MLB Insider: A reminder that not all picks click

When you get to the end, you often think about the beginning. Especially if the ending is bad, like the 2014 Twins season.

The Twins entered the season convinced that they weren't a 90-loss team because the additions of Ricky Nolasco and Phil Hughes should have upgraded the pitching staff.

Hughes has been very good, Nolasco needed five months to show what he can do.

My prediction in April: 75-87 — a nine-game improvement. The Twins entered the weekend with 87 losses. Oops.

The intent this week is to look back at other predictions, namely the Picks to Click for 2014 that you voted on in April on Twitter and our website.

Your position player to click: outfielder Aaron Hicks.

Hicks did it again. He impressed in spring training for a second consecutive season and had everyone believing that he was going to throw more of that first-round talent on the field. But he stumbled out of the gate for a second season in a row. Then he gave up switch-hitting.

He left for a minor league rehab assignment on June 8, and the Twins decided to leave him at Class AA New Britain to figure things out. The first thing Hicks did was go back to switch-hitting.

My pick: Aaron Hicks.

After arriving at New Britain, he was chewed out over the phone, again, by Hall of Famer Rod Carew. Not sure if that led to an epiphany, but Hicks decided to shorten his swing and stop trying to hit a baseball as long as he hits golf balls (he's a really good golfer) and agreed to play the corner outfield spots.

He's batting .273 in 12 games since being called up. One Twins coach told me this is the most focused he has seen Hicks.

Your pitcher to click: Righthander Kyle Gibson.

Gibson took his lumps last season and took more this year — but he also has dominated at times. He doesn't give up a lot of home runs, and he has lively stuff. This year is a step forward for him; now he must cut down on his walks and stop big innings from happening. He has a chance to win 13 games.

The last time a Twins pitcher did that before this season was 2010.

My pitcher to click: Righthander Phil Hughes.

Here's what I wrote in April about Hughes: "I want to predict 15 wins for him, but he'll need decent run support for that to happen, and I'm not ready to anoint the Twins' offense as productive just yet."

Hughes can win 17 games, the most by a Twins pitcher since Carl Pavano in 2010.

Pitching coach Rick Anderson helped Hughes tighten up his curveball and throw his cut fastball for strikes on both sides of the plate. No one saw the 0.7 walks per nine innings coming. By the way, Hughes lost to Gibson in this race by one vote.

See you next spring!

Central intelligence

The Royals took a chance, calling up lefthander Brandon Finnegan, their first-round draft choice in June, to help out in September.

He has responded with four scoreless outings. Of his six strikeouts, two have been against Yoenis Cespedes and one against David Ortiz.

• • •

David Price has just five quality starts in nine outings since joining the Tigers.

He better be saving his best for last because he's on track to start the final game of the season Sept. 28 against the Twins, a game that might decide Detroit's playoff fate.

• • •

Cleveland's future rotation is forming in front of our eyes.

It's led by righthander Corey Kluber, above, who should receive some Cy Young votes. He has allowed two or fewer runs in 21 of 32 starts, and is 7-3 with a 1.84 ERA since the All-Star break.

• • •

The White Sox are unsure who will permanently replace second baseman Gordon Beckham next season. Carlos Sanchez is batting .263 in 22 games. Marcus Semien and Micah Johnson are also candidates.

Three observations ...

•  I predicted in April that Derek Jeter would play in 144 games this season. He entered the weekend at 136, so there's an outside chance of that.

• Kennys Vargas fills the cleanup spot in the Twins' lineup nicely. I hope his minuscule walk rate improves, but he could do even more damage by swinging at more strikes. He offers at pitches off the plate too much.

• Losing Garrett Richards was bad enough. Not sure the Angels can reach the World Series if Matt Shoemaker's oblique problems continue.

… and two predictions

• The Twins and Diamondbacks will have exploratory discussions during the offseason about Arizona starting pitching.

• Seattle catches Oakland for the final AL wild-card spot. The A's have no offensive chemistry.