Manager Ron Gardenhire has stressed fundamental baseball in the field and throwing strikes with the pitching staff. The result has been him building a consistent winner in Minnesota. Gardenhire led the Twins to a 87-76 (53.4%) record last season winning a one game playoff with the Tigers to win the A.L. Central before falling to the Yankees in the playoffs. In 8 years with the Twins, Gardenhire has compiled a 709-588 (54.7%) record. Look for the Twins to be right in the playoff race again in 2010.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE MANAGER IN 2010: A

With closer Joe Nathan out for the season due to Tommy John Surgery the Twins will need some pitchers to step up in the pen. 31-year old righty Jon Rauch has the most closing experience on the pitching staff so he will likely get the first chance unless the Twins trade for an established closer. Rauch pitched in 17 games (0 starts) for the Twins last season and he was 5-1 with a 1.72 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. Rauch pitched in 75 games (0 starts) overall for the Twins & D-Backs last season in which he was 7-3 with 2 saves, a 3.60 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP.

31-year old righty Matt Guerrier is another pitcher who could get some saves for the Twins in 2010. Guerrier pitched in 79 games (0 starts) for the Twins last season and he was 5-1 with 1 save, a 2.36 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP. In his six years with the Twins, Guerrier has pitched in 319 games (0 starts) in which he is 14-18 with 4 saves, a 3.41 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP.

29-year old righty Pat Neshek missed all of last season but he’s back for 2010. He has pitched in 121 games (0 starts) in his three years with the Twins and he is 11-5 with a 2.91 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP. He has only given up 79 hits in 120 2/3 innings in his major league career and he has whiffed 142 batters showing just how nasty he is. Neshek could also get into the saves mix if healthy.

25-year old lefty Jose Mijares is a lefty with pretty nasty stuff. He pitched in 71 games (0 starts) for the Twins last season and he was 2-2 with a 2.34 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. Mijares only gave up 50 hits in 61 2/3 innings last season while whiffing 55 batters which shows how good his stuff is. He could vulture some saves for the Twins if the last couple of batters are lefty swingers.

28-year old righty Jesse Crain didn’t have his best year in 2009 working in 56 games (0 starts) for the Twins in which he was 7-4 with a 4.70 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. Crain has now pitched in 305 games (0 starts) in his career with the Twins and he is 32-20 with 2 saves, a 3.50 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. I look for him to rebound in 2010 for the Twins.

34-year old righty Clay Condrey pitched in 45 games (0 starts) for the Twins last season and he was 6-2 with 1 save, a 3.00 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. He has now pitched in 179 games (0 starts) in his major league career and he is 18-12 with 4 saves, a 4.10 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. Condrey will probably be a solid middle reliever for the Twins in 2010.

38-year old lefty Ron Mahay is back for the 2010 season. He pitched in 16 games (0 starts) for the Twins last season and he was 1-0 with a 2.00 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. He pitched in 57 games (0 starts) overall for the Twins & Royals last season in which he was 2-1 with a 4.29 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP. Mahay will likely do a decent job as the first lefty out of the pen for the Twins in 2010.

29-year old righty Brad Hennessey didn’t pitch in the majors or minors last season. He last pitched in the majors in 2008 with the Giants. Hennessey has pitched in 148 games (44 starts) in his major league career and he is 17-23 with 20 saves, a 4.69 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. Hennessey will likely start the year in AAA and be one of the first pitchers called up by the Twins if he gets off to a good start.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BULLPEN IN 2010: C

The Twins have a solid rotation mostly built with #3 type starting pitchers. It all starts with 28-year old righty Scott Baker who had a breakout season of sorts in 2010. Baker started 33 games for the Twins last season in which he was 15-9 with a 4.36 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. Baker gave up 190 hits in 200 innings for the Twins last season while whiffing 162 batters showing how well he pitched. Baker also pounded the strike zone last season like most Twins pitchers do as he only walked 48 batters. Look for Baker to have another solid year in 2010 for the Twins.

34-year old righty Carl Pavano will likely be the #2 man for the Twins in 2010. He started 12 games for the Twins after coming over from the Indians in a trade last season and he was 5-4 with a 4.64 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. Overall last season, Pavano pitched in 33 games (all starts) for the Indians & Twins in which he was 14-12 with a 5.10 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. Pavano is a horse who will work a lot of innings for the Twins if he stays healthy in 2010.

28-year old righty Nick Blackburn will likely be the #3 starter for the Twins in 2010. Blackburn started 33 games for the Twins last season and he was 11-11 with a 4.03 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. Blackburn only walked 41 batters last season as he depends on the defense more than any pitcher the Twins have. He gave up 240 hits in 205 2/3 innings last season while whiffing only 98 batters. I have a feeling that Blackburn won’t be as lucky as he was in 2010.

25-year old righty Kevin Slowey’s season ended early due to wrist problems. He started 16 games for the Twins last season and he was 10-3 with a 4.86 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Slowey gave up 113 hits (15 homers) in 90 2/3 innings last season but he whiffed 75 batters. Slowey is very aggressive in the strike zone which is normally good but sometimes bad. I like him to have a good year in 2010 as long as his right wrist holds up.

26-year old lefty Francisco Liriano is looking sharp this spring and he will likely open the season as the #5 starter for the Twins. Liriano pitched in 29 games (24 starts) for the Twins last season and he was 5-13 with a 5.80 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. The Twins hope that Liriano can get back into the groove he was in back in 2006+2008. In those two years, Liriano pitched in 42 games (30 starts) in which he was 18-7 with 1 save, a 2.83 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP.

27-year old lefty Glen Perkins is likely on the trade block for the Twins. He pitched in 18 games (17 starts) for the Twins last season and he was 6-7 with a 5.49 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. Perkins gave up 120 hits in only 96 1/3 innings last season for the Twins. Perkins was hurting a lot last season according to him but the team wasn’t buying it as nothing seemed to be showing up on MRIs.

27-year old lefty Brian Duensing really stepped up late for the Twins last season but he will likely be starting the year in the pen. Duensing pitched in 24 games (9 starts) for the Twins last season and he was 5-2 with a 3.64 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. He also started 13 games in AAA-ball last season in which he was 4-6 with a 4.66 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP.

25-year old righty Jeff Manship is the Twins’ #20 rated prospect heading into this season according to Baseball America. He pitched in 11 games (5 starts) for the Twins last season and he was 1-1 with a 5.68 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP. Manship also started 21 games in AA+AAA-ball last season in which he was 10-6 with a 3.86 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. Manship would need a few injuries to get starts in 2010 for the Twins.

25-year old righty Andy Swarzak had a rough first shot at the majors in 2010. He started 12 games for the Twins last year in which he was 3-7 with a 6.25 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP. He gave up 76 hits (12 homers) in only 59 innings for the Twins last season. Swarzak also started 13 games in AAA-ball last season and he was 4-5 with a 3.28 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE ROTATION IN 2010: B

30-year old righty swinging Michael Cuddyer will hopefully play full-time in RF in 2010 for the Twins. He also played a lot of 1B last season after Justin Morneau went down to injury and he really stepped up then. Cuddyer played in 153 games for the Twins last season and he was 162 of 588 (.276 avg, .862 OPS) with 93 runs scored, 32 homers, 94 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. Cuddyer played in 117 games in RF last season in which he made 2 errors while showing below average range. Cuddyer did have 5 assists in RF last season as he does have a strong throwing arm. The Twins need Cuddyer to stay healthy because he gives Justin Morneau good protection in the lineup.

27-year old lefty swinging Jason Kubel will likely DH and play a lot in LF in 2010 but he can handle RF if need be. Kubel played in 30 error-free games in RF last season for the Twins while showing slightly above average range.

24-year old righty swinging Delmon Young didn’t play at all in RF last season but he was a starter with the Devil Rays in RF in his time there so he is capable.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE RF IN 2010: A-

26-year old lefty swinging Denard Span will be the starting CF in 2010 for the Twins. Span played in 145 games for the Twins last season in which he was 180 of 578 (.311 avg, .807 OPS) with 97 runs scored, 8 homers, 68 RBIs and 23 stolen bases. Span played in 84 games in CF for the Twins last season in which he made 1 error while showing good range. Span also had 1 assist while in CF last season. Look for Span to excel in 2010 now that he has a full-time staring gig at one position instead of moving around the outfield.

24-year old righty swinging Delmon Young will back up Span in CF in 2010. He didn’t play any games in CF last season but with Carlos Gomez off to the Brewers he will likely get at least a few games in CF this season.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CF IN 2010: B