Minnesota Twins 2010

[gledhill]

M.L.B. The Show '10

162 Game Franchise

Difficulty: All-Star

Sliders: Custom

Rosters: O.S. Full Minors

Welcome to my Twins franchise. I'm going to be playing all 162 games and the post season if we get there, one game per day. On off days for the Twins I will be playing whichever game I want to play on that day. I will be using 30 team control and will be mirroring real life trades. Any call ups will be decided by me on player performance.

I'll be posting after each series, and stats will be updated at the end of each month in post #3.

Sliders are default except fielder reaction at 6 and fielder speed at 2. Strike zone is off, hot zones off, and guess pitch will be used sparingly as I hit better without it usually.

2010 Minnesota Twins Season Preview

For 2010 and the opening of Target Field, the Twins bring back the majority of their lineup from 2009. Departed are Orlando Cabrera at shortstop and Joe Crede at third. Defensive wizard Nick Punto slides over from second to third, leaving J.J. Hardy and Orlando Hudson to become the wins new double play duo. At worst, the new faces will perform to the same level as Cabrera and Crede. But the expectation is for Hardy to return to 2007-2008 form and bash 20 odd homers at the bottom of the order, and Hudson, while aging, is a better option for the Twins at the top of the lineup than Cabrera, who failed to get on base enough for the meat of the order to knock him in. Hudson along with Denard Span, figures to give Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Michael Cuddyer, and Most Underrated Hitter Jason Kubel plenty of RBI opportunities.

Mauer has a swing so sweet that .400 isn't out of the realms of possibility. Easily the most difficult out in the American League, Mauer is only going to get better.

The lineup features productive bats from Span down to number 8 hitter Hardy. The only respite for opposing pitchers is Punto, who will be replaced in the lineup by Brendan Harris against tough lefties.

Minnesota's bench is not its stongest area. Jim Thome figures to get plenty of pinch hit at bats late in games, and will DH against ace righties, with Delmon Young riding the pine and Kubel in left field. Thome can also spell any outfielder with Kubel moving into the field.
Backup catcher is Drew Butera, who may stick for the season if he plays well in limited action behind Mauer. Jose Morales is currently injured and won't retun until mid-May. The bench is rounded off with Harris and Alexi Casilla, who will mainly be used as a pinch runner.

With a steady, productive lineup, the Twins season will hinge on its pitching, and in particular with Francisco Liriano. Liriano has the stuff to be an ace, and if he finally lives up to the billing then Minnesota will be christening Target Field with a World Series appearance. As long as Jon Rauch can do his best Joe Nathan impression and save 30+ games.

In summary, if Liriano falters to a 6 win season, Minnesota may well end up in the middle of the tough AL Central with 85 wins. If Liriano delivers 16 wins and a 95 win season, I predict a World Series trip.

[gledhill]

Twins (15-13, 1st AL Central) next series

vs Baltimore Orioles (8-20, 5th AL East) 6-9 May 2010

Probable Starters

Game 1 Carl Pavano (4-0, 4.18) vs Brad Bergesen (2-2, 3.43)
Game 2 Francisco Liriano (0-2, 4.94) vs Kevin Millwood (0-2, 5.91)
Game 3 Scott Baker (1-4, 5.65) vs Jeremy Guthrie (1-4, 5.45)
Game 4 Nick Blackburn (2-2, 5.88) vs Brian Matusz (1-3, 4.78)

[gledhill]

Minnesota Twins 25 Man Roster

Lineup (Stats Thru May 2nd)

CF Denard Span (.414, 1 HR, 13 SB, 16 R)
2B Orlando Hudson (.287, 0 HR, 1 SB, 15 R)
C Joe Mauer (.280, 0 HR, 12 RBI)
1B Justin Morneau (.301, 7 HR, 27 RBI)
RF Michael Cuddyer (.368, 3 HR, 18 RBI)
DH Jason Kubel (.207, 3 HR, 12 RBI)
LF Delmon Young (.299, 0 HR, 6 RBI)
SS J.J. Hardy (.310, 3 HR)
3B Nick Punto (.219)

Rotation

Scott Baker (5.90 ERA, 0-4, 29 IP)
Nick Blackburn (5.95 ERA, 1-2, 19.2 IP)
Carl Pavano (4.18 ERA, 4-0, 32.1 IP)
Kevin Slowey (1.69 ERA, 3-1, 32 IP)
Francisco Liriano (4.94 ERA, 0-2, 31 IP)

Bullpen

MR Alex Burnett (10 GP, 3.86 ERA, 2 HLD)
MR Jesse Crain (10 GP, 4.63 ERA, 1 HLD, 2 BS)
MR Ron Mahay (7 GP, 2.08 ERA, 2 HLD, 1 SV)
SU Matt Guerrier (14 GP, 3.46 ERA, 4 HLD)
SU Brian Duensing (8 GP, 3.86 ERA, 2 HLD)

Closer

Jon Rauch (1.93 ERA, 6 SV, 1 BS)

Bench

DH Jim Thome (.264, 1 HR)
C Drew Butera (.278)
INF Alexei Casilla (.167, 1 SB)
3B Brendan Harris (.200)
C Wilson Ramos

[gledhill]

Injuries as of 02/05/2010

15 Day DL

Clay Condrey - (Elbow) - Mid June
Jose Mijares (Elbow) - Mid May
Jose Morales (Wrist) - Mid May
Pat Neshek (Finger) - Mid May

60 Day DL

Joe Nathan (Elbow) - Out for season

[gledhill]

Rochester Red Wings (AAA) Roster

Lineup

CF Matt Tolbert
SS Trevor Plouffe
2B Luke Hughes
C Jair Fernandez
1B Erik Lis
DH Jason Repko
LF Jacque Jones
3B Danny Valencia
RF Justin Huber

Bench

2B Brian Dinkelman
OF Dustin Martin
INF Matt Macri
OF Brandon Roberts

Rotation

Anthony Swarzak
Jeff Manship
Glen Perkins
Mike Maroth
Ryan Mullins

Bullpen

LR Matt Fox
MR Rob Delaney
MR Jose Lugo
SU Kyle Waldrop
SU Tim Lahey

Closer

Anthony Slama

[gledhill]

New Britain Rock Cats (AA) Roster

Lineup

CF Ben Revere
2B Toby Gardenhire
LF Rene Tosoni
3B Juan Portes
1B Chris Parmalee
RF Joe Benson
DH Whitney Robbins
SS Estarlin de los Santos
C Danny Lehman

Bench

C Alexander Soto
OF Marc Dolenc

Rotation

Carlos Gutierrez
Deolis Guerra
Tyler Robertson
David Bromberg
Adrian Salcedo

Bullpen

LR Jason Jones
MR Chris Province
MR Cole DeVries
SU Mike McCardell
SU Spencer Steedley

Closer

Loek Van Mil

[BCarson]

Spammer.....What are you doing?

[42]

Quote: Originally Posted by BCarson

Spammer.....What are you doing?

I'm pretty sure he's setting up placeholders.