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Minnesota Twins Predictions | 2011 Season Betting Preview

Shea Matthews weighs in with his Minnesota Twins 2011 Team Gambling Preview. If the Minnesota Twins weren’t concerned about its 2011 hopes at all, why would it possibly entertain the thought of trading Liriano for futures? Do your MLB betting with Cappers Picks MLB expert picks in 2011…

2011 MLB Team Preview: Minnesota Twins

Hard to believe, as many of us watch the snow fall outside, that the Boys of Summer are almost back. But it’s true; teams have started reporting to 2011 Major League Baseball training camps and it’s time to start our team-by-team baseball gambling previews for the year.

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Twins Calender

FEB. 1-18, 2011 – Salary arbitration hearings
FEB. 14, 2011 – Voluntary Spring Training reporting date for pitchers, catchers and injured players
FEB. 19, 2011 – Voluntary Spring Training reporting date for non-pitchers and catchers
FEB. 26, 2011 – Mandatory Spring Training reporting date for all players

The Minnesota Twins remind me of Ben Roethlisberger. It isn’t always pretty but they continuously find a way to win. They may not have the deepest team in baseball but they have a few all-world talents, a good bullpen and seemingly solid team chemistry. Can the Twinkies keep defying the odds or will they finally turn into a pumpkin this year?

MINNESOTA TWINS
World Series odds: +2000

I’ll cut to the chase: I’m not a believer in the Minnesota Twins for 2011. It’s not that their lineup is weak by any means: it’s that there are too many question marks.

Joe Mauer is an elite talent, maybe the game’s best pure hitter, the modern incarnation of Paul Molitor or Tony Gwynn. It is, however, pretty clear that his 28-homer 2009 season was an outlier. Mauer hasn’t topped 13 bombs in any other season and has single-digit homer totals in four of his six seasons. He’s a great hitter but he isn’t the power source some people think he is.

That means the likes of Justin Morneau, Delmon Young and Jason Kubel need to produce runs. Morneau has the talent to challenge for the MVP award every season but last year’s concussion remains a concern. He’s resumed baseball activities but you just never know how long a concussion will affect an athlete. Young finally broke out with a 21-homer, 112-RBI campaign in 2010 but his .333 on-base percentage suggests he still has a lot to learn. We need to see him post consecutive good seasons.

Kubel has big power but, like teammate Denard Span, regressed significantly last season. Jim Thome was dynamite in a limited role last year but his role remains just that – limited. So the Twinkies have some decent bats but almost none of them is a sure thing.

As I said before, Minnesota’s bullpen should be a strength. Even though Jesse Crain and Jon Rauch walked, Joe Nathan is back after Tommy John surgery and he has a reliable setup man in Matt Capps.

But what about the Twins’ rotation? Like the lineup, it looks solid on paper, but it too could be a house of cards. Francisco Liriano is the real deal but rumor has it the Twins may trade him to the New York Yankees for prospects. Carl Pavano was great last season but he’s almost never healthy – or good – for two straight seasons. Kevin Slowey has amazing control but can’t stay healthy. Scott Baker is probably the most reliable guy but he still has trouble keeping the ball in the park.

2011 OUTLOOK

An optimist may look at Minnesota’s roster and say, “Look, this team has barely changed at all from last season, so why won’t it win the American League Central again?” But I’m a glass-half-empty guy in the Twinkies’ case. I just don’t see their luck working out for two straight seasons. And I wonder if Minnesota secretly agrees. If it wasn’t concerned about its 2011 hopes at all, why would it possibly entertain the thought of trading Liriano for futures?

I think it’s time for Minnesota to take a step back.

Prediction: 3rd, American League Central

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By Shea Matthews

Shea Matthews the Senior Writer at CP. Lives and breathes sports. He made the transition from athlete to sports journalist at a young age, writing in TV & national papers. Shea applies his knowledge to sports betting + handicapping daily, and shares winning picks with the world.

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