Minnesota Twins: What if Last Year Was the Fluke?

The Minnesota Twins are showing that they have plenty of talent. While 2015 is considered to have been a fluke, last year may well have been the anomaly.

The Minnesota Twins finished the 2015 season just out of the playoffs, in the race until the final weekend. The prevailing thought was they could make the jump into the post-season by the next sure, no later than 2017.

Then, 2016 actually happened. The bottom fell out. Historically long drought to open the season, followed by multitudes of long losing streaks, lost seasons due to injuries…all ending in what turned out to be statistically the worst season, won/loss-wise.

Their All-Star closer, Glen Perkins, never made it out of their first series. Their presumed ace, Phil Hughes, battled loss of velocity, shoulder tightness, and was finally shelved after a line drive broke his leg.

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Perkins is still rehabbing his shoulder, though the bullpen sessions are getting longer. Hughes, after undergoing the now-trendy thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, looks primed for a comeback this season.

Perkins won’t be coming in to help any time til Summer at best. Hughes, on the other hand, has developed a change up to offset any loss in speed on his fastball. He also looks to be back to full health, throwing five innings in his last outing.

But, even with Hughes back, he may only be the third or fourth-best starter looking at this Spring Training’s results.

Ervin Santana assumed the role of ace of the staff last year with his string of quality starts and finishing in the top ten for ERA in the American League (3.38), despite a losing record of 7-11. He will start Opening Day for the Twins if his duties for the Dominican Republic in the WBC don’t mess up his schedule.

Santana has yet to give up an earned run this Spring. Kyle Gibson looks sharp, throwing five scoreless his last time out. Hector Santiago looks good on the mound for both the Twins and for Puerto Rico.

Santiago picked up the win Tuesday night over Puerto Rico, with fellow Twin teammate, Eddie Rosario getting yet another hit (batting .545 in WBC play) and coming up with this pretty outfield assist (courtesy of the Minnesota Twins’ Twitter account):

Today, Alberto Mejia, the pitcher acquired in last year’s Ricky Nolasco trade, threw 3.2 innings, picking up eight strikeouts, against no walks, out of his eleven outs recorded. He and Jose Berrios will be dueling for the fifth starter’s spot, now that Trevor May is lost for the season.

Mejia’s win over the St. Louis Cardinals was the Twins’ eighth in their last ten games. They sit fourth in the standings (10-6) in the 15-team Grapefruit League. Granted, last year they finished second only to the Washington Nationals before their 103-loss regular season.

Minnesota Twins

But what if? What if the starters revert to 2013-2015 form and the young relievers the Twins have been grooming can hold some leads for the first couple months? Confidence goes a long way, just as a loss of it sent the Twins spiraling last year.

They have the offensive talent throughout most of their lineup, hitting over 200 home runs since the early 60’s. Last Summer, the Twins put offense and defense together from the last week of June through early August, winning series after series.

They played the reigning AL champs, the Cleveland Indians, to a draw, going 9-10 against them last year. Meanwhile, they went 15-42 against the other AL Central foes. Playing anywhere near .500 ball in the division gets them into respectable wins territory.

Manager Paul Molitor will find out right away how his Twins will do in their division, with their first 19 games in April against AL Central teams. Included in that start are the two opening weekend series that features the White Sox, a team that looked to be in rebuilding mode for 2017-18.

The Twins will have the perfect measuring stick to judge themselves against right away. While it won’t prove conclusively who has the better jump on their rebuild, it will go a long way to each team’s confidence.

Every year, each team is optimistic. Each year, a surprise team comes from nowhere to contend. With all the young power at the plate and some young power arms – what if this year it was the Twins?

Next: Phil Hughes Changing Approach

Notes: The Twins rolled out what could be a preview of their lineup against right-handed pitching. It included Joe Mauer batting lead-off (2-3 w/2B and 2 RBI) and Byron Buxton batting in the five hole behind Miguel Sano. Twins beat Mike Leake and the St. Louis Cardinals 8-0.