In 2008, the AL Central crown came down to game 163, a playoff between the White Sox and the Twins, and the Sox prevailed. But nevertheless, an 88-75 record and 2nd place was nothing to sneeze at after having to find replacements for pitchers Johan Santana, Matt Garza, and Carlos Silva, and position players Jason Bartlett and Torii Hunter during the '08 off season. What's in store for the 2009 Twins? David Buona takes a close look at them in his latest Look Around The AL.

2008 Recap:

The AL Central crown came down to game 163, a playoff between the White Sox and the Twins, and the Sox prevailed. But nevertheless, an 88-75 record and 2^nd place was nothing to sneeze at after having to find replacements for pitchers Johan Santana, Matt Garza, and Carlos Silva, and position players Jason Bartlett and Torii Hunter during the '08 off season. Manager Ron Gardenhire continued to prove that he is an elite skipper, molding a mix of new kids into immediate respectability and an intensely bright future. 

2009 Outlook:

The Twins aren't quite ready to make their fans forget about the 1991 season, but their might be a few good little Jack Morris/Kirby Puckett-like moments for them in '09. Their staff is as talented as it is young, and should be healthier with Francisco Liriano two years removed now from his Tommy John surgery. The offense doesn't exactly scare the hell out of you, but they get things done and a legit dependable RBI source in former MVP Justin Morneau.  

Hello: RHP Luis Ayala, Joe Crede   

Goodbye: SS Adam Everett, LHP Eddie Guardado, OF Craig Monroe, RHP Dannys Reyes 

If the Twins Were an 80's Movie They'd Be:

Die Hard. What can I say...Yippee-ki-yay, mother truckers. The Twins personify stubbornness, much John McClane himself. They too spit in the face of danger and overwhelming odds. They haven't run across broken glass or killed twelve terrorists, but doing what they do yearly with their payroll is pretty close to the baseball equivalent.  

The 2009 Projected Lineup:

LF Denard Span / Delmon Young
2B  Alexi Castilla
C  Joe Mauer
1B Justin Morneau
RF  Michael Cuddyer
DH Josh Kubel
3B Joe Crede / Brian Buscher
SS   Nick Punto
CF Carlos Gomez 

The Twins must have Jobu hidden somewhere in their locker room, because it must have been some kind of voodoo magic that allowed them to score the 3^rd most runs in the American League last year. Only three batters had double digit homeruns on their team, and Justin Morneau had the most with 23. Morneau can be counted on for that at least that many this year, and he's averaged 123 RBI the last three years along with a .297 average. 

It'd be nice to see catcher Joe Mauer become a little more than a high average hitter, but you can't argue with a career .317 mark. He's entering his fifth year as a starter, but has only hit the double digit steals and homerun marks once in his career, notching 13 as his career high in each.  

The outfield and designated hitter spots will be manned by a mix of Denard Span, Delmon Young, Michael Cuddyer, Carlos Gomez, and Josh Kubel, none of which would qualify as a star. Gomez started off great on the basepaths (19 steals through June, ended with 31) and with the bat, but fizzled by years end (.258 average) and was replaced as a regular by AAA speed demon Denard Span. Span was ridiculous the rest of the way, stealing 18 bases, scoring 70 runs, and driving in 47 more despite only 347 at bats, but he's hitting below the Mendoza line this spring training so his playing time is up in the air. Kubel and Cuddyer are the same player, guys that could hit up to 20 homeruns and bat .280, but they aren't anything to write home about. Young was the prize of the Garza-Bartlett deal last off season, but he didn't overly impress last year, hitting .290 but only knocking out 10 balls and stealing only 14 bases. He'll have to become the projected five-tool stud everyone thought he'd be to justify the trade this season.  

Infielders Nick Punto and Alexi Casilla create a nice little double play combo and both hit over .280 last year. Third base is the most interesting and up in the air position on the Twins, with free agent Joe Crede expected to add some brawn but his balky back may prevent him from doing just that. His backup is Brian Buscher, who played so well last year when pressed to play that I wonder why the Twins are so eager to find a replacement. All he did last year was hit .294 and drive in 47 runs in only 218 at bats, although he did display almost none of the power (4 HR) you expect in a corner infielder. 

The 2009 Projected Rotation and Closer: 

LHP  Francisco Liriano
RHP  Scott Baker
RHP  Kevin Slowey
LHP  Glen Perkins
RHP  Nick Blackburn 

RHP  Joe Nathan 

With an average age of their starters just under 26, the Twins have a chance to have a dominating staff over the next few years, when free agency will strike and they will go to the Yankees, Red Sox, or Mets. The Twins staff will be again anchored by Francisco Liriano, now two years removed from Tommy John surgery and throwing the ball like he did in 2006, when he won 12 games and held a 2.16 ERA in only 121 innings (144 Ks, too). If the lefty can stay healthy, 20 wins and a Cy Young Award wouldn't be too surprising.  

The other "veteran" on the staff is Scott Baker, the oldest starter at 27. Last year Baker was electric following a DL stint to heal his shoulder, finishing with 11 wins and a 3.45 ERA. He'll be followed by Kevin Slowey, a 24 year old right hander who struck out 123 batters in 160 innings and posted a 3.99 ERA.  

The last two spots in the rotation go to Glen Perkins and Nick Blackburn, two pitchers who won in double digits in their first year as major league starters. Perkins was erratic down the stretch, posting over a 7.00 ERA in his starts in September, but he may have just be fatigued after being a reliever the previous two seasons. Blackburn led all major league rookies in innings last year with 193, but some off season knee surgery has prevented him from throwing until just recently. He's on track to start the year in the rotation, but a repeat of 193 innings may be a lot to ask.  

Closer Joe Nathan had the best season of his career last year, saving 39 games and posting a 1.33 ERA while striking out 74 batters in only 67 innings.  He'll be set up by righty Jesse Crain (5 Ws, 3.59 ERA) and lefty Craig Breslow, yeah, that Craig Breslow that Wedge never let pitch and traded away for a bag of balls. All he did for the Twins last year was hold batters to a .202 average while upholding a nifty 1.63 ERA  

So Magic Eight Ball, will the Minnesota Twins do their usual in '09, lulling everyone to sleep until one day you look up in October and they are at or near the top of the standings? "You may rely on it."