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Knowing the competition: Minnesota Twins

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Joe Mauer is moving from catcher to first base this season. Probably a wise move to keep your franchise player healthy. (Photo courtesy of foxsports.com)

 

Threat Level: 3
The Twins for years were always competitive, then they stopped producing good pitchers and have had trouble competing ever since. Then Justin Morneau had an unfortunate turn of events with concussions and now the Twins have been in major rebuild mode. However, their future seems fairly promising, with Aaron Hicks having an impressive spring and with Baseball America’s number 1 prospect Byron Buxton around the corner, the Twins could see a jump in offense. It will, like it always does, come down to the pitching, which remains to be seen with them. The Twins shouldn’t have playoff aspirations in 2014, but if their young players mature, then they could be thinking playoffs very shortly.

 

Major Acquisition: Phil Hughes
A name Yankee fans have come to dislike over the years, Phil Hughes signed 3 year/$24 million deal with the Twins. A change of scenery may do well for him, along with that spacious ballpark in Minnesota. As a fly ball pitcher, Yankee Stadium never helped.

 

Projected Lineup

1. Β Aaron Hicks CF
2. Brian Dozier 2B
3. Joe Mauer 1B
4. Josh Willingham LF
5. Oswaldo Arcia RF
6. Trevor Plouffe 3B
7. Jason Kubel DH
8. Kurt Suzuki C
9. Pedro Florimon SS

Β 

Projected Starting Rotation

1. Β Ricky Nolasco RHP
2. Phil Hughes RHP
3. Kevin Correia RHP
4. Mike Pelfrey RHP
5. Kyle Gibson RHP

 

Closer

Glen Perkins LHP

 

Yankee Killer: Joe Mauer
Joe Mauer is a professional hitter, so it’s not shocking he hits against the Yankees. In 58 games, Mauer has a .308 average. In the new Yankees Stadium, open since 2009, his numbers are even better. Mauer has a .348 average in 17 games in the new ballpark. Impressive. The move to first base should only help his offensive numbers.

 

Twin Killer: Mark Teixeira
The highest batting average against any opponent for Tex is against the Twins, where he has a .375 average in 65 games, no small sample size. He has 20 home runs and 58 RBIs against them as well. He only batted .295 in the Metrodome, but in their new ballpark, Teixeira has a .360 average. We can only hope he adds to these numbers in 2014 and stays healthy.

 

When They Play The Yankees:

IN NY: 5/30-6/1.

IN Min: 7/3-7/6.