Grading My 2016 Minnesota Twins Preseason Predictions
9. Do the Twins make the playoffs?. . F. “I think they get one of the two Wild Card spots. KC is still too good right now, and last year’s title will give them the confidence to repeat as division winners.”
Oops. While many predicted the Twins may fall short of the high expectations from getting close in 2015, no one saw this stinker coming. Minnesota Twins’ record of 103 losses, beating the record set by the infamous 1982 squad.
F. “White Sox are a mess. From the field to the front office. Tigers are old, and with age comes injuries, and they already had a lot of missed games last year. Indians have a solid top of the rotation and a couple solid hitters, but no real depth yet. They are behind the Twins by 18 months of development. Twins are on the rise, and will capture a Wild Card spot. Maybe more if Ryan can get us some relievers. Royals very well could be playing in their 3rd straight World Series.”. 10. How will the AL Central shake out this year?.
White Sox were a mess, and their clubhouse situation was the oddest in the league. Tigers were old, and that made them fade in the second half.
The Cleveland Indians’ rotation was solid, and they overcame injuries to two of their top starters and still made it to the World Series! Maybe I meant to say they were 18 months ahead of the Twins!
KC, fell off as their bullpen couldn’t keep up its incredible showings in 2014 and 2015. And the Twins? Yikes! Let’s look at the next prediction to make me feel better.
A. “It’s going to be a classic this year as the Chicago Cubs beat the KC Royals 4 games to 3. The curse is over.”. 11. Who will win the World Series?.
While not as prescient as the high school student who predicted the Cubs would win the World Series in 2016 way back in his 1993 yearbook (!), I’ll give myself an “A” for my own prediction back in March.
I even had them defeating an AL Central team, but instead they defeated Cleveland four games to three – not the Royals. Close enough for the “A” grade.
12. What would make 2016 a successful season?. . D. “Win a Wild Card spot, and hopefully host the play-in game. I really think they could take anyone other than the Royals. An ALCS against KC would be fun to watch. I really think the Twins are next level right now, just below the Cubs, Royals, Nationals who all have so much talent further along than us right now.”
Well, that would have made 2016 a successful season…but so would have 80 wins – or even 70 – compared to how 2016 actually sorted out.
Next: Grading Martin's Predictions for 2016
Minnesota had flashes this year of a good ballclub. The stretch from the last week of June through the first week of August had many Twins faithful optimistic. But it ended up being a mirage, not an oasis, in the Twins’ desert that was the 2016 season.