2012 Stats/Lineup Predictions

Twins Projected 25-man
w/realistic stat predictions

1 Dernard Span CF - .275 - 5 HR - 55 RBI - 25 SB
2 Jeremy Carroll SS - .285 - 3 HR - 40 RBI - 15 SB
3 Joe Mauer C - .305 - 15 HR - 85 RBI - 10 SB
4 Justin Morneau 1B - ,275 - 20 HR - 90 RBI - 2 SB
5 Josh Willingham RF - .245 - 25 HR - 95 RBI - 2 SB
6 Ryan Doumit DH - .285 - 15 HR - 70 RBI - 2 SB
7 Danny Valencia 3B - .275 - 20 HR - 75 RBI - 10 SB
8 Trevor Plouffe LF - .270 - 18 HR - 63 RBI - 15 SB
9 Alexi Casilla 2B - .285 - 5 HR - 40 RBI - 20 SB

Drew Butera C - .190 - 6 HR - 25 RBI - 2 SB
Luke Hughes 2B - .245 - 12 HR - 35 RBI - 6 SB
Tsuyoshi Nishioka SS - .245 - 1 HR - 25 RBI - 12 SB
Ben Revere LF - .265 - 2 HR - 35 RBI - 30 SB

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1 Carl Pavano - 3.80 - 220 IP - 220 H - 120 SO
2 Francisco Liriano - 4.10 - 180 IP - 150 H - 200 SO
3 Scott Baker - 3.40 - 180 IP - 160 H - 170 SO
4 Nick Blackburn - 4.40 - 230 IP - 250 H - 150 SO
5 Jason Marquis - 4.80 - 210 IP - 230 H - 120 SO

CL Matt Capps R - 3.30 - 75 IP - 70 H - 45 SO - 30 SV
Glen Perkins L - 2.85 - 70 IP - 55 H - 75 SO - 4 SV
Alex Burnett R - 3.90 - 65 IP - 70 H - 55 SO - 2 SV
Anthony Swarzak R - 4.25 - 90 IP - 95 H - 55 SO
Brian Duensing L - 3.60 - 110 IP - 100 H - 85 SO
Jared Burton R - 4.10 - 44 IP - 40 H - 40 SO
Terry Doyle R - 5.50 - 95 IP - 110 H - 55 SO

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Expect these players to challenge opening day spots or see signifiant time during the season:

JR Towels C - .225 - 3 HR - 18 RBI - 1 SB
Sean Burroughs 3B - .275 - 6 HR - 35 RBI - 1 SB
Brian Dinkleman 2B - .270 - 2 HR - 20 RBI - 6 SB
Brian Dozier SS - .235 - 1 HR - 15 RBI - 10 SB
Joe Benson OF - .250 - 4 HR - 25 RBI - 12 SB
Rene Tosoni OF - .265 - 7 HR - 30 RBI - 2 SB
Darin Mastroianni OF - .250 - 2 HR - 15 RBI - 7 SB
Chris Parmelee 1B - .265 - 8 HR - 35 RBI - 1 SB

Lester Oliveros R - 5.10 - 45 IP - 55 H - 35 SO
Phil Dumatrait L - 4.25 - 45 IP - 45 H - 25 SO
Jeff Manship R - 5.18 - 60 IP - 65 H - 34 SO
Esmerling Vasquez R - 4.49 - 35 IP - 40 H - 30 SO
Scott Diamond L - 4.85 - 95 IP - 100 H - 70 SO
Carlos Gutierrez R - 5.50 - 45 IP - 55 H - 38 SO

Projected Record 86- 76, 2nd Place AL Central, 2nd Wild Card Selection

Overall: Veteran role players could stablize this team, and take them close to Detroit in what will be a wild battle for increased playoff births in 2012. Expect the Twins to battle with the likes of Toronto, Seattle, Baltimore and gritty second-tier teams from outside the division, looking to sneak up late in the year and make a push. Ultimately, the final spot will go to a "gamer" team that can stay cool under do-or-die pressure late in the season. The Twins will have an improved record in 2012 by virtue of health to begin the year. It's entirely possible that a healthy Mauer and Morneau, still young players in their prime, could propel the team back to 90 win range.

Look for the Twins to pace themselves and go back to a speedy "small ball" approach, in a season filled with close one-run and low scoring games. The Twins will see higher averages throughout a lineup that will put pressure on the defense and look for gap doubles over home runs. Phouffe and Valencia will provide dramatic offense; Casilla, Revere and Benson/Mastroianni will provide exciting baserunning; Mauer and Morneau will handle key match-ups and top pitching: while Carroll, Span and Doumit will add cool clutch hitting, stability and veteran smarts. Add a dinger or two a week from Willingham, a little pinch hitting and solid fill-in from Sean Burroughs and the bench, and the offense looks pretty decent.

This should be an unflappable team that could out-duel younger teams down the stretch. The bullpen is the biggest weakness, and isn't deep enough to take the team far into the postseason, if they get that far. If one or two "scrap" relievers work out, Swarzak and Duensing thrive in short relief, pressure situations and Capps returns to form, things would be looking up. Even average numbers would be a welcome sight for this bullpen crew, with maybe a late-season pickup to bolster the staff down the stretch. Starting pitching should be solid if all remain healthy and consistent. In the playoffs, Pavano is a good veteran to lead the charge, but Liriano and Baker need to be fresh late in the year to go far.

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d.anderson
2012