Over on The Daily NorsemanSB Nation's Minnesota Vikings siteI create a collection of "4 Downs" wrap-up write-ups. Moving that spirit from gridiron to ruby, here are my "3 Up, 3 Down" Minnesota Twins topics before Opening Day 2024. 3 UpLast season, the Doubles were generally wire-to-wire AL Central champs. They won a playoff game all with Buxton's balky knee rendering him a league-average player who never ever played the field, in addition to seasonal superstar Correa perpetually reduced by plantar fasciitis. This is to say absolutely nothing of Lewis' numerous characteristics. By all accounts, Buxton, Correa, Lewis are totally healthy heading into 2024. While never guaranteeing 150+ video games from all, it is good to have them all available from the opening you believe the '24 Doubles a "stars and scrubs" crime, rest assuredthis is as deep a schedule the team has turned out because the 2010 or 2019 mashers. Jeffers, new include Carlos Santana, Julien, Wallner, Kepler complete a batting order that can go swing-for-swing with any kind of opponent. Even rolebench players like Vazquez, Kirilloff, Farmer, Castro, and extra novice Manuel Margot can turn it a bit and supply Baldelli his all-important positional flexibility. The similarity Matt Wallner prowl also in the lineup's lower thirdPhoto by Brace HemmelgarnMinnesota TwinsGetty ImagesNot given that the days of J.C. Romero, Juan Rincon, and Joe Nathan have the Twins nurtured such a possibly powerful pen. Duran is elite, Stewart could be nearing that condition, and both Jax Thielbar are generally trustworthy. Inbound talents like Justin Topa, Jay Jackson, Steven Okert, Josh Staumont must give strong deepness if also a few of them stick. If former MLB star Bob Lemon is to be believed"both essential points in life are buddies and a solid bullpen"this device might be 's back soreness seems to be minimalDuran Thielbar will start the year on the IL. The good news is, no arm maladies https://www.twinsshorts.com, but pen deepness will certainly be checked out of eviction.3 DownI had hoped 2024 would be completion of neighborhood television power outages. While strongly meant, this did not come to fulfillment. Instead, many teams slid back to the cord oligopolies for temporary payouts. I see this as short-sighted and harmful to future fanbases. The 12-year-old me who invested summer seasons swimming at the lake cabin by day and seeing the Doubles by night might not have the very same opportunity without a whole lot of "finagling"and that's sad.In23, Sonny Gray was runner-up in AL Cy Youthful ballot. He left in free firm and was not changed in any kind of way, shape, or form. The closest direct compAnthony DeSclafaniis likely headed for Tommy John surgical procedure. Could Louie Varland replace a good chunk of Gray's production? Sure. But that just matters if Lopez, Ryan, Ober, and Paddock stay fairly healthy all yearand it's not such as arms that routinely press the architectural borders of that appendage ever break down, right? Bottom line: the '24 Doubles as-constructed have zero starting pitching depthand that might be devastating. Can the big man take care of a full-season workload?Photo by Dental braces HemmelgarnMinnesota TwinsGetty ImagesI asked yourself if new ownership frontman Joe Pohlad might damage from the family members custom of treasury conservatism. Not only did this not occur, however the brand-new Pohlad face has actually been much more transparent about the tightened up purse strings as the experts. I attempt as ideal I can to understand that the organization definitely shed money in 2020 and 2021but general they have actually made thousands of millions on their baseball financial investment. So, a season after a mixture of young ability and one of the most interesting October baseball in a Territory generation you say the company requires to be "right-sized"?! To price estimate the popular ESPN NFL sector: "C'mon, guy!". Much like the TV scenario, I see this as extremely short-sighted. On balance, I believe there is a lot more to look Steven Okert Shorts onward to than fear in the upcoming campaign. A second successive department title is there for the taking, and continued maturation from the new young core might pay rewards need to October once again be gotten to.