NFL
By: Steve Rogers
The birds are returning, and so is springtime, the start of new life, warm sun, soft breezes, and baseball. The snow has melted, the green grass and leaves are growing, and spring training is almost over. Rosters are taking shape. Let’s take a closer look at the Central division Minnesota Twins roster.
Lineup:
- CF Byron Buxton.
- DH Luis Arraez.
- SS Carlos Correa.
- 2B Jorge Polanco.
- 1B Miguel Sanó
- RF Max Kepler.
- C Gary Sánchez.
- LF Alex Kirilloff
- 3B Giovanny Urshela
There is no better place to start than at the top of the batting order with Byron Buxton, who again is tearing the cover off the ball down in Florida. It’s the 3rd year in a row he has been on fire during the preseason, but injuries have derailed his regular-season campaigns.
He looks like he might be making a case for being possibly the best player in all of baseball, let alone the A.L. If he can put together a full season of at least 100 games, he could be a shoo-in for M.V.P. He’s a gold glove center fielder with lightning speed and the ability to blister the ball all over the field because he can hit with power too. In a word, I would have to call him dangerous. We have Jorge Polanco at second base, who transitioned over to second from shortstop a season ago. He’s solid both at the plate and defensively. Miguel Sano is returning at first base, who anchors the lineup, batting cleanup. He’s their most powerful hitter; however, he is prone to boom or bust. If he can lower his strikeout and pop out numbers and get his average around .260/.270, he could be an all-star.
Also returning is the former 30 HR hitting RF Max Kepler, who should be looking to get back to that level of play after a couple of so-so seasons. The Twins pulled off the most significant free-agent signing in the offseason by getting SS Carlos Correa. Originally drafted by the Astros in 2012 and has played there ever since. He was very closely scouted back then by the Twins, who drafted Buxton number 2 after the Astros took Correa number 1 overall. He won his first gold glove last year. And is a threat at the plate with a career avg. of .277. He also has some pop with a couple of seasons over 20 Hrs. There will be a rotation of guys at 3rd base between Luis Arraes and Gio Urshela, newly acquired from a trade with the Yankees. Also in that trade is C Gary Sanchez, who will also share duties with Ryan Jeffers. In LF will be Alex Kirilloff.
Pitching:
Projected rotation
- RHP Sonny Gray
- RHP Dylan Bundy
- RHP Bailey Ober
- RHP Joe Ryan
- LHP Lewis Thorpe
Bullpen: CL Taylor Rogers, SU Tyler Duffey, SU Jorge Alcala, MID Caleb Thielbar, MID Joe Smith, MID Cody Stashak, MID Jovani Moran, LR Griffin Jax, LR Jharel Cotton
As for the pitching staff in another trade, the Twins got veteran right-hand pitcher Sonny Gray, who yesterday looked incredible throwing four perfect innings. He should be able to anchor one of the top spots in the rotation. Bailey Ober is the only returning starter from last year. However, it’s rookie Joe Ryan who is being given the opening day starting duties. Out of the bullpen, it will once again be up to closer Taylor Rogers to close the door at the end of games. It’s hard to speculate too far out with such a young, unproven pitching staff, but there should be plenty of offense to help balance things out. You might see lots of 6-4 6-5 games. I think the Twins are looking to swing their way into the playoffs. The question will be, can their pitching keep them there?[pickup_prop id=”22687″]
