Twins 2010: Taking It Outside

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

After a snowless March in the Twin Cities, the local populace is gearing up for the baseball season like never before.  There is reason for optimism:  the Minnesota Twins are the defending American League Central Division champions (though it did take 163 games to get there), most of the squad will return, and that long-awaited outdoor ballpark is finally ready.

While the Twins will never be accused of being the New York Yankees, they did manage to cough up enough dough to keep Joe Mauer in the fold for the next nine seasons.  He may be the league's three-time batting champion, but he'll never be confused with Harmon Killebrew, and he won't always be catching.  So did the Twins feel any pressure to keep Mauer just because he's the hometown boy?

Joining Mauer, Justin Morneau and Michael Cuddyer in the batting lineup is veteran slugger Jim Thome, who's nearing the end of his career after stints with the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians.  Another added bat comes in the form of J.J. Hardy, moving over from the Milwaukee Brewers.

There are storm clouds on the horizon as far as the bullpen is concerned.  Noted closer Joe Nathan is out for the season due to an arm injury, which will require Tommy John surgery.  Francisco Liriano had the same thing done to him, and we've seen how well that's been working out.  He's still struggling.

Unless the Twins make some kind of deal to get a reliable relief pitcher, it'll be Closer by Committee, with five different arms vying for the chance to fill Nathan's shoes.  And that could end up dooming the team's chances of getting back into the playoffs.

We've been hearing plenty about preparations for Target Field's inaugural season from the corporate partners they've locked up to the food that will be served there, including the big announcement that Schweigert is replacing Hormel as the main hot dog vendor.  (For one thing, we didn't know Schweigert was still in business, let alone the fact that Cargill owns it now.)  But when rain and cold weather comes, you'll wish they'd have built a retractable roof.

So enjoy your overpriced hot dogs and nachos at the new ballpark while watching the Twins stumble to third place behind the White Sox and Detroit Tigers.  Dress warmly, and don't forget the sunscreen.

Here's who we think will be the division champions come October.

American League East  New York Yankees
                               Central  Detroit Tigers
                               West  Los Angeles Angels
                               Wild Card  Boston Red Sox

National League East  Philadelphia Phillies
                             Central  St. Louis Cardinals
                             West  San Francisco Giants
                             Wild Card  Colorado Rockies