Revised opening day lineup

[Marta Shearing]

SP: Garza (Keeping the dream alive)

 

1. 2B Dozier

2. 1B Mauer

3. 3B Sano

4. RF Arcia

5. LF Willingham

6. DH Kubel/Plouffe platoon

7. CF Hicks

8. SS Bartlett

9. C Pinto

[Marta Shearing]

I know alot of people hate Willy in the OF, but if they're gonna get anything in a trade for him, he has to stay in the OF.

 

I'm hoping Bartlett wins the SS job, and I'm REALLY hoping Hicks wins CF keeping Presley a 4th outfielder.

[TNTwinsFan]

That's a sloooooooooow line up...Plus, Dozier is a 2-Hole guy and Mauer a 3-Hole guy. With that choice of personnel, I would almost slide Hicks into lead-off slot and move Pinto to the 7 hole...Maybe something like this:

 

1. Hicks (CF)

2. Dozier (2B)

3. Mauer (1B)

4. Sano (3B) (Highly unlikely, but whatever)

5. Arcia (RF)

6. Willingham (LF)

7. Pinto ©

8. Plouffe/Kubes (DH Platoon) (Could flip with Pinto)

9. Bartlett/Florimon (SS) (I highly doubt Bartlett makes the team)

[TNTwinsFan]

Oh...and I'll hold out hope with you on the Garza front, too.

[Thrylos]

Too early and they will add players, but here is mine :

 

Hicks CF

Dozier 2B

Mauer 1B

Arcia RF

Sano 3B

Willingham/Kubel DH

Plouffe LF

Pinto C

Escobar SS

[Marta Shearing]

Another thing to worry about.....Sano's elbow. I keep on reading things from time to time that make me nervous.

[Oldgoat_MN]

Marta - I cannot see them starting Hicks in MLB.

They are REALLY going to want him to succeed this time.

 

I see AAA time in his future. Hopefully not long, but I would guess a month at least. So, a month or so of Presley.

 

Then we get to try to keep you and Shane from killing yourselves.

[Marta Shearing]

That's a sloooooooooow line up...Plus, Dozier is a 2-Hole guy and Mauer a 3-Hole guy. With that choice of personnel, I would almost slide Hicks into lead-off slot and move Pinto to the 7 hole...Maybe something like this:

 

1. Hicks (CF)

2. Dozier (2B)

3. Mauer (1B)

4. Sano (3B) (Highly unlikely, but whatever)

5. Arcia (RF)

6. Willingham (LF)

7. Pinto ©

8. Plouffe/Kubes (DH Platoon) (Could flip with Pinto)

9. Bartlett/Florimon (SS) (I highly doubt Bartlett makes the team)

I'd love Hicks leading off, he just didnt seem to handle that pressure well last year.

[stringer bell]

Pretty much what I predicted a month ago. I am going to change my starting catcher to Suzuki because ...I am used to disappointment.

 

1. Presley (CF)

2. Dozier (2B)

3. Mauer (1B)

4. Willingham (LF)

5. Arcia (RF)

6. Plouffe (3B)

7. Kubel (DH)

8. Suzuki ©

9. Florimon (SS)

 

Ricky Nolasco (P)

[Physics Guy]

I think Hicks has a 50/50 shot, although I would have liked him to play winter ball. If he does, he should bat #8 until he proves he can handle #1. If I were a betting man:

 

Pressley CF

Dozier 2B

Mauer 1B

Willingham LF

Arcia RF

Plouffe 3B

Kubel DH

Pinto C

Florimon SS

[maars]

I'm pulling for Hicks to follow in Dozier's footsteps this year and bounce back, so this is my optimistic opening day lineup.

 

1. Presley (LF)

2. Mauer (1B)

3. Willingham (DH)

4. Arcia (RF)

5. Pinto ©

6. Dozier (2B)

7. Hicks (CF)

8. Plouffe (3B)

9. Florimon (SS)

 

Ricky Nolasco (P)

[Guest USAFChief]

1. Dozier 2b

2. Mauer 1b

3. Willingham LF

4. Morales DH

5. Arcia RF

6. Sano 3b

7. Drew SS

8. Pinto C

9. Hicks CF

[twinsnorth49]

1. Dozier 2b

2. Mauer 1b

3. Willingham LF

4. Morales DH

5. Arcia RF

6. Sano 3b

7. Drew SS

8. Pinto C

9. Hicks CF

 

Ditto

[jokin]

Pretty much what I predicted a month ago. I am going to change my starting catcher to Suzuki because ...I am used to disappointment.

1. Presley (CF)

2. Dozier (2B)

3. Mauer (1B)

4. Willingham (LF)

5. Arcia (RF)

6. Plouffe (3B)

7. Kubel (DH)

8. Suzuki ©

9. Florimon (SS)

 

Ricky Nolasco (P)

 

Misery loves company:banghead:, besides just for you and me.....and assuredly knowing Gardy still has full say in personnel matters.....this line-up would be the odds-on favorite in Vegas, too.

[jokin]

1. Dozier 2b

2. Mauer 1b

3. Willingham LF

4. Morales DH

5. Arcia RF

6. Sano 3b

7. Drew SS

8. Pinto C

9. Hicks CF

 

 

 

 

 

Ditto

 

Justifiably or not and as appealing as this lineup could end up being eventually (love to see Morales and Drew in there- I'd become the biggest homer overnite it they could pull that off), when you put together the intertwining stories of Sano's elbow condition, Ryan's continual and nagging praise of Eric Fryer as a legit ML C option, the overarching failure in management's assessment of Hicks' 2013 readiness, and then, meltdown, at both the beginning and end of the season, and Ryan's apparent dithering in the FA market for a bat, I think the odds favor that Sano, Pinto and Hicks will all be in the Rochester starting lineup in April and Morales and Drew will be with other contenders than the Twins.

[cmathewson]

My projected line-up:

 

1. Dozier 4

2. Mauer 3

3. Willingham 7

4. Arcia 9

5. Plouffe 5

6. Kubel 10

7. Pressly 8

8. Suzuki 2

9. Florimon 6

 

Not a lot of runs in that line-up, but it's what they have right now.

[Guest USAFChief]

Justifiably or not and as appealing as this lineup could end up being eventually (love to see Morales and Drew in there- I'd become the biggest homer overnite it they could pull that off), when you put together the intertwining stories of Sano's elbow condition, Ryan's continual and nagging praise of Eric Fryer as a legit ML C option, the overarching failure in management's assessment of Hicks' 2013 readiness, and then, meltdown, at both the beginning and end of the season, and Ryan's apparent dithering in the FA market for a bat, I think the odds favor that Sano, Pinto and Hicks will all be in the Rochester starting lineup in April and Morales and Drew will be with other contenders than the Twins.

Sadly I concur.

 

But it's still January...let an old man dream, ferpetesakes.

[stringer bell]

My projected line-up:

 

1. Dozier 4

2. Mauer 3

3. Willingham 7

4. Arcia 9

5. Plouffe 5

6. Kubel 10

7. Pressly 8

8. Suzuki 2

9. Florimon 6

 

Not a lot of runs in that line-up, but it's what they have right now.

I agree with your prediction but will bet that Presley is the leadoff hitter with everyone else moving down one spot. There is balance there FWIW, going L-R thru the first eight with a switch hitter in the #9 spot.

[TwinsTerritory]

April

1. Presley CF

2. Dozier 2B

3. Mauer 1B

4. Willingham LF

5. Arcia RF

6. Plouffe 3B

7. Kubel/Parmelee/Colabello DH

8. Suzuki C

9. Florimon SS

 

August

1. Hicks CF

2. Dozier 2B

3. Mauer 1B

4. Sano 3B

5. Arcia RF

6. Kubel/Plouffe DH

7. Pinto C

8. Presley/Parmelee LF

9. Florimon SS

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

April

1. Presley CF

2. Dozier 2B

3. Mauer 1B

4. Willingham LF

5. Arcia RF

6. Plouffe 3B

7. Kubel/Parmelee/Colabello DH

8. Suzuki C

9. Florimon SS

 

August

1. Hicks CF

2. Dozier 2B

3. Mauer 1B

4. Sano 3B

5. Arcia RF

6. Kubel/Plouffe DH

7. Pinto C

8. Presley/Parmelee LF

9. Florimon SS

 

I agree with this.

 

A hard decision would be if Hicks has a great spring but I think Presley made a good impression last September. If Sano and/or Buxton are raking then get those guys up ASAP by May/June, especially Sano. Meyer too if he's dealing.

[Thrylos]

My projected line-up:

 

1. Dozier 4

2. Mauer 3

3. Willingham 7

4. Arcia 9

5. Plouffe 5

6. Kubel 10

7. Pressly 8

8. Suzuki 2

9. Florimon 6

 

Not a lot of runs in that line-up, but it's what they have right now.

 

No such a thing They use DH instead of 10

[NoCryingInBaseball]

I also agree with TwinsTerritory's lineup, and hoping that Sano's elbow is good to go.

[cmathewson]

April

1. Presley CF

2. Dozier 2B

3. Mauer 1B

4. Willingham LF

5. Arcia RF

6. Plouffe 3B

7. Kubel/Parmelee/Colabello DH

8. Suzuki C

9. Florimon SS

 

August

1. Hicks CF

2. Dozier 2B

3. Mauer 1B

4. Sano 3B

5. Arcia RF

6. Kubel/Plouffe DH

7. Pinto C

8. Presley/Parmelee LF

9. Florimon SS

 

This is great. My only question is about left field. I wouldn't be surprised to see a Hicks/Buxton/Arcia outfield as early as August.

[oldguy10]

I would think ALL of us would like to see a Hicks/Buxton/Arcia outfield by August, wouldn't we? That would be fun to the max. Why will it happen or not?

[Brock Beauchamp]

This is great. My only question is about left field. I wouldn't be surprised to see a Hicks/Buxton/Arcia outfield as early as August.

 

I'd put the chances of Byron Buxton being on the MLB roster in August at... (carrying the one in my head)... 1%.

 

It's just not going to happen, folks. The guy hasn't even played in AA yet. Be patient.

[TwinsTerritory]

I would agree on Buxton. I'm as anxious as the next fan, but I just don't see any way he is on a Twins roster by August. In the most unscientific way possible, I've put together the following percentages for his arrival:

 

April-August 2014: 0.1%

September 2014: 4.9%

April/May 2015: 25%

June-September 2015: 65%

After 2015: 5%

[DocBauer]

I suppose my lineup is not much different, but of course I have to post it anyway since it's been on tablets, scratch paper and napkins pretty much since the season ended. Trying to keep it practical with a couple small liberties.

 

1) Presley=LF. (Possibly some Mastro or a utility like Baker on occasion)

2) Dozier=2B

3) Mauer=1B

4) Willingham=DH (more than likely Kubel here as well switching out lineup occasionally)

5) Arcia=RF

6) Plouffe=3B (hoping for a bench LH bench bat to swap out on occasion)

7) Pinto=C (Suzuki might drop a notch in the lineup when he plays)

8) Hicks=CF (my pick as rebound candidate, defense, power & speed-hitting in works)

9) Floriman/Escobar=SS (platoon or either could win outright. Bartlett? Shrug-maybe)

 

Keep coming up with a 14 man roster even though I'm sure it will only be 13.

 

Also torn on LF and RF. Arcia is work in progress, but decent athlete/range and arm for right, and the faster Presley covers more ground in the larger LF. Or, the more polished Presley in RF and the still developing Arcia in LF where a mistake might be less costly.

[DocBauer]

I would think ALL of us would like to see a Hicks/Buxton/Arcia outfield by August, wouldn't we? That would be fun to the max. Why will it happen or not?

 

Want it, but say no at this time.

 

In an ideal situation, Sano's elbow is just fine, he builds upon what he did at AA last season and moves to AAA pretty quickly before finishing at some point with the Twins. Possibly all star break-ish or fairly soon after.

 

Along with that, the uber-talented and hard working Buxton, coming off his fantastic season, and some work in ST with the Twins coaches, tears up AA pretty well before his jump to AAA and finishes the season in the majors.

 

But I don't see it for a couple simple reasons. The first being that the stop at AA has always been reputed to be the most difficult first jump, and at his still very young age, there is no reason to rush him (push yes, rush no) and offer any set backs. And the second is also somewhat age related in so much that last season and a full season this year will obviously be the most ball he's ever played consecutively. Perhaps so many games and four levels in two years might be enough, and then a bit of a break before seeing if he might be ready to start, or advance early on, in 2015.

 

However, if it doesn't affect his clock very much, or at all, I COULD see a Sept. cup of coffee just to work with the MLB coaches more, take OF and batting practice, and just explore and experience MLB after another strong season.

 

With his talent, who knows, maybe he just blows us all away and forces the issue!

[cmathewson]

I'd put the chances of Byron Buxton being on the MLB roster in August at... (carrying the one in my head)... 1%.

 

It's just not going to happen, folks. The guy hasn't even played in AA yet. Be patient.

 

Just going on the Mike Trout timeline. If Buxton starts in AA, he could easily get called up in August. I would put the odds closer to 25%.

[Reider]

Pretty much what I predicted a month ago. I am going to change my starting catcher to Suzuki because ...I am used to disappointment.

 

1. Presley (CF)

2. Dozier (2B)

3. Mauer (1B)

4. Willingham (LF)

5. Arcia (RF)

6. Plouffe (3B)

7. Kubel (DH)

8. Suzuki ©

9. Florimon (SS)

 

Ricky Nolasco (P)

This looks accurate as of right now. It'll be interesting to see what the Twins will do if Hicks has another solid spring training. I think all Kubel has to do is show that he can drive the ball hard the way he always does and he'll make the team. Bartlett on the other hand will really have to impress everybody in order to make the starting line up. I see him as more of a long shot than Kubel. Also, it will be interesting to see what will happen if Pinto has a great spring training. I"m sure Suzuki will start game 1, but it would make things interesting if Pinto gives him a run for his money offensively.