich Hill can be good when healthy. But, expecting anything out of him is a huge mistake, IMO. He’s never pitched over 135 innings in a season in his career. For whatever reason, he seems to always be having blister issues. He’s over 40, and is coming off of an elbow surgery.

It’s more likely Rich Hill doesn’t throw an inning as a Twin than becomes a postseason horse.

Decent back-up plan/flier. Awful plan A for a team desperate for starting pitching.

Are we better than last year's one-game playoff exit?

Are we better than last year's one-game playoff exit?

Nope! At least on paper. The rotation is worse and so is the lineup. 

Are we better than last year's one-game playoff exit?

By “one-game playoff exit,” which of the three games are you referring to? 

Personally, nothing is dampening my enthusiasm. I mean, real Twins baseball is a month away! All the world is better when it's baseball season!

I love the offense, minus only Cron, if you really look at. Sure there could be some regression, but I also think we haven't seen the best of some guys, notably Sano and Buxton. I really like the pen, so much better than how last season began, and depth to continue to maintain and improve. I feel Berrios has another level, and I'm actually excited about some of the kids already "here" and a couple more that could make an appearance before the year is over.

I am NOT excited about still needing one more bat and not knowing who it's going to be or where it's going to come from. Holding out hope for Donaldson...I'm starting to think we have at least a shot of making that happen...but I'm getting really tired of this waiting game.

I am NOT excited about the rotation to begin the season. IMO, the Hill move is like a mid season acquisition that could prove big. But only Bailey still has me bummed and burning. A month away and we still need another good, decent, solid arm if not a really good one. The FO can't be that sold on the kids can they?

But I remain hopeful and excited. Cold, rainy, dreary day here in Omaha, but spring and ST are on my mind.

Personally, nothing is dampening my enthusiasm. I mean, real Twins baseball is a month away! All the world is better when it's baseball season!

I love the offense, minus only Cron, if you really look at. Sure there could be some regression, but I also think we haven't seen the best of some guys, notably Sano and Buxton. I really like the pen, so much better than how last season began, and depth to continue to maintain and improve. I feel Berrios has another level, and I'm actually excited about some of the kids already "here" and a couple more that could make an appearance before the year is over....

...

But I remain hopeful and excited. Cold, rainy, dreary day here in Omaha, but spring and ST are on my mind.

I’m with you. I’ve heard folks talk about regression, but the fact of the matter is also that a whole lot of guys are on the right side of the career progression curve as well. 

Oh, and I just arrived in eastern Iowa on business. Keep the rainy and dreary out there, will you? 

Show me a season where Buxton stays healthy, and I'll maybe...maybe believe that Arraez isn't capable of maintaining a +.300 average.  I just want Arraez to do what he's been doing all his career.  Hitting and playing very serviceable defense.  And I want Buxton to do what he's been projected to do all his career, which is play unparalleled defense and have game changing speed on the bases with some pop in the bat...ALL. SEASON.  LONG.  Too much to ask?

Nope! At least on paper. The rotation is worse and so is the lineup. 

? How would the rotation be worse... we have top 3 back .. Gibson and Perez were Okay before the all star break and AWFUL after. Bailey and Hill are "at least" their equal and with Dobnak showing he belongs we are clearly better... not as good as the big boys but better than last year. 

As far as the lineup Cron was pretty good I admit but still have time to hopefully sign Donaldson which imporves our lineup. Shoop barely played after Arraez signed. Arraez will only get better ..... 

Love the top ten assessment! Please bring on the spring soon!!