Picks to Click, 2009. The polls are open.
Posted on April 3rd, 2009 – 8:08 AMBy La Velle
In 2007, you selected Jason Kubel and Matt Garza - yes the Matt Garza who didn’t even break camp with the team.
In 2008, you selected Delmon Young and Scott Baker - perhaps a year early?
Well, 2009 is here - and another chance to get it right.
The rules are simple here. Give me a position player and a pitcher you think will have a big year this year. I have begged in past years for you to list just ONE of each but still receive multiple selections. So I’ve come to grips with the fact that the decision-making process for some of you is too terrifying for you to settle on one person. So if you pick two, the first one you list will be counted.
The polls will close once Francisco Liriano throws the first pitch of the season. Have fun. Debate.
334 Responses to "Picks to Click, 2009. The polls are open."
kubel, dickey
Kevin Slowey for pitcher and Jason Kubel if we can pick him again. But I’m thinking 30+ HR’s
Delmon Young/Carlos Gomez
Kevin Slowey to get even better.
I am going to have to go with Jason Kubel and Kevin Slowey. They both came into their own last year and I think this year (by looking at last year and ST) they will be the difference makers on the team.
Kubel/Slowey
Slowey/Young
Delmon & Slowey
slowey/kubel
Liriano/Kubel
Slowey/Young
Jason Kubel/Kevin Slowey
Young & Slowey
Kubel/Slowey
The obvious choices seem to be Kubel, Young, Gomez, Slowey.
But we never seem to get this right, so I’m going…..
Cuddyer / Crain.
It will be:
CREDE/SLOWEY
Kevin Slowey (looks like safest bet)
Carlos Gomez (this is optimism in action)
I like the pick of DY, hope he has a big year. Kubel to hit 30 HR’s? That would be fun. Haven’t seen a selection that makes it easy to pick a fight yet. I mean, start a debate.
Kevin Slowey Carlos Gomez
Gomez / Crain
No Punto votes yet?
Perkins, Cuddyear. Perkins wins 15 and Cuddy hits 20HR and plays solid D in right. Reminds us why we liked him before when he uses his big cannon to throw people out at 3rd from RF.
Gomez and Perkins… just because I think Slowey is kind of a sure thing.
Carlos Gomez and his new found approach
Kevin Slowey will become an ace this year. Just my 2 cents
Kubel and Slowey. Both had too good of a spring to have it not carry over…
Cuddyer and Breslow
Cuddyer/Blackburn.
Young and Liriano
How about going out on a limb with Cuddyer (on a mission for redemption) and Baker (maturity + work ethic + good stuff = a great year). Kubel/Slowey is the slam dunk pick.
Slowey and Gomez
Span/Guerrier
Blackburn was almost my pitcher. Between his game 163 and (a hopefully healthy) Joe Crede at third he could have a very solid year.
Slowey
Young
General question, I know Slowey had a good year next year but why does everyone think he will be a stud this year?
Kubel / Crain
Cuddy/Slowey
Gomez and Liriano I think will be studs though.
Cuddy/Baker
but why does everyone think he will be a stud this year?
He looked pretty great this spring.
Gomez and Liriano
Nate,
He put up some extremely dominate numbers in the minors. I think he has been really close to being dominate in the majors and I think this is the year it happens. He has such great control and movement with his fastball. If he can improve his other pitches a little this year he will take off.
I will go with Young and Ayala. Delmon can’t be anymore of a non-factor than he was last year. All of that talent has to bust loose sometime. Ayala because I do not expect any of the Twins pitchers to have a break-out year, and Ayala was good once, maybe he will be again.
Maybe i’m not understanding this poll but I would obviously say Slowey and Morneau. LaVelle are you looking for guys who are going to have breakout seasons or just a big year.
Casilla/Liriano
If you think Liriano can put together a full season of pitching then he would be a good pick.
Gomez and Crain
Slowey
Young
Luis Ayala and Brendan Harris
Slowey & Casilla
Kubel, Slowey.
Cuddy/Slowey
Gomez, Slowey
Gomez
Slowey
Gomez/Slowey
Crain and Cuddy get the honorable mentions
Gomez/Blackburn
I like Gomez to have a big year. And just to go against the grain, I’ll pick Guerrier to bounce back big time.
slowly and young
Slowey/Young
Delmon Young/Glen Perkins
Young/Dickey
Delmon Young and Jesse Crain
Buscher/Slowey
Slowey/Gomez
Pitcher: Kevin Slowey
Position Player: Delmon Young
Kevin Slowey and Jason Kubel. Kub’s has his legs under him finally, no knee or ankle problems, and has the sweetest swing. He could hit .340 and lead the team in hrs.
Slowey has kept the ball down all spring, and has terrific control. He’s confident and smart. He can make adjustments and will challenge the hitters. He’s in for a big year!
Sexy Lexi(Casilla) & Perk
How can you not pick Perkins everyone? He had the worst year last year of all starters, and one of the best springs this year. Makes him an easy pick…
Kubel goes for 28 HR’s and 90 RBIs.
Slowey will win 15 games.
Slowey & Young
wow, lots of good picks.
Gomez/Liriano
Not picking Slowey, Baker, or Kubel because I think they have already “clicked” so to speak.
Cuddyer bounceback year
Blackburn solid as a rock
I am not going with the crowd for the pitcher. It will be Nick Blackburn and Gomez. You heard it here first La Velle!
I truly believe that Slowey could come close to being a 20 game winner this year so I have to go with that. As for the position players Kubel, Cuddyer, Young, or Gomez has an opprotunity to be the most improved from 2008 and that’s what makes this Twins team exciting.
Gomez and Slowey
I’m feeling a little out on a limby, so this is more hope than head: Gomez and Perkins.
LaVelle, any chance you could discuss why there hasn’t been more of a spotlight on Punto’s contract, given other free agent signings for far less this offseason. I think this is especially significant as camp is about to break with either Tolbert or Harris not making the club. Tolbert (to me) seems very similar to Punto in his defensive versatility, switch-hitting, and hustle, and would make 90 percent (about?) of Punto’s contract. If Harris doesn’t make the team, he’s out of options and would surely be picked up by someone else. Given these items, doesn’t that make the Punto signing really, really bad? I’m not trying to hate here, I would just like someone to objectively analyze the dollars and cents, sense, and logic of signing Punto for $8 mil over 2 years.
Respectfully,
scottz
Slowey & Kubel
I have to go with what seems like the majority of Kubel and Slowey.
Kubel because he does seem like he’s healthy, he had a great spring, good year last year and now he’s seen pretty much every pitcher except any rookies that come in this year.
I like Slowey because after he got settled in last year he was pretty awesome and I mean, I know spring training really doesn’t mean much but he only walked what? 2 guys, 3 guys?! In 3 weeks! Even Brad “Radar Man” Radke couldn’t boast that I don’t think. He seemed to be primed for hopefully at least a 15 win season if not better.
young, liriano
Pitcher: Liriano
Position: Crede
Jay Cutler? How giddy is LaVelle today?
I’ll go with Kubel and Perkins. I have no idea why I’m not choosing Baker (who I think is their bes/consistent pitcher, but it might be the injury).
Young
Slowey
Casilla will bat .300+ with a little pop along with good D. He will do it for the whole season. I think most people have him more like .270-.280 so I think this qualifies.
Baker with 3.45 ERA and 11-4 didn’t click last year? I would take the same from him this year. Slowey should improve on his ERA and win total by a wider margin than Blackburn so he is my choice.
Cuddyer/Breslow
Slowey and Gomez
I changed my mind. If Slowey gets to face the national league 3 or more times I pick him for pitcher and hitter to click.
Slowey is the new Maddux.
Slowey and Cuddy
Slowey: 16-18 Wins 3.60-3.80 ERA and should lead the team in quality starts.
D Young: .310-22-92 with a much better strikeout to walk ratio due to a more patient, selective approach at the plate.
Morales/Humber
Cuddyer & Crain.
Where do I pick up my check?
Young and Crain
Maybe you should define pick to click a little more. I still expect Morneau to have the best stats but if he (only) has 120 RBI does that qualify? Or is it based on improvement over last year or improvement over expectations? If Baker, Liriano and Slowey have a 3 way tie for CY Young who is the one that clicked?
Slowey/Gomez
Slowey and Gomez
kubel/slowey
Kubel / Perkins
Gomez/Liriano
Casilla / Perkins
crede and slowey
Gomez & Slowey
RED-DOG/HUMBER??..NO
PERKINS/GOMEZ
hrbek / brunasky
Gomez and Slowey
You should setup a poll for this to make it easier to compute!
Young/Slowey
Perkins - 18 and 6
Gomez - .295 15 hrs. 35 SB
Kubel at a .289 avg, 32 HRs, 107 RBI.
Slowey with an 18-8 record and a 2.95 ERA.
LaVelle, any chance you could discuss why there hasn’t been more of a spotlight on Punto’s contract, given other free agent signings for far less this offseason.
Scottz,
You must not have read these pages much in the offseason. Tons of posts about LNP’s contract. The fact is he signed just as the market was turning. Just a matter of timing. If he had signed a month later we would have gotten him for much less. It is only a really, really bad signing if he hits like in 07 and Gardy keeps him in there. Otherwise his 06 or 08 numbers along with his D are probably as good or better than anyone we could have realistically gotten.
I was kind of hoping that Punto would sign with someone else so that Tolbert would get his shot but Nicky might be just fine.
On this site you would have found hunreds of posts bashing Punto and his contract when he was batting .100 early in spring training but now that he is batting .400 he is pretty much ignored. Hardly fair.
Gomez & Slowey
Casilla/Ayala
Kevin Slowey and Delmon Young
Delmon and Franchise
Delmon showing signs of change and greatness. Just play him, Gardy…
Franky’s a different pitcher than in ‘06, but look out!!!
Young and Ayala
Gomez/Slowey
Slowey/Kubel
Slowey (which many seem to agree with)
close for me between Young/Kubes/Gomez…but I can’t decide if they are “picks” or “hopes”. I guess I have more confidence in Kubel totally clicking than Young and Gomez, but I think they are both going to be sweet.
I think I picked these same two last year, but I feel even better about them this year:
Delmon Young: .311/21 HR/103 RBI/ 24 SB
Francisco Liriano: 18-7/ 2.71/ 204 K
Icon, I hope this is the year you click in your picks.
Slowey and Tolbert
Kubel and Slowey
Delmon & Slowey
Here are my picks to NOT click:
Michael Cuddyer: .258/ 5 HR/ 31 RBI/ 5 hand and foot injuries/ 1 trade for a midlevel prospect by June.
Nick Blackburn: 10-9/ 4.25 ERA/ 0 tough single-game playoff losses
I think Blackburn will do all right, but I don’t think he is really capable of improving on last year. He’s hit his ceiling.
Cuddyer narrowly edges out Joe Crede, but that’s only because I have set the bar really low for Crede. I figure if he hits .255/15/60, that will count as a click for Crede.
coworker picks Blackburn
and Delmon
Gomez and Slowey - mainly because I think it is too obvious to name Kubel or Young who both will take nice steps forward. My guess is that by the end of the year Gomez will emerge more as a dynamic force when in the lineup than most think.
Crede/Slowey
slowey/Cuddy
Span and Liriano
Slowey/Young
“The polls will close once Francisco Liriano throws the first pitch of the season.”
Just a hypothetical here: What if Liriano suffers a freak injury between now and Monday that puts him on the DL all year? I hope this doesn’t happen, but what if it does? Are we allowed to vote all year long? Because then we should probably wait a bit before we vote…
Delmon Young
Glen Perkins
Young/Perkins
Tolbert/Perkins
Slowey/Young
Slowey and Young
Look for down years from:
Morneau
Nathan
Carlos Gomez
Kevin Slowey
Slowey / Kubel
Slowey / Kubel
Joe Crede/Kevin Slowey
Perkins/Young
Kubel (25 hr’s and .280 avg)
Slowey (Best overall season from a Twins starter) possible All star selection…
These have been my guys all off season… And they’re looking good this spring.
To me, breakout means that they’ve never had a standout year in the bigs, and will this year, so I’m going with Gomez and Duensing.
slowey n’ Delmon
I guess you just said “big year” but I’m sticking with my breakout picks….
Best hitter: Slowey, did you see his hitting performance in Jupiter a couple weeks ago? Need I say more.
Best Pitcher: Slowey, The Butler as he is affectionately known has stuff that is eerily reminiscent of Greg “The Mad Dog” Maddux.
Slowey and Young
Young and Slowey, just like the dude with spelling problems directly above me.
Slowey & DY
GoGo and Slowey
TK is correct. LEN just said big year, not breakout:
Mauer and Nathan
Slowey/Gomez
Blackburn and Young
Scott Stahoviak, Scott Klingenbeck
LNP and Matty G because I really want them to do well. 
Guerrier/Buscher
Have at it.
Perkins / Cuddy
Kubel, Slowey
Gomez (if he can get decent playing time) and Nick Blackburn.
Slowey/Young (aka Ninja Turtle)
Kubel and Gomez
Slowey/Tie for Crede/Young
Kubel and Slowey.
Young, Blackburn
slowey, crede
Carlos Gomez and Kevin Slowey make “The Leap” this year.
slowey/cuddy
Young/Slowey
young/slowey
crede / slowey
delmon/jesse
Kubel and Slowey
Cuddyer
Perkins
Slowey for pitcher - I easily see 15 wins from that kid.
Gomez for hitter - may not be the best year for him, but he will show remarkable improvement.
Big Years:
Slowey. Morneau.
Slowey/Young
Slowey / Obama
Young and Slowey Honorable mention: Kubel
picks to click (position player, relief pitcher, starting pitcher):
Carlos Gomez
Jesse Crain
Kevin Slowey
I have no doubt that Kubel is going to have a very good year, but it’s almost like that’s pretty much expected, isn’t it? It would almost be like picking Mauer or Morneau.
So I’m going with Cuddyer to bounce back and be a major contributor.
Picking a pitcher is tougher. I really like what I saw of Perkins, so I’ll go with him.
Cuddyer/Perkins.
best part of this whole debate is that every selection is argumentative..meaning any of the picks are good options. been a twins fanatic since i was 15 and have never been this excited and optimistic about the start of a season…i’ll go with delmon and blackburn
kubel and lariano will shine!
Harris and Slowey. I almost want to pick another pitcher because it looks like Slowey is running away with the hurler vote.
Slowey and Kubel
Slowey and Young
Gomez, none
Brendan Harris is going to have a MONSTER year, Kevin Slowey as well.
The surprises will be Perkins and Casilla.
Slowey will be very good but that is a given
Slowey without a doubt. Thought so BEFORE his pretty amazing spring. Think so even more afterwards.
Since I believe that Kubel is already a no doubter, I will go with DY. Gomez is a close 2nd.
Carlos Gomez and Jesse Crain
Crede, Blackburn
Jason Kubel and Kevin Slowey.
kubel, liriano
*if kubel has a so-so year, I think the twins’ brass will be just as frusterated (done?!) with him as the fans will be. I expect .280, 25HRs+, 90RBIs+
*17-8 for Liriano. Although we have offensive talent on paper and were 3rd last year in runs, I have a feeling we’re going to struggle more than last year for run support.
Gomez and Crain
slowey, and delmon young, big years
Hitter: Young. He appears to be coming out of Spring with confidence, and has been hitting the ball well. He struggled last season, but doesn’t look to have let it get to him (if anything he used it as motivation)
Pitcher: Slowey. Not much to say here. He’s always put together good starts and had a fine Spring. He’ll have a full year under his belt now and that should give him the confidence he needs.
Slowey and Kubel
Valencia
Breslow and Crede
I’ll take it step further.
Breslow will have a BA against of less than 200 and average 10.1K’s per 9 innings this year
Crede will hit .279 with 28 bombs and 102 RBI, and a 12 million dollar a year deal in another market for 2010
Liriano and Young
DY/Blackburn
kubel, slowey
Punto/Guerrier Just kidding somebody had to say it.
Slowey/Kubel
Josh Hamilton and Michael Phelps.
Slowey/Young
Gomez/Crain
My gut says to go with Blackburn, he pitched a heck of a game against the White Sox with the playoffs on the line. Gotta admit I was pretty impressed with the way he pitched that game. On the other side I gotta give a nod to Young, though I think Gomez could be in for a big year with a better OBP, lots of steals and runs. But in the end Young has all the tools to be a big time hitter in this league especially if he can figure out when to pull the ball and when to go with the pitch to the opposite field.
Franchise & Kubel
Kubel and Liriano
Slowey and Young
Puckett & Gladden
Kubel and Liriano
Baker & Crain
Kubel-20+HR’s .280+ ba
Liriano-15+ wins 6+ K’s per outing
mjorales & perkins
look for punto/neshek in 2010 though
Batter = Crede
Pitcher = Slowey
young, perkins
Nick Blackburn and Michael Cuddyer
Slowey, Delmon
I had to go with Crede above. The outfield is too crowded. I imagine Delmon and Span will get their AB’s…ate the expense of Gomez early, Gomez AND Cuddyer middle, and Cuddyer alone late in the season.
Delmon, Crain
Blackburn / Casilla
Kubel/Slowey
I would have to go with Joe Crede and R.A. Dickey, as both will be playing for their next contracts.
Gomez and Slowey
DY/Blackburn.
Slowey and Young
This is a determined group of young men. They all feel that they have something to prove, after losing out to the aging White Sox last year. You could throw darts at their lineup and hit someone who is likely to make a significant improvement over last year. So … we are all winners!
I pick Slowey (18-7) and Cuddyer (30 HR, 100 RBI).
GoGo and Blackburn
Crede/Perkins
Punto Yes Punto and Blackburn
Young-Perkins…I also think Mauer is out a lot longer than we think giving room for a young cather to blossom when RedDog runs out of gas.
Liriano / Casilla.
Liriano will show his rookie, half season form and Casilla will be brilliant at 2 and a force at the plate and running the bases
Slowey/Young
Slowey
Gomez (Kubel is #2)
Many players like Cuddy, Crede, Punto, and Liriano I am expecting to have exceptionally good years, but those guys were all good or great at one point in their careers already, so it is more of a comeback vote for them than a “click” vote. Many people pick Baker but jeez he was a winning pitcher with 3.45 ERA last season, which is “click” in my books.
Some people have different definitions of “clicking” because I am seeing Morneau and Liriano votes here and there. I mean, can a player “click” more than once? Liriano sort of clicked that one time, remember? And Morneau has an MVP trophy and was half decent last year.
Gomez/Liriano
Kevin Slowey will be a monster on the mound, and maybe even off it if he gets to hit during inter league play!
Jason Kubel has finally put his bad knee behind him and gets to DH full-time. Sit back and enjoy the show!
Span/Slowey
kubel & Crain
I’d say that Scott Baker did click last year. And while Kubel may have established himself, I do agree that he didn’t exactly have a breakout year.
My picks for this year may be popular already, but it’s for a good reason: Kubel and Slowey.
Dickey, Redmond
Kubel / Slowey
I f we’re talking about who will have a big year…then we would be in trouble if we didn’t pick those we expect to be consistantly good like Slowey, Baker, Morneau, Mauer, and even Crede. But for surprises this year, I would see a more mature Casilla w/ avg. up and solid defense w/ base steals up. For pitching surprise good year, I would guess that Dickey will master the knuckler consistantly…..as a reliever and spot starter. Watch them!
Slowey & Go-Go
Slowey and Gomez
Going out on a limb with: Punto and Blackburn.
Slowey/Young
slowey/crede
Crede/Blackburn
Young and Dickey
Nick Punto/Nick Punto
Gomez
Blackburn
Young/Humber
Slowey
Crede
Michael Cuddyer
Kevin Slowey
Casilla and Liriano
Gomez
Perkins
crain and casilla
Kevin Slowey & Justin Morneau these 2 are sweeter than Mothers Milk and you can take that to the bank.
Blackburn because he can take a ball off the melon and comeback and finish the year like a champ.
Crede or should I say Greedy - he wants a big check next year and he will work his a– off to get it - that means big year.
Kubel & Baker! Wouldn’t be surprised to see Morny win another MVP though!
hows about r a young and delmon dickey…
Shazel - is Mother’s milk really sweet? It has been a very long time since I drank any so I don’t really remember the taste. And I don’t know any babies that I can ask.
But Slowey and Morneau are pretty sweet.
Kubel and ………………Blackburn
Alexi Casilla and Francisco Liriano.
Liriano & Young
Slowey and Crede … wouldn’t it be easier to have a voting website rather than count all of our votes individually
Slowey & Kubel based on their strong minor league records. Slowey Has gained experience & Kubel is finally healthy/confident.
Slowey and Span
Slowey/Kubel. Quite possibly the easiest decision I’ve ever made.
Kubel and Slowey
Pitcher: Perkins
Postion Plyr: gotta be Kubes
Slow & Go
DYoung/Liriano
Slowey and Span
Kevin Slowey and Delmon Young (granted he gets enough playing time)
Young and Slowey
Liriano…I want to see him pitch 30+ starts.
Kubel…because Dave Cameron said the Twins should have picked up Eric Hinske instead of extending Kubel.
Oh, and I forgot…Crede will sign with the Giants. Book it!
Slowey and Cuddyer
Slowey and Casilla
span and slowey
Blackburn / Young
Blackburn Proved his stuff in game 163 and Young has too much pride to have another year like last year.
Cuddyer / Slowey
Baker (His stats just keep getting better.)
Cuddyer (Great arm, great attitude, and, hopefully, a replay of 2006 at the plate.)
Slowey and Kubel
Gotta be Gomez and RA Dickey
Kubel/Slowey
with Young/Liriano a very, very close second respectively!!!
Ayala and Punto
Young/Blackburn — It’s great to have to struggle to make the prediction!!
Crede/Nathan
Liriano and Young
Kubel/Blackburn
Kubel and Slowey
Pitcher: Kevin Slowey 14-17 wins, sub 3.6 ERA
Hitter: Kubel, 25+ HRS, .300 average
Slowey
Cuddy
Carlos Gomez and Kevin Slowey
Liriano
Morneau
Go Twins!
Slowey and Span
Gomez
Liriano
But any of the starting rotation could be the guy, which is exciting.
Gomez
Liriano
Jason Kubel and Kevin Slowey.
Nick Blackburn and Carlos Gomez
Do I have to pick a position player? I don’t have one I think is going to really improve a great deal. I’ll say Kubel just from getting all the extra ABs.
Kubel/Slowey
Francisco Liriano and Joe Crede.
Kubel and Baker
Liriano and Casilla
I like painteddog’s thinking
Casilla
Liriano
Best seasons in proportion to expectation:
Kubel (Gomez is too hyped)
RA Dickey (knuckleballs are deadly in a controlled-air stadium)
Young and Liriano
Gomez (Kubel already “clicked”)
Crain
[…] And don’t forget to keep voting for the 2009 picks to click! […]
Slowey - Casilla
slowey/kubel
Casilla–Perkins
Punto / Slowey
Position: Kubel/Young …tie
Pitcher: Slowey
Young / Slowey
You going to count all of these posts individually?!? There must be some kind of voting / counting application you could use to make this easier…
Carlos Gomez, especially defensively. I could see him winning a Gold Glove.
Nick Blackburn.
Young and Crain.
Kubel/Slowey
Casilla / Liriano
Kubel and Crain
Delmon Young and Kevin Slowey
Rob Delaney and Delmonsie
Delaney will be the primary 8th inning guy in August, September and hopefully all of October. He will be this years David Price.
Young and Crain
Young and Liriano
Young hits 15-20 HR and manages to stay near .300, and Liriano turns 33 starts into 18 wins and a 3.75 ERA.
Cuddyer and… Slowey.
I honestly think they’ll all have a great year!
Gomez, Slowey
Slowey & DY
slowey/young
Not much of a stretch Young needs a/b’s but should impress
Kevin Slowey and Carlos Gomez
Slowey / Kubel
(Except when we’re on the road against NL teams - then it’s Slowey / Slowey)
Delmon Young and Glen Perkins
Delmon Young and Slowey… same as last year. Slowey clicked last year, but I think he’ll be better this year. DY… I think he’s going to be a monster.
Baker/Cuddyer
Slowey, Young
Carlos Gomez
Nick Blackburn
Both learned a lot last year and are hungry to more this year.
Crede (contract year) and Baker
