As the 2016 MLB season approaches, SN's Je se Spector will examine each team's outlook. Today: the Twins.2015: 83-79, second place in American League CentralKey arrivals: C John Ryan Murphy, 1B/DH Byung-Ho ParkKey departures: OF Aaron Hicks, OF Torii Hunter, RHP Mike Pelfrey2016 PREVIEW: The next great rookie | MLB milestones, records in reachBest-case scenario: Last years rise to contention not only was not a fluke, it was a springboard to the future for the Twins, who had perhaps the quietest winter of any team in baseball. The one big addition, Korean slugger Byung-Ho Park, turns out to be a tremendous bargain, while Miguel Sano proves that he is capable of handling an outfield spot on an everyday basis and Byron Buxton shows David Ortiz Jerseys that his top-prospect status was well founded. Phil Hughes bounces back to his 2014 form and leads a rotation of innings-eating starters who can keep Minnesota in games and let a balanced offense support them before handing things off to a bullpen that is greater than the sum of its parts.Worst-case scenario: The Twins are a defensive nightmare and Joe Mauer, still withJ.D. Martinez Youth Replica Player Jersey two years left on his contract after this season, bottoms out to replacement level. Brian Doziers power tails off and hes little more than a strikeout machine. The expected progre s of young players does not happen, and the long-term plan in Minnesota comes into question. The season is shrouded in malaise pretty much from start to finish, and the Twins sink to last in the talented Central after having gotten everyones hopes up.Big question: What happens if Sano cant handle the outfield and Parks bat is too good to take out of the lineup while Mauers decline continues? Can the Twins make the face of the franchise a bench player? What about the fact that Mauer is making $23 million for a low-budget team? The good news is that his contract is up before the expected future core gets into arbitration territory, but this year could mark the beginning of the Twins moving on from the former MVP, and it might be painful.SEASON PREVIEWS: Find Je se Spector's other team previews hereDont forget: The Twins had the lowest team on-base percentage in the American League last year and their pitchers had the fewest strikeouts in the Junior Circuit. Thats not supposed to be a recipe for succe Wade Boggs 1992 Cooperstown Collection Navy Jersey s in todays game, and if Minnesota cant sustain what it did last year, the team-building philosophy might come in for criticism.Five crazy-sounding words you can talk yourself into not sounding so crazy: Watch out for Eduardo Escobar.Over-the-top proclamation to regret later: The Twins will finish at exactly .500, and you will forget that they exist 16 times during the season.
Stephen Strasburg is doing more than just winning baseball games.The 27-year-old right-hander is dominating the competition, and that was once again quiteapparent Friday night when he ran his record to 13-0 with Washington's5-1 win over the Pirates at Nationals Park.MORE: Braves' Freddie Freeman has cancerous mole removed Strasburg carried a no-hitter into the fifthbefore Atlanta Braves Alternate Jerseys Starling Marte led off with a single. He stole second and later scored on a broken-bat single by Jordy Mercer.And thank you for playing, Pirates. Strasburg shut down the Pirates the rest of the way. He went eight innings, giving up only that one run, with three hitsand two walks. He struck out six.So Strasburg continues his pursuit of history. Only seven MLB pitchers since 1913 havestarted a season 13-0; coincidentally, the most recent was Strasburg's Nats teammate, Max Scherzer, who started 13-0 with the Tigers in 2013, the only other pitcher to do so in the past 30 years. Rube Marquard set the all-time MLB markwith a 19-0 start in 1912.It almost defies belief thatStrasburg seems to be getting even better as the season goes along. In Strasburg's past four starts, he has an 0.96 ERA. He's given up only 11 hits in 28 2/3 innings in that span.Strasburg certainly had help in the field against the Pirates.In the fourth inning, shortstop Danny Espinosa made two great plays on balls deep in the hole, and centerfielder Michael Taylor ran down a sinking liner to rob David Freese of a hit. Third baseman Anthony Rendon made a spectacular over-the-shoulder catch of a fifth-inning foul pop down the left-field line.Hmm, a great defense, and a pitcher who is literally unbeatable at least for the moment. That's could be potent combination come October.Player of the Day Tommy Pham, Cardinals: The Cards outfielder homered twice, drove in four runsand had three hits in four at-bats in a7-6 Greg Maddux Cool Base White Jersey lo s to the Marlins. Pham hasmade the most of limited playing time (49 at-bats) this year, with a .996OPS.Three Things to Know Dylan Bundy, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2011 MLB Draft, will make his first careerstart Sunday for the Orioles against the Rays at Tropicana Field. Bundy, who has battled multiple injuriesin recent years, caught the attention of manager Buck Showalter when he struck out all seven batters he faced in his last outing on July 6 against theDodgers. The 23-year-old right-hander has a 3.08 ERA in 39 innings pitched this year. After George Springer led off Houston's 7-3 win over the Mariners with a home run, the Astros have an MLB-high 10 leadoff home runsthis year, with sixby Jos Altuveand fourby Springer Mets pitcherBartolo Colon took a perfect game into the fifth inning against the PhilliesbeforeCameron Rupp grounded a one-out singleto break it up. The right-hander went 5 2/3 innings and gave up no earned runs in the 5-3 victory to runhis record to 8-4.What's Next Red Sox ( Ender Inciarte Jersey 50-38) at Yankees(44-45), 4:05 p.m. ET: The Red Sox started the second half of the season Friday nightwhere they left off the first, beating the Yankees fortheir fifthstraight victory. Red Sox left-handerEduardo Rogriguez, whohas struggled mightily in six starts this season (8.59 ERA, 1.74 WHIP), will try Saturday to start the second half of the season right.The Yankees, who are under .500 after All-Star break for the first time since 1995, will counter with CC Sabathia (5-6, 3.77 ERA).Marlins (48-41) at Cardinals (46-43), 8:15 p.m. ET: The Marlins have been a pleasant surprise this year, battling the Mets for second in the NL East and firmly in the chase for a wild-card berth. They'll send Tom Koehler (6-7, 4.50 ERA)to the mound to face Adam Wainwright, who is 8-5 with a 4.49 ERA in his first season back from an Achilles injury.
The defamation lawsuit brought forward by a Yankees fan who Joey Wendle Jersey was shown on ESPN snoozing in the stands last season was to sed by a New York City judge Thursday, the Smoking Gun reported.The fan, Andrew Rector,levied the $10 million lawsuit against ESPNand broadcastersDan ShulmanandJohn Krukin July 2014 for their "avalanche of disparaging words" when Rector was shown sleeping on air during a Yankees-Red Sox game. Nathan Eovaldi Jersey MORE: MLB temas as craft beers |Most iconic moment for every MLB team| Worst teams to produce MVPsAccording to the lawsuit, Rector said he was referred toas a fatty cow that needs two seats and a confused, disgusted and socially bankrupt individual" during his 31 seconds of on-air fame.However, the comments came from online articles about Rector's nap during the game, not from the broadcasters themselves.In a decision i sued in September, JudgeJulia Rodriguez ruled that because the comments from Shulman and Kruk were not defamatory or false, the lawsuit didn't have any merit.At worst, the announcers comments Matt Andriese Jersey might be considered to be loose, figurative or hyperbolic statements which are not actionable, Rodriguez said.
Not that there was any doubt, but the Cleveland Indians affirmed Friday that Terry Francona is the man they want leading their club for the foreseeable future.The team Diamondbacks Flex Base Custom Gray/Black Jerseypicked up Francona's options for the 2019 and 2020 seasons, maxing out an extension he signed two years ago. Cleveland also announced it has picked up designated hitter Carlos Santana's $12 million option for 2017, keeping him off the free-agent market as expected.MORE: Longest World Series droughtsThe Indians hadn't posted a winning record in the five seasons before Francona came aboard prior to the 2013 campaign but haven't been below .500 in his four years at the helm. Andrew Chafin Jersey They lost to the Rays in the AL wild-card game in his first season and this year reached their first World Series since 1997.Offseason moves around baseball will determine if Cleveland is the AL favorite heading into 2017, but we know the Indians' young core will remain intact. Jason Kipnis, Corey Kluber, Andrew Miller, Carlos Carrasco and Michael Brantley all are under contract Shelby Miller Jersey (for le s than $10 million apiece) next season. The only key players who might walk in free agency are veterans like Mike Napoli and Rajai Davis.BENDER: Bright days are ahead, ClevelandWhatever roster tinkering president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti does this offseason, the Indians will feel good moving forward with Francona in charge of the clubhouse.
The Mariners added more outfield depth Tuesday, acquiring Cameron Maybin from the Marlins.Maybin, who signed Jon Lester Jersey a one-year deal with the Marlins in theoffseason, is batting .251 with three home runs and eight stolen bases this season. Miami got infielder Bryson Brigman and international pool money from Seattle in the deal.Thank you, Kyle Schwarber JerseyMiami. Ive learned from experience, its never goodbye - its Ill see ya later. Next stop, Seattle @Mariners! pic.twitter.com/vw5o5aE0Xk Cameron Maybin (@CameronMaybin) July 31, 2018Seattle will likely use Maybin in a platoon, or as a late-inning substitute like the Astros did last season. According to USA Today, the move means Dee Gordon will remain at second base for the Mariners for the rest of the season.Acro s 22 games in July, Maybin, 31, is slashing .303/.425/ Chicago Cubs Custom White/Royal Jersey .439. He should be a solid offensive and defensive contributor for the Mariners.