| After saving 47 games a year ago, the upcoming 2010 | | | | of starting pitcher Francesco Liriano. Liriano took the |
| season seemed to be an auspicious one for closer | | | | league by storm in 2006, going 12-3 with an ERA only |
| Joe Nathan and the Minnesota Twins. This all | | | | a shade above 2.00. His success did not last long, |
| changed recently in a meaningless preseason game in | | | | however, and a major elbow injury has hampered him |
| Fort Myers, when Nathan was determined to have a | | | | over the last few seasons, preventing him from |
| substantial tear in his ulner collateral ligament, which will | | | | returning to dominant form. The news surrounding |
| place him out of commission indefinitely. Though the | | | | Liriano heading into 2010 has been much more |
| Twins have aspirations of contending in the | | | | promising, though, as scouts and coaches have stated |
| up-for-grabs AL Central, Nathan's injury places them in | | | | that Liriano's slider is back to its 2006 form. Liriano |
| a precarious position as they move forward into the | | | | should bolster a mediocre starting rotation in need of a |
| 2010 season. | | | | spark. |
| Along with stars Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer, Joe | | | | The Twins also went out and signed Jim Thome in the |
| Nathan had helped the Twins build a reputation as a | | | | offseason. Though Thome's best baseball is clearly |
| division competitor each year, even with one of the | | | | behind him, he still hit 23 homeruns a year ago and will |
| smallest payrolls in baseball. Backed by Nathan, who | | | | bring some protection to the lineup for Morneau, Mauer, |
| is one of the best and most consistent closers in the | | | | Michael Cuddyer and Kubel. Cuddyer had a breakout |
| game, the Twins won 87 games and took down the | | | | year in 2009, belting a career-high 32 homeruns to go |
| AL Central in 2009, narrowly edging out the Detroit | | | | along with 94 RBIs, and Kubel drove in more than 100 |
| Tigers in a one-game playoff. Heading into the 2010 | | | | for the first time in his five seasons in the league. |
| campaign, the Tigers and Twins were expected to | | | | With plenty of big bats in the heart of the Twins lineup |
| battle all season long for the division title. | | | | this year, not to mention young players like Denard |
| Just one pitch in spring training may have changed all | | | | Span, they still have a very exciting core group of |
| that. Though it's unclear whether or not Nathan will | | | | talent that should be able to carry the Twins |
| be out the entire season, he will certainly miss most of | | | | offensively, making it a good year to buy Minnesota |
| it, leaving the Twins scrambling for a replacement. | | | | Twins tickets. |
| The Twins are also hoping to sign reigning MVP Joe | | | | But the Twins also now have a big hole at the end of |
| Mauer to a long-term deal some time before the start | | | | their bullpen, which could pose a significant problem for |
| of the season, with the three-time batting champion | | | | the Twins' playoff hopes. While there still seems to |
| heading into the final year of his contract. With Mauer | | | | be the semblance of hope that Nathan could return |
| still without a contract, however, and Nathan's season | | | | toward the end of the season to help a playoff push, |
| potentially ended before it began, the Twins are in a | | | | there is no way of predicting how effective he will be |
| difficult position moving forward. | | | | coming off of a major elbow injury. Moving forward, |
| But it isn't all gloomy news for the Minnesota Twins | | | | the Twins' season has a giant question mark at the |
| heading into their 2010 campaign. With Morneau and | | | | back end of their bullpen, though dealing with adversity |
| Mauer, the Twins already have two recent MVPs in | | | | is something Coach Ron Gardenhire and the resilient |
| their lineup and have high expectations for the return | | | | Twins have dealt with many times in the past. |