Expectations

[DPJ]

Just felt like writing this...

I was reading LEN3’s blog this morning and he brought up a great word…expectations. This is without a doubt the most talented team the Twins have fielded in the Gardenhire era, 2 MVP’s, a top closer, a deep rotation and an aggressive GM that’s willing to take a risk and acquire talent to improve the roster. We’ve all loved this off-season; it has been the best, if not one of the best in Twins history. The Twins have finally rewarded the fans who had to watch Livian, Ortiz and Ponson, watch the clubhouse get torn apart after trading a Gold Glove second baseman with a .300 average to save a few bucks. The years of scrap heap signing that were DFA by July while better players rotted in AAA. Watching the likes of Santana, Garza, Ortiz, Bartlett and others flourish in other organizations.

But as much as we’ve all enjoying watching players sign with the Twins this off-season, the expectation levels rise with each signing. No longer can the Twins play the “little engine that could” card. No more just being happy to make it to the postseason to watch them get swept out of the first round. They’re going out and signing top players, they’ve invested millions in acquiring talent in the draft, free agenecy and international market. The Twins aren’t the poor little team we entered the decade with; they’ve grown into a top franchise. I'm not putting the Twins in the Yankee/Red Sox catogory where it's win 95 games and call me in October, but things have changed.

This is a great time to be a Twins fans, but no more looking at this franchise as this scrappy go-getting that plays above their talent. They’re a legitimate top franchise in the majors and with every dollar that gets spent the fans expectations for this team should go up too.

[VodkaDave]

The Twins should easily win 115 games this year, anything less will be a disappointment in my eyes.

[slpBaseb12]

The Twins should easily win 115 games this year, anything less will be a disappointment in my eyes.

Sarcasm doesn't translate well into print

[Klobs]

The Twins should easily win 115 games this year, anything less will be a disappointment in my eyes.

Sarcasm doesn't translate well into print

Oh, I agree wholeheartedly. You can never tell when someone is being sarcastic on a message board.

[diehardtwinsfan]

barring massive injuries, a 95 win season seems pretty likely. I do agree that this team had better not roll over and get swept in the playoffs. I'd like to see us advance to at least the ALCS, preferrably the big game.

[a-wan]

I think once the Twins deal save specialist Joe Nathan for Albert Pujols expectations will really take off.

[ChoneZone]

I think once the Twins deal save specialist save specialist Joe Nathan for Albert Pujols expectations will really take off.

Throw in Casilla, Crain, Perkins and its a done deal, right?

[VodkaDave]

I think once the Twins deal save specialist save specialist save specialist Joe Nathan for Albert Pujols expectations will really take off.

Throw in Casilla, Crain, Perkins and its a done deal, right?

Wow quite possibly the dumbest comment in the history of BYTO....












































Everyone knows you would have to include Duensing

[twinscowboysbulls]

I think it's safe to say that for myself, these past 6 months of Twins baseball have been the most exciting of my lifetime. Lol, and that is saying something.

[Ted666]

Now if Delmon could get his shit together they could really have something

[TheLeviathan]

I have pretty high expectations myself - especially since the Twins did exactly what they needed to in my eyes - address the infield. The pitching is a question mark, but this is one stacked lineup and that is really encouraging. Hopefully Liriano can regain part of his former self and Slowey will give us a boost.

Anything short of a division title and at least one good round in the playoffs is a major disappointment. This team should be a serious World Series contender.

[Iastfan112]

I have pretty high expectations myself - especially since the Twins did exactly what they needed to in my eyes - address the infield. The pitching is a question mark, but this is one stacked lineup and that is really encouraging. Hopefully Liriano can regain part of his former self and Slowey will give us a boost.

Anything short of a division title and at least one good round in the playoffs is a major disappointment. This team should be a serious World Series contender.

In theory yes but shit could still go wrong, Delmon hitting like shit all season, Hardy putting up 2009 numbers, Liriano still sucking, an injury or two and then the team has issues. Bill Smith definitely made an effort to improve the team but many of our fixes have at least some question marks surrounding them, thus why we got them relatively inexpensively.

[OldLadyTwinsFan]

you'd all be much happier fans to not think so hard about any of it until mid-season. anything can and will happen. while i'm as excited as the next person about the possibilities this year could bring, i'm still not willing to predict anything or have any expectations about post-season before spring training has even begun.

[MilwaukeeTwins]

I dont know if my expectations have changed that much this off-season. I expect them to be in the hunt for the playoffs and hopefully get in, but I felt that way before moves happened. Smith has made some nice moves, but as Iastfan pointed out, they come with some question marks. Such as, Hardy was sent down last year for not being good, ODog lost his job last year, and Thome is an aging DH. I'll get really excited if Liriano's winter can carry into the spring.

[Rocketpig]

I dont know if my expectations have changed that much this off-season. I expect them to be in the hunt for the playoffs and hopefully get in, but I felt that way before moves happened. Smith has made some nice moves, but as Iastfan pointed out, they come with some question marks. Such as, Hardy was sent down last year for not being good, ODog lost his job last year, and Thome is an aging DH. I'll get really excited if Liriano's winter can carry into the spring.

Most people agree that Hudson was benched for no apparent reason. Don't hold that against him but his second half numbers would down a fair amount from early in the season. Even so, they were still WAY better than anything the Twins got from second base in 2009. Thome is aging but he's not going to be getting a ton of playing time, which hopefully will keep him going all season instead of breaking down.

As for Hardy, I just have to believe he's better than his 2009 numbers. That season just didn't make sense compared to his previous seasons and lack of injury history.

[everyday]

I admit i am very excited about this offseason and I agree with the OP that expectations have been raised, the question is to what extent? They are still behind Boston and New York (though I feel they are clear favorites in the division). To improve upon last year they will have to beat one of those teams in the playoffs. While the 3 main pick ups (Thome, Hardy, Hudson) close the gap, we still need to admit there is a gap.

[diehardtwinsfan]

They were quite capable of beating BOS or NY last year, they just crap all over themselves. This team will be very capable of beating them this year as well. Hopefully, they don't choke.

[VodkaDave]

They were quite capable of beating BOS or NY last year, they just crap all over themselves. This team will be very capable of beating them this year as well. Hopefully, they don't choke.

I am as big a Twins homer as they come, but I really don't think they had much of a shot against NYY last post-season.
-Duensing vs C.C. game one match-up.
-No Morneau.
-Harris at DH, Punto at 2nd, and Tolbert at 3rd base.

Maybe if healthy and rested they would have had a shot, but going into that series it would have taken a small miracle to pull off an unbelievable upset. The Twins played em tough though, gotta hand em that.

[diehardtwinsfan]

They were quite capable of beating BOS or NY last year, they just crap all over themselves. This team will be very capable of beating them this year as well. Hopefully, they don't choke.

I am as big a Twins homer as they come, but I really don't think they had much of a shot against NYY last post-season.
-Duensing vs C.C. game one match-up.
-No Morneau.
-Harris at DH, Punto at 2nd, and Tolbert at 3rd base.

Maybe if healthy and rested they would have had a shot, but going into that series it would have taken a small miracle to pull off an unbelievable upset. The Twins played em tough though, gotta hand em that.

I wasn't referring to the post season as much as I was to every game they played against those two teams... I agree a bit in part on the post season, then again game 2 still leaves me with a sour taste in my mouth, and if they win that, it's a whole different series.

[Justanotherfan]

96-100 wins

[Shores, Esq]

The Twins should easily win 115 games this year, anything less will be a disappointment in my eyes.

Sarcasm doesn't translate well into print

Oh, I agree wholeheartedly. You can never tell when someone is being sarcastic on a message board.

Sometimes I can. I don't know what you are talking about.

[edavis0308]

I dont know if my expectations have changed that much this off-season. I expect them to be in the hunt for the playoffs and hopefully get in, but I felt that way before moves happened. Smith has made some nice moves, but as Iastfan pointed out, they come with some question marks. Such as, Hardy was sent down last year for not being good, ODog lost his job last year, and Thome is an aging DH. I'll get really excited if Liriano's winter can carry into the spring.

Most people agree that Hudson was benched for no apparent reason. Don't hold that against him but his second half numbers would down a fair amount from early in the season. Even so, they were still WAY better than anything the Twins got from second base in 2009. Thome is aging but he's not going to be getting a ton of playing time, which hopefully will keep him going all season instead of breaking down.

As for Hardy, I just have to believe he's better than his 2009 numbers. That season just didn't make sense compared to his previous seasons and lack of injury history.

Somebody please correct me if I am wrong, but didn't Hardy mention something about how getting traded to Minnesota was the best thing that could have happened to him because he wanted out of Milwaukee? I mean maybe he wanted out because they sent him to AAA... but maybe he wasn't playing well to start with because he just didn't like playing for the Crew.

[slpBaseb12]

Until the Twins have an "ace" or at least some sembelence of a shut-down pitcher, I still find it difficult to project a whole lot of success outside of the regular season.

[notoriousgod71]

Every season that we have high expectations we seem to do poorly. I'd almost rather us be a predicted third place team.

[Pseudofool]

http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/min/fan_ ... s_2010.jsp

If this commercial is an omen, we're fucking doomed.

[DPJ]

Until the Twins have an "ace" or at least some sembelence of a shut-down pitcher, I still find it difficult to project a whole lot of success outside of the regular season.

I don't know if they need a true #1 ace, but they need some guys who can miss bats. I'll believe til the day I die that power arms win in the postseason, they just need a guy or two that can miss some bats when needed.

[twinscowboysbulls]

http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/min/fan_forum/commercials_2010.jsp

If this commercial is an omen, we're fucking doomed.

Um.....why?

[VodkaDave]

Until the Twins have an "ace" or at least some sembelence of a shut-down pitcher, I still find it difficult to project a whole lot of success outside of the regular season.

I don't know if they need a true #1 ace, but they need some guys who can miss bats. I'll believe til the day I die that power arms win in the postseason, they just need a guy or two that can miss some bats when needed.

A healthy Liriano could be both.

[VodkaDave]

Somebody please correct me if I am wrong, but didn't Hardy mention something about how getting traded to Minnesota was the best thing that could have happened to him because he wanted out of Milwaukee? I mean maybe he wanted out because they sent him to AAA... but maybe he wasn't playing well to start with because he just didn't like playing for the Crew.

No, he didn't say that at all.

He was very classy to the Brewers after he left, he said he was sad to go but understood why they were going in a different direction, also said he was glad to have an opportunity to start again in Minnesota.

[edavis0308]

Somebody please correct me if I am wrong, but didn't Hardy mention something about how getting traded to Minnesota was the best thing that could have happened to him because he wanted out of Milwaukee? I mean maybe he wanted out because they sent him to AAA... but maybe he wasn't playing well to start with because he just didn't like playing for the Crew.

No, he didn't say that at all.

He was very classy to the Brewers after he left, he said he was sad to go but understood why they were going in a different direction, also said he was glad to have an opportunity to start again in Minnesota.

Well thanks, I stand corrected. I wonder what it was that I am 'misremembering'. Oh well.

[Pseudofool]

Well thanks, I stand corrected. I wonder what it was that I am 'misremembering'. Oh well.

Since you misremebered it, it might not exist. Just sayin'.

[thrillho]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadi ... 0qDJpRS7mQ

"Once I was told I got traded to the Twins, it was icing on the cake," Hardy said. "I wanted to get out of Milwaukee. When I got traded to the Twins, a good organization and a good team, I felt like it was the perfect fit."

[Nick N.]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5g5nbVP3yoN76wxX9280qDJpRS7mQ

"Once I was told I got traded to the Twins, it was icing on the cake," Hardy said. "I wanted to get out of Milwaukee. When I got traded to the Twins, a good organization and a good team, I felt like it was the perfect fit."

Thank you for not accepting Dave's made-up BS at face value, as people have become all too willing to do around here lately.

[TheLeviathan]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5g5nbVP3yoN76wxX9280qDJpRS7mQ

"Once I was told I got traded to the Twins, it was icing on the cake," Hardy said. "I wanted to get out of Milwaukee. When I got traded to the Twins, a good organization and a good team, I felt like it was the perfect fit."

Thank you for not accepting Dave's made-up BS at face value, as people have become all too willing to do around here lately.

Heh. Probably just some randomn thing some hack newspaper guy made up.

[VodkaDave]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5g5nbVP3yoN76wxX9280qDJpRS7mQ

"Once I was told I got traded to the Twins, it was icing on the cake," Hardy said. "I wanted to get out of Milwaukee. When I got traded to the Twins, a good organization and a good team, I felt like it was the perfect fit."

Thank you for not accepting Dave's made-up BS at face value, as people have become all too willing to do around here lately.

Meh, I was wrong, no biggie.

For some reason I thought he was respectful to the organization when they traded him, and said he understood why.
And what made up BS? The Guerra Velocity? I watched that game and the higest on the gun he hit was 89 MPH, if you don't believe it feel free to go back to look up last years MSG+ T.V. schedule.

The only made up thing that people have fallen for was the Keith Law chat, you know, the one where you emailed him asking about those obviously false responses?