mnwildgophers

It's too bad. Baker was really one of our only bright spots last year. He continues to have problems with his elbow though. I don't know if it's so good for Hendriks' development to pitch up here all year if he's not ready for it. I hope he is because we don't really have many other options right now.

This is very true. He also played in only 101 games for the Twins that year. He is a lot better than the crap we threw out there last year though and he was a much better defensive shortstop. I do wonder about Carroll playing in a more of an everyday role rather than some sort of utility man that he's been at for the last few years.

I can understand why the expectations are so low, but then again, you have to think at how incredibly bad this team was last year. They lost 99 games while having so many injuries to key players and that. The bullpen was terrible besides Perkins. One would have to think that will be improved this year simply because how can it possibly get much worse? I don't think the philosophy they have going into this year was a good one with Capps, and we'll need to have some very good performances from those guys if we want to contend. As far as the lineup goes, I think we'll be alright. The real problem right now is the pitching. We are relying on some guys that are not consistent at all. Baker can't seem to stay healthy for a full season. Pavano is Pavano, a solid #3-#4 on a good team? Marquis, I know nearly nothing about the guy, but isn't consistency something he doesn't possess? Blackburn just simply shouldn't be in the majors in my opinion, he's only here really because of that contract that we gave him. The last guy is Liriano. Great in 2010, but a disaster in 2011. Maybe he turns it around, but there's a lot of inconsistency there too. Who knows, maybe we come out and win 95 games and all of the pitchers pitch great, but it's definitely not something to count on. Summing this up, it's likely that we will have a better year this year than last year, but to compete with Detroit when they have a superior lineup, starting rotation, and bullpen, it's just not likely that we win 90 games and take the division, but crazier things have happened.