So, now how many wins?

[Whitey333]

Like most people here I have been pleasantly surprised at the starting pitching.  I'm not so convinced it's going to hold up over the long haul.  The starters need to pitch longer into games.  The bullpen is already overused.  I'm worried they will burn out early.  Early I predicted 75-78 wins.  I think they can do 82-85 wins realistically..  That could possibly give them a division title in a very weak division.  They need to pile up wins in May with an easier schedule.  They may win it if Baldelli doesn't keep messing it up.

[wsnydes]

2 minutes ago, Whitey333 said:

Like most people here I have been pleasantly surprised at the starting pitching.  I'm not so convinced it's going to hold up over the long haul.  The starters need to pitch longer into games.  The bullpen is already overused.  I'm worried they will burn out early.  Early I predicted 75-78 wins.  I think they can do 82-85 wins realistically..  That could possibly give them a division title in a very weak division.  They need to pile up wins in May with an easier schedule.  They may win it if Baldelli doesn't keep messing it up.

One thing to note here is that with the shortened spring training, starting pitchers weren't built up like they normally would be at this point in the season.  Extra roster spots were added to help facilitate that, so the bullpen isn't as overused as it would otherwise seem.

[LanceJS]

I was in the 70-79 wins, now am at 80-89 wins.  I believe the pitching will be better.  Sure, there are still some concerns about the rotation - but compare some of the veterans obtained this year (Archer, Paddack, Bundy) to last year (Happ, Shoemaker) - while still not top line, that's an improvement.  Correa is a breath of fresh air in the clubhouse compared to Donaldson and more productive as well - both on offense and defense.  Only item I am still holding my breath on is Buxton's health 

[srlarson]

I was hoping for a .500 season....with the start...thinking now over .500 by a few games.....85-86 wins.....other good point is the division is a hot mess...White Sox cannot play defense...DT and KC..yuk.....and the Indians (always will be) under .500.....so some easy wins there....

Sano gone for a few months will help....but it all comes down to pitching.  

 

[mikelink45]

I cannot go crazy - the Twins have done well with Tigers, injured White Sox, Orioles. Split with Red Sox and Mariners, Clobbered by the Dodgers, lost 2 of 3 to KC,   There are still division games to feast on, but it is too early to go crazy on predictions.  We have seen 1/2 season teams before.  Do we have enough to sustain?  I am not sold on Bundy and Archer.  Gray worries me because pitcher injuries don't seem to go away.  Can Bundy sustain, will Ryan have the inevitable stumble/slump?  I still see us keeping about 500 but not ready for the stratosphere yet. 

[Sielk]

I originally predicted 84 wins, now I would say around 90.

The lineup should be good, maybe not great but it's enough for the Twins to win most games. I'm not worried about some slow starts there. Especially now with C4 heating up.

The pitching has been much better than I expected, hence the new 90-win prediction. I have no confidence in Bundy at all, that hasn't changed, but I'm now much more confident that Ryan, Ober, Gray, Winder, Paddack and Archer can all pitch at least solid seasons. In a terrible division that should enable the Twins to win a few games.

Like others have pointed out, the stamina of a rotation with so many young pitchers worries me a bit. But hopefully in the latter half of the season the Twins will have more reinforcements from the minors ready. In this regard, April was the riskiest month and it went well. So, 90+ wins? Let's go!