2010 Opening Day Lineup Projection Thread

[Klomp]

My best guess:

CF Span
2B Hudson
C Mauer
1B Morneau
LF Kubel
RF Cuddyer
DH Thome
SS Hardy
3B Punto

[links]

I'd rather have Young in the OF and DH Kubel. Just use Thome as a pinch hitter and then a DH when we face good right handed pitching.

CF Span
2B Hudson
C Mauer
1B Morneau
DH Kubel
RF Cuddyer
LF Young
SS Hardy
3B Punto/Harris

That's a pretty good lineup.

[Worm Guts]

I agree with links, I'd expect Young to be in the opening day lineup.

[Klomp]

I'd rather have Young in the OF and DH Kubel. Just use Thome as a pinch hitter and then a DH when we face good right handed pitching.

Yeah, I was debating this too. On the one hand, we are facing a pretty good RHP Opening Day, on the other hand, what you said....

[daddyfivestar]

Thome is late inning PH at this point.

Agree with the solidness of links' lineup.

[links]

I'd rather have Young in the OF and DH Kubel. Just use Thome as a pinch hitter and then a DH when we face good right handed pitching.

Yeah, I was debating this too. On the one hand, we are facing a pretty good RHP Opening Day, on the other hand, what you said....

Yeah I agree. Opening day it could be different, depending on who we face. I guess what I put down would what I expect the everyday lineup to be.

[Devilzsidewalk]

Young and Thome are about the same average vs right handers, but Thome has way more power, so I'd play him against righties w/ Kubel in LF, against left handers Kubel at DH, Young in LF. I definitely want Thome's bat in the lineup more than just pinch hitting, just not against lefties.

[dunkonu21]

Young is clearly going to start more games, but as the Twins said there will be plenty of at-bats for Thome. Also I think Harris will be the starting 3b over Punto (hopefully, or even better Valencia will be ready). Why would we move Cuddy from the #4 spot that has worked fine in the past.

What's the rotation?

Baker
Pavano
Blackburn
Slowey
Liriano (hoepfully)/Perkins/Duensing

[links]

Why would we move Cuddy from the #4 spot that has worked fine in the past.

Pretty sure most of last year Cuddy hit in the 5 or 6 spot, depending on if Mauer hit 2 or 3. After Morneau went out I think Cuddy went to 4 or 5. Cuddy was on fire after Morneau went out, but you have to put Morneau back into the 4 spot.

I agree on the rotation, hopefulyl Lirinao in the 5 spot.

[Worm Guts]

Young and Thome are about the same average vs right handers, but Thome has way more power, so I'd play him against righties w/ Kubel in LF, against left handers Kubel at DH, Young in LF. I definitely want Thome's bat in the lineup more than just pinch hitting, just not against lefties.

I don't think Thome will start against all right handers, I think he'll probably start once or twice a week at the beginning of the season and if he does well he'll get more, if he sucks he'll get less. I think the Twins really want to give Delmon a chance to succeed.

[Devilzsidewalk]

he's had 2 seasons, granted he's still young, but he seems like a guy w/ mediocre power w/ tons of strikeouts

[Worm Guts]

Could be, but they gave up alot for him and he was studly at the end of last year. He's still got some upside, so I think the Twins want him to win the spot. If Thome is badly outplaying him at the beginning of the season I don't think it will take long for Delmon to lose at bats.

[jason87]

I'll be shocked if Punto doesn't start 90 games this year.

[Klomp]

Heres our lineup when they tested the scoreboard:

[Narf]

I'd rather have Young in the OF and DH Kubel. Just use Thome as a pinch hitter and then a DH when we face good right handed pitching.

CF Span
2B Hudson
C Mauer
1B Morneau
RF Cuddyer
DH Kubel
SS Hardy
LF Young
3B Punto/Harris

That's a pretty good lineup.

fixed