Metrodome Memories

There don’t seem to be any major question marks with the Twins as Spring Training games approach. Cuddyer is expected to miss the first couple of games due to a bothering left foot, but he said it’s nothing to worry about this early in spring. Tsuyoshi Nishioka will make his first start in a Twins uniform tonight against the Red Sox. Twinkies manager, Ron Gardenhire, will be playing Nishioka at second base and at shortstop during spring. Nishoika should expect time at both positions along with Casilla. The Twins seem to be in good shape and ready to start real spring games.

Twin’s fans should  be happy with Spring Training underway. Liriano long tossed at 120 ft. and stated his sore left arm felt good after the toss. His next step will be throwing a bullpen session, which he is expected to do on Tuesday or Wednesday of this week. Slugger veteran, Jim Thome, return to his team, greeting everybody with smiles. Thome told the press that after battling plantar fasciitis in his left foot for almost a year and a half, his foot is finally healed and back to normal. His back is also feeling better,”All I can say is my foot feels good, therefore my back feels good. It goes hand in hand”. With an all around healthy Thome, he adds another threat to the Twinkies already deadly batting order, all the more reason for Twins fans to smile with Thome.

Catchers and pitchers report to camp Friday for the Twins with nothing but an AL Central Division three-peat in mind. Though much of the roster from last season is returning this season, there are still a few questions on Twins’ fan’s minds as the season nears. For one, there are six starters with five spots on the starting rotation. It is still uncertain if Tsuyoshi Nishioka, the Twins new Japanese middle-infielder will be playing second base or shortstop. But the question with the most wieght and possible impact would have to be, “Will Liriano come back and be the Lariano of old”? Only time will tell will all of these questions, but no matter the answer to any of them, expect the Twins to be finishing amoung the top in the AL Central. After all they’re only gunning for a three-peat…

With the Twins entering their sophmore season at Target Field, they also hope to win the AL Central again, and are making moves to do so. Left-hander Franscisco Liriano signed a one-year, $4.3 million contract with the Twinkies. Liriano was last season’s American League Comeback Player of the Year, going 14-10 with a 3.26 ERA. After Liriano’s elbow injury that many thought would swallow his career, the long road to recovery seems to have paid off. He missed all of the 2007 season and his 2008 recovery stint numbers were average. In 2009, Liriano recorded a personal best of 8 straight winning decisions helping the Twins to reach the AL pennant. If Lariano can remain healthy this season, the Twins look to have the starting rotation with the most depth in the AL Central.