Pitchers and catchers report for spring training for the Seattle Mariners on Saturday. Can you believe it’s that time of year already?
The Minnesota Twins battery mates aren’t scheduled to arrive in Fort Myers, Fla., until a week from Saturday.
Associated Press photo
I figure the team is pretty much done making offseason moves, so I figured I’d post what players in camp should be frontrunners for jobs. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire also recently stated what he expects to be his starting lineup in 2012 (health permitting with this group, of course).
Projected lineup (via Gardy)
Denard Span, CF
Jamey Carroll, SS
Joe Mauer, C
Justin Morneau, 1B
Josh Willingham, RF
Ryan Doumit, DH
Danny Valencia, 3B
Alexi Casilla, 2B
Ben Revere, LF
Projected bench (only four since Gardy loves opening with a 12-man pitching staff)
C Drew Butera
IF Tsuyoshi Nishioka
1B Chris Parmelee
OF Rene Tosoni
Starting rotation
RH Carl Pavano
LH Francisco Liriano
RH Scott Baker
RH Nick Blackburn
RH Jason Marquis
Bullpen
RH Matt Capps (closer)
LH Glen Perkins
RH Joel Zumaya
LH Brian Duensing
RH Alex Burnett
RH Lester Oliveros
RH Anthony Swarzak
Anyone I missed? The bullpen jobs are largely up for grabs. Other notable relievers in camp are right-handers Kyle Waldrop, Jeff Gray, Jason Bulger, Jared Burton and Casey Fien and left-hander Matt Maloney.
What’s the over/under on wins for this club? 75?
Yeah, I think I’d put it at about 75. It’s easy for people to say, “Well, a full year of Mauer and Morneau and Span makes a big difference.” And it does. But how many more wins? And what if guys like Scott Baker and Glen Perkins come back down to earth after enjoying big seasons? Seems like a third-place AL Central team to me.