Minnesota Twins: 6 Bold Predictions for the Twins' 2012 Season
via Bleacher Report - MN Twins February 04, 2012 at 01:38 PM

2011 was a season which the Twins and their fans would like to forget sooner rather than later. The team is approaching the start of spring training with a lot of question marks throughout their 25-man roster. Most notably, will the bullpen be better? can Mauer and Morneau regain their MVP form? And most importantly, what are the playoff chances looking like?The following are six bold predictions

Twins Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)
via Yahoo Sports - Twins February 04, 2012 at 04:48 AM

Outfielder Josh Willingham readily acknowledges that right field is not exactly in his comfort zone. But the offseason acquisition is confident he'll figure it out. Although he has started only 33 games in right, he has played hundreds in left. "Hopefully this spring I'll just get a lot of reps out there and get comfortable," Willingham said. "That's the goal. Playing on the opposite end of the fi

Minnesota Twins: Predicting How the Bullpen Will Shake out
via Bleacher Report - MN Twins February 03, 2012 at 12:14 PM

It's safe to say the bullpen was a sore spot for the Twins in 2011. The much-maligned group of hurlers were among the worst units in the bigs as a whole, ranking last in bullpen ERA (4.51), K/9 (6.3) and K/BB (1.7); 29th in OPS allowed (.761) and WHIP (1.46); 28th in strikeouts (323), and even in a stat that I don't care for too much, the Twins were 27th in save opportunities converted (

Fan's Take: Spring Training Isn't Just for the Players (Yahoo! Contributor Network)
via Yahoo Sports - Twins February 03, 2012 at 09:48 AM

While preseason games in the NHL, NBA, and NFL get poo-pooed by even the most ardent fans, for some reason spring training games are welcomed with open arms by sports fans. The games don't count. In fact, most of the team's better players play only a few innings if at all.

Danny Valencia: 99 problems but a hitch ain't one?
via Over The Baggy February 03, 2012 at 12:19 AM

According to Joe Christensen, Danny Valencia has been working hard all offseason at improving his overall game. In addition to trying to repair his shoddy defense, he has used video to help him make a few changes to his offensive approach: “Valencia, 27, also studied video of his at-bats and decided to make a subtle change with his hands. Last year, he would trap his hands toward his body, forc

Link-O-Rama
via Aaron Gleeman February 02, 2012 at 10:18 PM

• These would be the latest fashion trend for bloggers, except we don't wear pants. • I was a guest on "Fan Graphs Audio" with Carson Cistulli and had a great time chatting about non-baseball stuff for around 45 of the 50 minutes. We discussed the Twins briefly at the end, but not before talking [...]

Diamond hopes routine leads to a spot
via Mlb.com - Twins February 02, 2012 at 02:42 PM

Diamond hopes routine leads to a spot

The $15,000,000 Question
via Twins Geek February 02, 2012 at 08:24 AM

Today’s mystery category? Let’s see if you can guess from the clues…"What are the Twins television revenues?""Why is everybody bitching about a $100 million payroll?""Why couldn't the Twins sign Prince Fielder?" If you didn’t get it, don’t be too hard on yourself - it’s a little convoluted. The category is “What questions avoid THE question?” In Twins Territory, THE question has been: why did pa

Fan's Take: Target Field Should Be Considered when Finding Vikings a Temporary Home (Yahoo! Contributor Network)
via Yahoo Sports - Twins February 01, 2012 at 04:12 PM

If you're a Minnesota Twins fan, then it's a good bet you might have some interest in the Minnesota Vikings and the ongoing saga the team deals with in hopes of getting a new stadium. The way it looks now, the team is going to be relegated to getting a state funded stadium...

Carroll offers Twins stability late in his career
via Mlb.com - Twins February 01, 2012 at 01:48 PM

Carroll offers Twins stability late in his career

Minnesota Twins: 8 Greatest Finesse Pitchers in Franchise History
via Bleacher Report - MN Twins February 01, 2012 at 03:08 AM

In football, sometimes we completely overlook special teams. Miscues on special teams is what has the New York Giants in the Super Bowl and not the San Fransisco 49ers. In baseball, the old adage is that chicks dig the long ball. We idolize the sluggers who can hit the ball 500 feet. We also idolize the man with a golden glove who catches everything thrown his way. We may even idolize the pitcher

Twins Organizational Depth Chart: The Outfielders
via Seth Speaks February 01, 2012 at 12:14 AM

also available at www.SethSpeaks.net - Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook 2012 – Now Available as an e-book for $6.99 by clicking here. You can, of course, still get the print version for $13.99 by clicking here.  At this point, we have reviewed the infielders and catchers throughout the Twins organization. Today, we will jump to the [...]

Dangerous Gambles in the Rotation
via Nick's Twins Blog February 01, 2012 at 12:06 AM

Teams generally enter every season with a few question marks in the rotation. The Twins, unfortunately, look like they'll head into the 2012 campaign with five. With each starter slated to occupy a spot in Minnesota's rotation, there is a fair amount of upside and also significant downside. At this point there's no way to know which versions of these various Jekyll-and-Hyde acts we'll be seeing, s

Podcast: “Gleeman and The Geek” (Episode 26)
via Aaron Gleeman January 31, 2012 at 09:42 PM

This week's episode of "Gleeman and The Geek" was recorded at ... my house. John Bonnes called in sick, so instead of skipping a week I decided to pour myself a scotch and do a solo show. Topics included how he's like Joe Mauer and I'm like Michael Cuddyer, buying a Macbook, the latest reliever [...]

More updates from Aaron Gleeman
One week only: Gleeman, without The Geek January 31, 2012 at 12:06 PM
Organizational Depth Chart: Middle Infielders
via Seth Speaks January 31, 2012 at 02:20 AM

also available at www.SethSpeaks.net - Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook 2012 – Now Available as an e-book for $6.99 by clicking here. You can, of course, still get the print version for $13.99 by clicking here.  Last week, I started looking at the depth throughout the Twins system. I reviewed the catchers, first basemen and third [...]

Rangers give manager Washington 2-year extension (PA SportsTicker)
via Yahoo Sports - Twins January 30, 2012 at 06:18 PM

By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Sports Writer

Inbox: DH rotation offers some flexibility
via Mlb.com - Twins January 30, 2012 at 03:00 PM

Inbox: DH rotation offers some flexibility

Carl Pavano lends helping hand to Vermont Little League leveled by Irene (Yahoo! Sports)
via Yahoo Sports - Twins January 30, 2012 at 12:00 PM

When Howard Paul visited his town's baseball facility in the wake of last fall's Tropical Storm Irene, his heart immediately sank. The weather had wiped everything out. "There wasn't anything left," the Ludlow (Vt.) rec director told the Times Argus. "Our … Continue reading ?

Minnesota Twins 2012 Spring Training Preview: Another Bad Season Looms
via Bleacher Report - MN Twins January 30, 2012 at 01:26 AM

Terry Ryan and his white horse arrived back in the general manager saddle on Nov. 7 and said his "batteries are recharged" and vowed to "take the job head on."  Ryan, of course, had built the Twins into a perennial winner during his last stint as GM, so Twins fans had reason to celebrate.The party began by acquiring a 38-year-old shortstop, an oft-injured backup catcher, a starting pitcher wh