Minnesota Twins: Grading, Reflecting on 2016 Predictions
C. The optimistic fan in me says the Twins will make the playoffs. The realist in me says there is too much parity in the American League for the Twins to overcome. If the Twins make the playoffs it will almost certainly be as a Wild Card team. Depending on who they play and injuries to key players on both teams involved will determine whether the Twins get ousted in a one game playoff.. 9. Do the Twins make the playoffs?.
At least I was smart enough to realize the Twins aren’t a playoff contending team before the excruciating path to 103 losses began.
Even though I was optimistic about the Twins this year, I didn’t predict the team would win the division. I hinted at the fact that the Twins would have a hard time making the playoffs.
Clearly, the Twins had a bigger issue to deal with, winning any of its games.
How will the AL Central shake out this year?. . F. The White Sox have no team leader or identity, Tigers are worse than experts predict, Indians have a great rotation which might not live up to all the hype, and the division still runs through the Royals. If Alex Gordon had signed elsewhere, the division would be wide open. Royals (89-73), Twins (85-77), Indians (82-80), Tigers (79-83), White Sox (76-86).. 10
So much for saying the Twins would have a hard time making the playoffs.
I was too bold with my win total for the Twins. To match my previous prediction I should have predicted the Twins to win 82 or 81 games.
The Kansas City Royals failed to win the division again. The Cleveland Indians pitching staff proved to be better than anticipated. Even the Detroit Tigers surprised me towards the end of the season.
However, there is a silver lining. From second place to fourth place I was one win off of the actual final standings. Unfortunately, I had the wrong order of teams.
F. The New York Mets. If Matt Harvey remembers to use the bathroom instead of holding it in, then the Mets stand a good chance win the World Series. Rest of the rotation behind Harvey is solid. However, Cespedes needs to be the team’s offensive savior again.. 11. Who will win the World Series?.
I was correct at least about Yoenis Cespedes. He needed to be the New York Mets offensive savoir again, as the Mets slumped down the stretch.
At the end of the day, I was incorrect where it mattered most. The San Francisco Giants ousted the Mets from the playoffs in the Wild Card game.
. A. Proving the pundits wrong. Lot’s of experts say the Twins will finish dead last in the American League. All the Twins need to do, is prove last year wasn’t a fluke. The Twins need to win more than they lose. Playoffs aside, finishing with a winning record will be a successful season.. 12. What would make 2016 a successful season?
Looking back at the 103 loss season, here is a prediction everyone can agree on.
Next: Twins Fire Hitting, First Base Coaches
The Twins did finish dead last in the American League. Even worse, the Twins finished with the worst record in baseball.
Certainly it would be more pleasant in Twins Territory if the Twins finished with a winning record.