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2008 MLB
Predictions
2008 Minnesota Twins Predictions & Season
Preview
With
Johan Santana and Tori
Hunter out, it is evident
that the Twins are looking
to go another direction to
eventually reach the top,
but whether it is the right
direction is yet to be
determined. Find out where
Jimmy sees them fitting in
with his 2008 Minnesota
Twins predictions and season
preview.
Starting Rotation/Bullpen
Not only is long-time ace
Johan Santana out, but the
Twins also shipped off top
pitching prospect Matt
Garza. So what does that
leave them with? Scotty
Baker will likely take the
ball on opening day. He’s
big, relatively young, and
can throw hard, but he
doesn’t appear to have the
stuff of an ace. The Twins
are hyping up Boof Bonser
saying that he rededicated
himself in the offseason and
lost a bunch of weight. I
don’t know how much that
will improve his 5.10 ERA.
Kevin Slowey seems to be a
tweener. His command of the
strike zone has allowed him
to dominate in the minors,
but he hasn’t developed an
out pitch to sit down major
league hitters. Francisco
Liriano is the wild card. He
was a gem as a rookie, but
we all know that Tommy John
recovery takes some time.
It’s unlikely that he will
be as sharp right out of the
gates as he was two seasons
ago. Several Mets’ pitching
prospects which came over in
the Santana deal could duke
it out for the final spot.
Any team would trust Joe
Nathan to have the ball in
his hands in the ninth. With
a dominant fastball, hard
slider, and good curve, he’s
the total package. My only
beef is that sometimes he
forgets about his fastball.
Nathan has 37 saves for the
Twinkies last season. Matt
Guerrier was the Twins best
middle reliever and Pat
Neshek can also star in the
setup role if he games
stamina. He really trailed
off in the second half of
the season.
Batting Order
Jason Pridie will likely
take over for Hunter in
center and lead off for the
Twins. He has impressed the
Twins in a previous spring
training, but they still
don’t really know what they
are getting with this kid.
Bendan Harris gives the
Twins a right handed bat
between Pridie and Mauer. He
hit 12 homeruns last season
and drove in 59 with Tampa
Bay. The Twins will be happy
if he can duplicate those
numbers. Catcher Joe Mauer
must produce more than the
60 runs he drove in a season
ago in the three-slot. The
Twins are confident that
Delmon Young can replace
Tori Hunter in the middle of
the order at a fraction of
the price. He hit 13
homeruns and drove in 93
last season and the Twins
don’t think he is anywhere
near peaking. The MVP,
Justin Morneau, hit 31
homers and drove in 111, but
his averaged suffered as he
didn’t take enough free
passes. Teams try to pitch
around him and he just needs
to take the walks to benefit
the team. Michael Cuddyer
proved to be no fluke with
another solid season. He is
an ideal six hitter for the
Twins with a potential to
drive in 100 runs. Jason
Kubel came on strong late in
the season showing everyone
why he was once considered a
top prospect. Mike Lamb and
Adam Everett come over from
Houston to play the left
side of the infield and hit
eighth and ninth.
The Twins have taken some
hits this offseason, losing
key players, but they still
have a respectable lineup
with more power than quite a
few teams around the league.
They will suffer playing in
the tough AL Central, but
they can still push for 80
wins leaving the Royals all
alone in last place.
Jimmy Boyd of Locksmith
Sports is your only choice
for winning
MLB picks all season
long. Jimmy finished the
2007 season as the number
one ranked MLB capper on the
planet once again and is
looking forward to defending
his title. Make sure you’re
along for the profitable
ride.
Odds to win AL Central:
10/1
Odds to win 2008 AL Pennant:
20/1
Odds to win 2008 World
Series:
40/1
Other Predictions for the 2008 Season:
Updated February 12th, 2008
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