I already have.

Mauer's embarrassed about last year and has been working out in full force. Span and Morneau want to get back on the field and have been working hard to do just that. Will they be able to? Who knows. But they've had an offseason to prepare and one has to assume that if the people in the know think they can, I'm going to hope for it as well.

As for the bullpen, there was massive turnover from 10-11. No cohesion last season. Capps and Perkins will be back. Capps wasn't effective, but Capps was also injured and claims he no longer is. Perkins was solid plus we're moving Duensing there and he saw some quiet success in relief roles when he first was with the team. Guys like Diamond and Swarzak have some big league experience in them now too and should be more effective than Mijares. I'm not really counting on Zumaya but if the guy could find some of his velocity back, he could be a decent arm in there as well.

And what exactly is wrong with a little 'hope'? I'm not completely unrealistic. I know we have a mountain to climb. I merely think that it may not be as bad as we're all making it out to be. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. So what?

But what if you're wrong?

I guess the same thing applies if he's wrong. So what?

AND if he's wrong that's good thing. Right?

You say:
=========================
1. I think we'll be "healthier" than we were last season.
2. I think our bullpen will be better than it was last season.
3. I think our acquisitions filled some of our holes.
4. I think the AL Central is still weak
=========================

To what degree are we talking here? What kind of improvement? A little bit? That's what I'm talking about. Even if we are all of those things you say I still don't think this team contends. In fact, I have a hard time thinking we'll be a .500 team to be honest with you. The record shows we had the second worst team in baseball last year. We lost a bunch of players and got a few back. I think that is a wash at best. How do we turn out to be much better than a 70-75 win team? I'd say that's pretty objective. Check the line Vegas gives us and listen to what the "experts" write and say. A lot knowlegable, longtime Twins are saying the same thing here. It's nothing unique that I am saying, man. I'm trying to be realistic here. All you are doing is hoping everything breaks just right. That's all well and good but it rarely ever happens. And even if it does in this case this team STILL probably won't contend. The team is hitting a dry spell--a period of transition. It 's happens.

"How do we turn out to be much better than a 70-75 win team? I'd say that's pretty objective."

..and maybe overly optimistic too (70-75 wins that is...).

Right now, I'd say 75. It's really hard to say. Let's see how they come out of spring training.

The Twins could potentially win 70-75 games this year, but a lot would have to go right. Almost everything would have to go right if they end up winning 76+ games.

Although I am confident in Perkins, I'm not really sold on Capps as a Championship quality closer, and Zumaya's ability to throw the heat when he's healthy is exciting, but will he be able to stay healthy? I think the Twins' bullpen is very thin. Some of the other guys will have to step up this year for sure.

I'm not sold on Revere as an MLB caliber outfielder. Nice guy, great speed, but he has a weak arm and needs to be much more consistent and productive at the plate. Casilla being a legitimate MLB caliber 2nd baseman is a bit more debatable. I like his speed too, I'd just like to see him get his batting average up a bit and get on base a bit more so he can utilize his speed more. With their speed, Revere and Casilla could both bunt a little bit more as well in certain situations... especially if they are in a slump.

Other than that, I think some of the players the Twins signed in the off season are pretty decent.. Carroll, Doumit, and Willingham should all help the team this year. Hopefully Marquis and Zumaya help the team on the mound as well.

However, where is the depth on this team? If they are going to start Revere in the outfield when in my opinion he is not even MLB caliber and Casilla at 2nd, which is questionable at best, how is this team supposed to win 90 games this year?

The Twins have a thin bullpen, are arguably starting a guy in the outfield who arguably isn't MLB caliber, and Nishioka / Hughes / Plouffe (outfield too) are going to back up the middle infield.. and Parmelee (looks solid as an MLB player so far) backing up first base. I expect Mauer to play better this year, but with all of the concussion problems, I don't expect Morneau to do much, although I will be very happy if he does have a healthy and productive season. This team will certainly have some exciting moments this year, but don't expect them to make the playoffs.

LOL...Jose Mijares is late again.

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/02/21/3443134/royals-notes-mijares-not-in-camp.html

Hey j-man the AL central is getting better besides min/chw Detroit is loaded Cleveland has ubaldo jimenez for a full year and sizemore and choo missed a lot of time last year.Kc has the #1 farm system in baseball plus hosmer and moustakis for a full year.

Sizemore misses a lot of time all the time. For all the hate Morneau gets for his injuries (perhaps warranted) Sizemore has missed more time than him the last two seasons. If we can't hold out hope for Morneau, no point holding out hope for Sizemore. Ubaldo has been an average pitcher since his fantastic year a couple seasons ago.

The others are probably correct, but who knows how Hosmer will act in his second campaign, and how well the Tigers gel with the new players and possibly new positions.

I'm sorry if this comes off as insulting, but I find it a little crazy to assume that Cleveland is going to be battling to the top of this division simply because of Sizemore and Jimenez.

As heatbeat said, Sizemore is just as injury prone as Mauer and Morneau are, if not moreso! And when healthy, I think the Twins have the better stars!

And then Jimenez, I'm sorry, but this guy is sorely overrated. His monster 2010 season is the only time in his career he pitched with an ERA under 3.50. Before the Rockies traded him to Cleveland, he was not the same pitcher and Cleveland was hoping for a jolt. He was pitching with a 4.46 ERA at the time of the trade and actually got worse, when settling in for Cleveland, finishing with an ERA above 5.00 for them! Why anyone would suddenly think a full season in the AL is going to produce production similar to his best years in Colorado, is beyond me.

Kansas City has a great farm system, but prospects are prospects. No one knows how their play in the minors is going to translate to the majors. Kansas City is a fun glamor pick at the moment, but what if all these young guys tank when they get to the majors? I find it funny that people are all in on the Royals this season. Maybe the next, but this season I still see a lot of question marks.

The Tigers are the obvious favorite, but Prince's offense should merely supplant the offense left behind by VMart's injury and the addition of Prince arguably makes them weaker defensively for the time being. And I personally still think Fielder's impressive stats were padded somewhat due to the better tablesetters ahead of him in Milwaukee's lineup. Weeks, Morgan, and Braun all had significantly higher OBPs than the guys that will be ahead of him in Detroit. I think that'll make a difference.

I fully understand why we're being picked in the bottom of the division, after last year. All I'm saying is that I'm not ready to tout this division as anything more yet. Outside of Detroit, I still see it as pretty wide open.

I see your points but there is nothing about the twins that gives me hope.I ha-te our "contact"SP,
perkins is the only bullpen guy who can be counted on.All of our hitters have some question marks. Is span over the concussion,can carroll play SS everyday,mauer's health,morneau's health,
willingham changing positions(should be ok),doumit can he DH(see adam dunn)valencia sophomore slump or just not that good,casilla health and never that good anyway,revere arm strength, banjo hitter,no pop.

I always used to joke with my friend that the twins always report last, and that mijares reports a week later.

Well, i think cleveland is probably the 3rd place team this year. I have kansas city having their breakout year this year (but what do i know? i said it'd be last year, so really just take my words with a grain of salt in this regard) and i think they'll finish 2nd. Detroit has far and away the best team in the division. I think cleveland has a rotation with Jiminez, Masterson, derek lowe, the other guys who i cant remember and a team that will finish 3rd. I think it'll be KC and Cleveland in the real "battle" in this division, which will be for 2nd. After that i think the twins and white sox will be pretty close for 4th and 5th...

Ubaldo has a mechanical issue that if it gets resolved, those era numbers will plummet.

40 and counting...

ONE WEEK!

Just need to remain injury free and get the players with injuries back on the field.

The Twins have a tough schedule the first month of the season.

Let's hope they aren't totally demoralized after a few weeks like they were last year. They have to stop thinking about easy parts and hard parts of schedules and go in with the same attitude each game. It will be hard with Gardenhire in charge, imo

They will be "battling their tails off" every game... ;-)

If they actually play the first month for fun, they may have greater success (a little more loose...).