Minnesota Twins: 5 Reasons 2015 Will Be Great
5. Money Has Been Spent
As we looked at the Terry Ryan and the Twins taking a stab at those feeling the club wasn’t spending enough money earlier this offseason, the complaints should finally cease in 2015. Phil Hughes was extended and a significant amount of money was committed to Ervin Santana. On top of that, a season ago the Twins spent on pitching as well. Throwing in the $10 million offered to Torii Hunter, it is clear that the process make sense.
In baseball, unlike many other sports, spending through free agency can hamper success more often than it can breed it. Unless the core of a roster is already there, you are supplementing nothing. With the Twins showing that they have pieces that can work in the 2014 campaign, it made sense to start to supplement a roster on the rise this offseason.
While I am still not a fan of bringing Torii Hunter in when the Twins clearly needed defensive help in the outfield more than another bat, there is no doubt that money should be considered well spent. Phil Hughes has been great, and based on his numbers away from Yankee Stadium in his career, that should continue. Ricky Nolasco battled through injuries but is a prime candidate to have a bounce back year in 2015. Finally, Ervin Santana is another guy the Twins can give the ball to an rely on him to get the job done on a nightly basis.
4. Pitching In Abundance
For the first time in as long as many Twins fans should be able to remember, pitching can probably be considered an asset. Looking at the projected rotation, or even what looks like a very full 25 man roster, Minnesota should have plenty of options when it comes to guys they will run out onto the mound.
Considering Paul Molitor may have to send a guy like Trevor May to Triple-A to start the season, or bring top prospect, Alex Meyer, out of the bullpen, there is plenty reason to get excited. Having a pitcher like Tommy Milone shore up the back-end of your five-man rotation is something the Twins haven’t had in years. Looking at the starting staff, there are no Kevin Correia types, and considering the arms that may be forced to the bullpen, it could be amongst the most intriguing competitions of spring.
At this point, it is good to remember that everything is on paper, and that nothing matters until production and performance take place on the field. That being said, injuries happen and guys go through slumps. In 2015 however, the Twins should have the options to fill in the gaps and make sure they can compete on a nightly basis.
3. The Sano And Buxton Arrival
We have heard about them both for years, but now more than ever, the arrival of both Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton appears imminent. Having both struggled with injuries a season ago, neither player projects to start 2015 with the Twins. That being said, it could be argued that Miguel Sano is more than major league ready at the plate, and he will be pushing for at bats very early in the summer. Buxton will likely start the year in Double-A with manager Doug Mientkiewicz, and be accelerated through the system. Expect to see him make his debut in the latter half of the year.
Looking at both players, positions on the 25 man roster are theirs for the taking. Trevor Plouffe had a solid year a season ago without the pressure of being pushed by Sano. He showed an advanced defensive ability at the hot corner, and his bat played admirably. This season, he won’t have the luxury of knowing Sano isn’t breathing down his neck, and a slump could open the door. With his bat, Sano could also be gunning for time out of the designated hitter spot behind Kennys Vargas.
Byron Buxton will be hoping that 2015 provides less time spent on the shelf than that of a year ago. Removed from the injuries, health will be the key. He has all the makings of a major league center fielder already, and Aaron Hicks is probably on his last straw to hold onto the job. Minnesota has no reason to rush Buxton, but the thought that he is ready already has to be creeping into the front of their minds.
No matter when they arrive, or in what capacity, it looks to be a certainty that we see both players make their debut sometime during the 2015 campaign.
2. The Ceiling And The Floor
A season ago, the Twins finished in the doldrums of the AL Central at 70-92. They were amongst the leagues worst in many pitching categories, and far too often they found themselves fighting an uphill battle. As we head into 2015, there are plenty of reasons to believe the trend of losing is nearing an end.
In 2014, the Twins were actually amongst the major league’s best in scoring runs. Thanks to breakout seasons by players like Kurt Suzuki, Danny Santana, and Brian Dozier, the Twins plated runs at a very respectable pace. Unfortunately this trend was nullified by the fact that they gave up far to many on the other side of each inning. Terry Ryan has looked to address this situation during the offseason, and the improved pitching staff should do just that.
Considering that pitching should be markedly better for the Twins in the upcoming year, projecting another 90 loss season would almost seem a stark improbability. Looking at the division as a whole, the Twins have faired relatively well in the Central in recent years. While some teams have gotten better (Cleveland, Chicago), it’s probably fair to argue that the top teams (Detroit, Kansas City) have regressed to a certain extent.
Knowing where the Twins are at, and believing in what has taken place this offseason, the floor and the ceiling shouldn’t be that far apart. I would expect the Twins on the low-end, to be within games of the .500 mark when the 2015 season draws to a close (76+ wins). On the high-end, and if everything breaks right, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see this Twins club competing for a wild card spot in early September. That thought alone should give you plenty of warmth through the winter.
1. Molitor Is Cut From A Different Cloth
For the many things Ron Gardenhire was praised for, he began to find himself criticized as his career as manager of the Twins drew to a close. Despite winning AL Central pennants in the early 2000’s, he seemed to employ many of the same tactics throughout the entirety of his career, hoping they would continue to work. As the reigns have now been turned over to manager Paul Molitor, so too has the structure of how the team will be handled.
Although Terry Ryan has a track record of promoting from within, Molitor comes from a different train of though. Yes, he was on Ron Gardenhire’s staff, but merely as a figurehead to be a manager in waiting. Not quite to the extreme of Doug Mientkiewicz, Paul Molitor is a no-nonsense type of manager, and that will be visible from day one. The Twins Way is a largely fabricated slogan that the club has played into, and based on Molitor’s efforts alone, it will be something that comes to die.
Expect more in-depth analysis, a better understanding of new age baseball principles, and a less tolerant train of thought from the new skipper. Paul Molitor knows what this organization and team have in front of them, and maximizing that opportunity will be something he appears to be the right man to undertake.
So, as 2014 draws to a close, and another chapter of Twins baseball is put behind us, look forward to 2015 as a new opportunity for steps forward. The next few years are going to lay the foundation for a team that once again stakes dominance in the AL Central, and it will be 2015 that begins that journey.
Next: Projecting Your 2015 Minnesota Twins 25 Man Roster
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