TWINS 2018 PREVIEW

Cameron Cottrill • Special to the Star Tribune

Taking the next giant step

The Twins, in 2017, became the first team in history to make the major league baseball playoffs a season after losing 100 games. The year was filled with surprise and nostalgia — fielding wizard Byron Buxton’s emergence as a hitter, Joe Mauer’s return to steady form, and the slugging of Miguel Sano, Brian Dozier, Eddie Rosario and Eduardo Escobar.   Read more

From left, Minnesota Twins players Addison Reed, Logan Morrison, Lance Lynn and Jake Odorizzi pose for a portrait together on Sunday morning, March 18
From left, Minnesota Twins players Addison Reed, Logan Morrison, Lance Lynn and Jake Odorizzi pose for a portrait together on Sunday morning, March 18, 2018 in Hammond Stadium at CenturyLink Sports Complex in Fort Myers, Florida.

The Twins are built to win now, but the future is unclear

March 24, 2018

The Twins used a club-record 28 different pitchers in relief last season. Only 11 remain in the organization just a few months later.

"That's crazy," Twins General Manager Thad Levine marveled during spring training. "Gives us something to shoot for, though."  Read more

Miguel Sano
Miguel Sano

Souhan: Sano seeks route to success that others followed

March 24, 2018

It was a sunny day in Venezuela, but no baseball games were being played. The country was on a general strike, leaving the best young players in the land to do little more than take batting practice.

This was in the winter of 2002-03. I was touring the Twins' Latin American academies in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela with Bill Smith, then a team vice president. A tall, lean, hitter was lashing line drives all over the diamond. Smith pointed and said, "I thought we had him.''  Read more

Joe Mauer Action from an MLB game between the Minnesota Twins and the Detroit Tigers Friday, Sept. 29, 2017 at Target Field in Minneapolis.
Dave Denney — Star Tribune, Star Tribune
Joe Mauer Action from an MLB game between the Minnesota Twins and the Detroit Tigers Friday, Sept. 29, 2017 at Target Field in Minneapolis.

Reusse: Mauer has been all he was supposed to be

March 24, 2018

There is a cover from a Baseball America edition framed in the dining room at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Fla. It is from June 2001 and a wide-eyed Joe Mauer takes up most of the page, wearing a crisp white uniform with "Raiders'' in blue script across the front.

"HOMETOWN HERO'' is the big headline, with the subhead "Twins Make Local Product No. 1." The Raiders were Cretin-Derham Hall, of course, where Mauer was a three-sport star.  Read more

Byron Buxton robs Cleveland Indians designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion of a home run last season.
Tns - Tns, Star Tribune
Byron Buxton robs Cleveland Indians designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion of a home run last season.

Center field shows how improved fielding became Twins goal

March 24, 2018

The Twins' improvement on defense in 2017 was important to the win-loss record, important to the pitching staff, and important to the marketing department.

"Sliding catch," Eddie Rosario said of the bobblehead with his likeness that the Twins will give away to fans in July. "Very nice."  Read more

Eddie Rosario
Brian Stensaas — Associated Press, Star Tribune
Eddie Rosario

Development of young hitters is key to Twins offense

March 24, 2018

James Rowson doesn't want the Twins moving forward without looking back.

So the team's hitting coach gathered players during spring training and showed them a highlight film from 2017. Good at-bats. Clutch hits. The video was made with Rick Ross' "Hustlin'  " thumping in the background as the Twins enjoyed memories of a robust offense during the second half of last season.  Read more

New Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Fernando Rodney (56)
New Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Fernando Rodney (56)

Twins going with improved pitching, from start to close

March 24, 2018

They've had a short lefthander throwing sliders, and a tall righthander chucking fastballs. They've used Everyday and Aggie, and even a guy named Brandon who had never tried the job before.

Over the years, the Twins have utilized All-Star closers of all shapes and stripes. So why not an archer?  Read more

Nick Gordon
Nick Gordon

Call 9-1-1? Twins added depth in minors to better avoid emergencies

March 24, 2018

The Twins will feel much better about reaching down to the minor leagues for help this season.

With veteran upgrades to the major league pitching staff and the return of all key position players from a year ago, the Twins enter the season satisfied that their top minor leaguers aren't being thrown into the fire.  Read more

Twins prospect Royce Lewis signed autographs for fans at Twins Fest.
Star Tribune, Star Tribune
Twins prospect Royce Lewis signed autographs for fans at Twins Fest.

La Velle E. Neal III's top Twins minor league prospects

March 24, 2018
La Velle E. Neal III's top Twins prospects

Projected minor league assignments to begin the 2018 season

1. Royce Lewis SS • Class A Cedar Rapids  Read more

Baseball's Analytics Age still can't solve two big mysteries
Howard Sinker, Star Tribune

Baseball's Analytics Age still can't solve two big mysteries

March 21, 2018

There isn't much décor in Thad Levine's office at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Fla.

His L-shaped desk is mostly empty save for his computer and a 3-foot bookshelf that's bare except for a handful of books.  Read more

American League power rankings by La Velle E. Neal III
Howard Sinker, Star Tribune

American League power rankings by La Velle E. Neal III

March 24, 2018

1. Houston Astros (101-61 last season)

The World Series champs traded for pitcher Gerrit Cole and will have Justin Verlander for the entire season. Eek.  Read more

National League power rankings by La Velle E. Neal III

March 25, 2018

1. Chicago Cubs (92-70 last season)

Jake Arrieta is gone, but Yu Darvish has replaced him in the rotation. The core of this team remains young and extremely talented.  Read more

The Cleveland Indians mob teammate Yan Gomes, who drove in the winning run in the 13th inning against the New York Yankees during Game 2 of the Americ
The Cleveland Indians mob teammate Yan Gomes, who drove in the winning run in the 13th inning against the New York Yankees during Game 2 of the American League Division Series.

Division preview: Cleveland is current king of the AL Central

March 24, 2018

The bullpen has been buttressed. The starting rotation has been deepened. And the lineup has been lengthened.

After an offseason in which the front office saved its best for last — adding starters Jake Odorizzi and Lance Lynn and slugger Logan Morrison since camp opened in mid-February — the Twins enter the regular season as well prepared as they have since manager Paul Molitor took over in 2015.  Read more

From left, Minnesota Twins players Addison Reed, Logan Morrison, Lance Lynn and Jake Odorizzi pose for a portrait together on Sunday morning, March 18
From left, Minnesota Twins players Addison Reed, Logan Morrison, Lance Lynn and Jake Odorizzi pose for a portrait together on Sunday morning, March 18, 2018 in Hammond Stadium at CenturyLink Sports Complex in Fort Myers, Florida.

Twins trying to step into the stratosphere

March 24, 2018

After making the American League playoffs with 85 victories, the Twins will try to challenge for a division title, and that means winning even more games.

Brian Dozier
Star Tribune, Star Tribune
Brian Dozier

Twins position players, by the numbers

March 24, 2018
Position-by-Position, the inside scoop

The Twins will need even more from their core players in order to contend in 2018. A look at the eight starting position players, after the suspension of SS Jorge Polanco:

1B Joe Mauer finished as the top defensive first baseman in 2017, according to FanGraphs' Ultimate Zone Rating.  Read more

Twins pitcher Jose Berrios (shown pitching against the Red Sox last month) threw five innings in a 3-1 victory over the Pirates on Wednesday. He likel
Brian Wicker — Star Tribune, Star Tribune
Twins pitcher Jose Berrios (shown pitching against the Red Sox last month) threw five innings in a 3-1 victory over the Pirates on Wednesday. He likely will pitch one of the team's two games in Puerto Rico once the season starts.

Twins pitching should be improved

March 24, 2018

The Twins had very few issues offensively in 2017, but their pitching numbers indicate plenty of room for improvement.

The St. Louis Cardinals and Minnesota Twins play during an exhibition spring training baseball game at Roger Dean Stadium Thursday, March 1, 2018, in
Mike Nelson — Associated Press, Star Tribune
The St. Louis Cardinals and Minnesota Twins play during an exhibition spring training baseball game at Roger Dean Stadium Thursday, March 1, 2018, in Jupiter, Fla.

Star Tribune staffers predict the Twins season

March 24, 2018

Patrick Reusse: 89-73

The Twins have loaded up on professional pitchers: Lance Lynn, Jake Odorizzi, Fernando Rodney, Zach Duke and Addison Reed have been added to the roster. Throw in Jose Berrios (outstanding), Kyle Gibson (best he's been) and eventually Ervin Santana. Pitching wins, and Twins are in much better shape there than in 2017.

Jim Souhan: 89-73  Read more