With just 23 days left until Opening Day, it’s fitting for me to put together a list of things that I am most looking forward to seeing from the Minnesota Twins this season. Below are the seven things that This Gal can’t wait to see come Opening Day.
Joe Nathan’s Return
2009 stats: 47 saves 2.10 ERA 89 Strikeouts
There was no baseball related news that had broke my heart more than hearing that Joe Nathan would need Tommy John surgery and would likely miss the entire 2010 season. I had thought the worse after hearing the news, ‘he’s never going to play again. His career is over.’ Now, after he’s made a few appearances in Spring Training, I’m excited to see him on the mound in a regular season game. The most exciting part is seeing whether he’ll be able to compete at the level that everybody is used to from him.
Delmon Young repeating his 2010 season
2010 stats: .298 AVG .333 OBP .493 SLG 21 HR 112 RBI
I’m still not on the Delmon Young bandwagon. Yes, it’s because of the trade of Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett in 2008. What can I say? I hold baseball grudges. But last season there was a ray of hope for me to become a full time fan of Young when he began to show what so many people have been telling me is so great about him. I still wouldn’t call him great, but I’m starting to see the potential that so many people have been talking about.
Tsuyoshi Nishioka
2010 stats: .346 ABG 11 HR 59 RBI
I don’t know a lot about Tsuyoshi Nishioka. What I do know is that the Twins have signed him to a three-year $9 million contract, he’ll be the starting second baseman and his wife is a model. He’s also the reigning batting champ back in Japan which means little to me since my knowledge of Japanese baseball is about as extensive as my knowledge of Nishioka himself. Nevertheless, the Twins have had a lot of second basemen in the six short years that I’ve been actively watching the Twins, I can think of four off the top of my head. If Nishioka is what everyone says he is, it’d be great for him to finally fill that void.
The Bullpen situation
Matt Guerrier, Jesse Crain, Jon Rauch, Ron Mahay, Brian Fuentes and Randy Flores all went on their merry ways this off season leaving the bullpen pretty empty. This has been said before, but right now it seems the whole bullpen for the 2011 season will be based on ifs. If Joe Nathan and Pat Neshek will return to form… if relievers who saw some time in the bigs last year like Anthony Slama (who underwent an MRI on Monday), Alex Burnett and Jeff Manship can compete at the pro-level… And so on and so forth. It’ll be interesting to see how the Twins bullpen does this season.
Jim Thome hitting his 600th homerun
2010 stats: .283 AVG .412 OBP .627 SLG 25 HR 59 RBI
Jim Thome needs 11 more homeruns before he can join the likes of Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Ken Griffey, Jr. and Alex Rodriguez in the 600 club. Barring unforeseeable circumstances it’s likely that he’ll join them this season. My prediction? By May 5th he will join the 600 club. Just wait and see.
Alexi Casilla's new leadership role
2010 stats: .276 AVG .331 OBP .395 SLG 1 HR 20 RBI
Alexi Casilla said it best when quoted in the Pioneer Press earlier this week, “I'm in charge of the infield. I have Nishioka, a Japanese guy, at second. I have Danny Valencia, a young guy, at third base. I have to be in charge, be vocal.” Not to mention he’s a young guy himself who hasn’t really had a solid spot in the line-up. This is a lot of weight to have on his shoulders, it’ll be interesting to see if he can hold it up. Like the situation at second base, the Twins have been looking for a shortstop since, yes, the 2008 trade of Jason Bartlett. Maybe they’ve found their guy.
Joe Mauer
2010 stats: .327 AVG .402 OBP .469 SLG 9 HR 75 RBI
Seriously, I didn’t buy into the Mauer hype when I first started regularly watching the Twins in 2005. It took three batting titles, three gold gloves and an MVP for me to accept that he was worth the hype. He’s just fun to watch play. When he steps up to the plate you expect things to happen. It’s mind boggling that he’s a 6’4 catcher who can hit as well as he does. Plus he may have the most beautiful swing in the MLB.
Joe Nathan’s Return
2009 stats: 47 saves 2.10 ERA 89 Strikeouts
There was no baseball related news that had broke my heart more than hearing that Joe Nathan would need Tommy John surgery and would likely miss the entire 2010 season. I had thought the worse after hearing the news, ‘he’s never going to play again. His career is over.’ Now, after he’s made a few appearances in Spring Training, I’m excited to see him on the mound in a regular season game. The most exciting part is seeing whether he’ll be able to compete at the level that everybody is used to from him.
Delmon Young repeating his 2010 season
2010 stats: .298 AVG .333 OBP .493 SLG 21 HR 112 RBI
I’m still not on the Delmon Young bandwagon. Yes, it’s because of the trade of Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett in 2008. What can I say? I hold baseball grudges. But last season there was a ray of hope for me to become a full time fan of Young when he began to show what so many people have been telling me is so great about him. I still wouldn’t call him great, but I’m starting to see the potential that so many people have been talking about.
Tsuyoshi Nishioka
2010 stats: .346 ABG 11 HR 59 RBI
I don’t know a lot about Tsuyoshi Nishioka. What I do know is that the Twins have signed him to a three-year $9 million contract, he’ll be the starting second baseman and his wife is a model. He’s also the reigning batting champ back in Japan which means little to me since my knowledge of Japanese baseball is about as extensive as my knowledge of Nishioka himself. Nevertheless, the Twins have had a lot of second basemen in the six short years that I’ve been actively watching the Twins, I can think of four off the top of my head. If Nishioka is what everyone says he is, it’d be great for him to finally fill that void.
The Bullpen situation
Matt Guerrier, Jesse Crain, Jon Rauch, Ron Mahay, Brian Fuentes and Randy Flores all went on their merry ways this off season leaving the bullpen pretty empty. This has been said before, but right now it seems the whole bullpen for the 2011 season will be based on ifs. If Joe Nathan and Pat Neshek will return to form… if relievers who saw some time in the bigs last year like Anthony Slama (who underwent an MRI on Monday), Alex Burnett and Jeff Manship can compete at the pro-level… And so on and so forth. It’ll be interesting to see how the Twins bullpen does this season.
Jim Thome hitting his 600th homerun
2010 stats: .283 AVG .412 OBP .627 SLG 25 HR 59 RBI
Jim Thome needs 11 more homeruns before he can join the likes of Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Ken Griffey, Jr. and Alex Rodriguez in the 600 club. Barring unforeseeable circumstances it’s likely that he’ll join them this season. My prediction? By May 5th he will join the 600 club. Just wait and see.
Alexi Casilla's new leadership role
2010 stats: .276 AVG .331 OBP .395 SLG 1 HR 20 RBI
Alexi Casilla said it best when quoted in the Pioneer Press earlier this week, “I'm in charge of the infield. I have Nishioka, a Japanese guy, at second. I have Danny Valencia, a young guy, at third base. I have to be in charge, be vocal.” Not to mention he’s a young guy himself who hasn’t really had a solid spot in the line-up. This is a lot of weight to have on his shoulders, it’ll be interesting to see if he can hold it up. Like the situation at second base, the Twins have been looking for a shortstop since, yes, the 2008 trade of Jason Bartlett. Maybe they’ve found their guy.
Joe Mauer
2010 stats: .327 AVG .402 OBP .469 SLG 9 HR 75 RBI
Seriously, I didn’t buy into the Mauer hype when I first started regularly watching the Twins in 2005. It took three batting titles, three gold gloves and an MVP for me to accept that he was worth the hype. He’s just fun to watch play. When he steps up to the plate you expect things to happen. It’s mind boggling that he’s a 6’4 catcher who can hit as well as he does. Plus he may have the most beautiful swing in the MLB.