Props to all of you for taking part in this year’s Picks To Click poll. I didn’t anticipate so many responses, which was one reason why it took me four days to post the results.

There were a wide range of choices, from Matt Tolbert to Matt Guerrier. In the end, each category came down to a few players.

 Your position player to click: Delmon Young……

Many of you expect Young to approach Torii Hunter’s 2007 production. Some of you predict that Young will surpass Hunter’s production.

You are not alone. Scouts of opponents during spring training predict big things from Young soon.

Order of finish:

1. Delmon Young

2. Joe Mauer

3. Carlos Gomezl

4. Jason Kubel

5. Michael Cuddyer 

Your pitcher to click: Scott Baker.

Baker stepped up his pitching during the second half of last season and came to camp sounding so confident that it would be tough to pick against him. Now he just needs to drink plenty of OJ and gain back some more of the weight he lost when he caught the flu this spring.

Order of finish:

1. Scott Baker

2. Boof Bonser

3. Kevin Slowey

4. Francisco Liriano

5. Nick Blackburn.

My Picks to Click: Joe Mauer and Nick Blackburn.

It didn’t take long for me to identify Mauer as my Pick To Click. He was healthy throughout camp, his bat looks as fast as ever and I think batting second will help him.  He even mentioned all the times last season he seemed to be on the on deck circle with runners on base when the inning would end. That shouldn’t be the case this year. With his hit-it-where-it’s-pitched approach, he should be productive and drive in more runs.

Picking the pitcher wasn’t too hard. I was impressed with Blackburn outings from the start and, after talking to him, I sensed that he really benefitted from being called up last year and learning what happens to pitchers who don’t use all their pitches.

His outing on Wednesday, against a good lineup, offered more proof…..

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