May Over/Under

[Thegrin]

The Twins have finished April with a 12-12 record. Who thinks they will finish at .500 again ? Lets see who can win an "attaboy" with a prediction of under/over or push.

 

I predict OVER

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I predict under

[MC23]

I'll predict we finish under

[Shane Wahl]

It will be slightly under. They can right this ship though, for June.

[Jdosen]

Under, the hitters will cool off (to an extent) and the starting pitching will remain largely inadequate.

[Reider]

Under.

 

However, I will be very impressed if they finish over for the month of May.

[Mike Sixel]

Under.

[twinscowboysbulls]

Without glancing at schedule, I predict .500 or better. Here is why.

 

-Meyer might be up before the end of the month. That is good for at least a couple good starts from that rotation spot, which is better than what we currently have gotten from it.

 

-Mauer is going to heat up and I think many of the guys in the lineup can sustain the same plate approach, which is going to help our offense even when their averages start to sink a bit. (Plouffe, Kubel, Suzuki)

 

-Arcia and Willingham will provide sparks when they return, we haven't really hit for THAT much power, both of those guys can help with it, plus it improves our bench options.

 

-Last night was a sign that playing time either has or will be shifting more towards Escobar at SS, whether that means Flo is going to Rochester or just going to the bench. Which means offense production is going to improve even if it is marginal (4 hits last night was not marginal improvement, BIG improvement)

 

-I think Hicks is going to get it going, of course.

 

EDIT:

Wow, after looking at the schedule, It's going to be tough to do that. Only two games I would consider to be "easy" are the Padres, and they aren't going to be easy. Should be fun! If we are at .500 at end of May, I'll be excited. If they don't call up Meyer, then a .500 record at the end of the month with a poor pitcher still in the rotation should be enough incentive.

[bear333]

Under, the hitters will cool off (to an extent) and the starting pitching will remain largely inadequate.

 

Under, the hitters will cool off (to an extent) while the starting pitching improves a bit, but not enough to make the differecnce to above .500. Then in June, they start the path to above .500 play as the schedule and weather improves for them.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

The May schedule has

2 more vs. Dodgers

3 vs. Baltimore

4 at Cleveland

3 at Detroit

3 v. Boston

3 v. Seattle

2 at San Diego

3 at San Fran

4 v. Texas

and finish the month with 2 at Yankee Stadium (a 3 game series).

 

Since there's 29 games there, I will say it will not be a push.

I'll say under, because I think they'll have trouble with LAD, BAL, BOS, NYY, and Texas. I don't think they'll get swept by any of those teams, but I do think they'll have trouble winning series against those 5.

I predict they'll win 10 or more games, though.

[twinscowboysbulls]

The May schedule has

2 more vs. Dodgers

3 vs. Baltimore

4 at Cleveland

3 at Detroit

3 v. Boston

3 v. Seattle

2 at San Diego

3 at San Fran

4 v. Texas

and finish the month with 2 at Yankee Stadium (a 3 game series).

 

Since there's 29 games there, I will say it will not be a push.

I'll say under, because I think they'll have trouble with LAD, BAL, BOS, NYY, and Texas. I don't think they'll get swept by any of those teams, but I do think they'll have trouble winning series against those 5.

I predict they'll win 10 or more games, though.

 

Exactly, it's baseball. They could somehow win 20 or lose 20.

[iTwins]

I'll take the over. Granted, I don't think it will be over by much (I'm thinking 15-14 for a May record) but it's still over. Given that schedule, I think we'd all be delighted if the Twins could squeak out a winning record. Really - with that shedule I'd be happy if the Twins were within a game or two of .500 in either direction.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

Yeah - based on the month of April, I expect that the Twins can hang in there with all of those teams. It would not shock me if they find a way to stay above .500 in May, I just think they will have a tough time doing so.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I don't really believe in predictions but I think we'll see the Twins finish May just under .500.

 

Where they go from there is anyone's guess. I expect to see wholesale regression on offense from almost everyone not named Joe Mauer or Brian Dozier. To counter that, I expect to see Ricky Nolasco improve, Kyle Gibson to hold, and Phil Hughes to hold. Mike Pelfrey and Kevin Correia are wildcards.

[Mill1634]

under. 12-17

[Halsey Hall]

Under. 13-16. And I'd be satisfied with that.

[Mike Sixel]

I don't really believe in predictions but I think we'll see the Twins finish May just under .500.

 

Where they go from there is anyone's guess. I expect to see wholesale regression on offense from almost everyone not named Joe Mauer or Brian Dozier. To counter that, I expect to see Ricky Nolasco improve, Kyle Gibson to hold, and Phil Hughes to hold. Mike Pelfrey and Kevin Correia are wildcards.

 

this, 100% this. But, I'm more like 5 games under......

[TheLeviathan]

Given that schedule, I'd argue playing .500 again would be worthy of celebration.

[Thegrin]

After 2 days the Twins are 0-3. The Under is looking like the best bet.

[Thegrin]

Every time, without exception, that Correia pitches a good game, I am surprised.

The Twins move up to 1-3 for May.

[Thegrin]

3 Quality starts in a row deserves 3 !!!

the Twins are now 2-3 for the month and if they win tonight in Cleveland they will be even for both the month and the year.

[Thegrin]

I watched. I could not believe my eyes. 4 Quality starts in a row!!!! Gibson always had something when he needed it. The Twins are 3-3 and at .500

[Physics Guy]

And now they are 3-3. The rest of the month will be tough. I'll predict under, but I think they can keep it close. This team seems to have a little more fight than the past three years. The pitching staff seems to be righting itself somewhat, so I think they avoid any major losing streaks (knocks on wood).

[Brock Beauchamp]

They're getting close to last year's 18-18 mark.

 

But unlike last year, I doubt they will go 48-78 the rest of the way.This pitching staff should keep them in a lot more games now that it doesn't look terrible.

[jokin]

They're getting close to last year's 18-18 mark.

 

But unlike last year, I doubt they will go 48-78 the rest of the way.This pitching staff should keep them in a lot more games now that it doesn't look terrible.

 

Brock demonstrating his mastery of the Glib Understatement? We are currently on unfamiliar ground, in uncharted waters, soaring above over the rainbow territory with our current pitching situation.......4 QS. In. A. Row. 6 games in May and a Starter ERA of 2.63.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Brock demonstrating his mastery of the Glib Understatement? We are currently on unfamiliar ground, in uncharted waters, soaring above over the rainbow territory with our current pitching situation.......4 QS. In. A. Row. 6 games in May and a Starter ERA of 2.63.

 

Just tempering expectations. Hughes is the real deal, IMO. Always been bullish on him. Nolasco should be just fine. Gibson needs to miss a lot more bats or he's Nick Blackburn 2.0. Deduno is a wildcard as only Samuel Deduno can be. Correia has a ceiling of mediocrity.

 

Much improved over last year? Absolutely. Still a lot of room for improvement, though.

[Mike Sixel]

Still trying to figure out how Gibson is getting away that swing/miss percentage......I stick by my prediction, because being hard headed and unwilling to change is how people are successful!

[jokin]

Just tempering expectations. Hughes is the real deal, IMO. Always been bullish on him. Nolasco should be just fine. Gibson needs to miss a lot more bats or he's Nick Blackburn 2.0. Deduno is a wildcard as only Samuel Deduno can be. Correia has a ceiling of mediocrity.

 

Much improved over last year? Absolutely. Still a lot of room for improvement, though.

 

The kind of improvement that might come from insertion into the rotation of a certain Big Unit?

[jokin]

Still trying to figure out how Gibson is getting away that swing/miss percentage......I stick by my prediction, because being hard headed and unwilling to change is how people are successful!

 

Is it the inconsistency with his sinker that has hitters off-balance? Gibson varies from game-to-game from generally "wild high" to "wild low". And the Blackburn 2.0 scenario is a scary thought.....and what exactly was your prediction for Gibby?

[Mike Sixel]

I meant my prediction on being 5 games under by the end of May.....

 

I think all along I've said Gibson is a 3.....with the occassional awesome start, and slightly more frequent "meh" start, with the possibility he's really a 4. But man, he's got to find a way to get people to swing and miss, or things will go South.