Was my morning wood a coincidence this morning?  I tried to tell my wife it was, but she knows better.  It happens every year about this time...the baseball season is so close you can smell the Dome Dogs...or whatever the Target Field equivalent is.   The truth is I would be excited even if I were an Kansas City Royals fan, but there are so many question marks surrounding the my Minnesota Twins that I am excited, confused, and frankly a little lost.

"?" #1-5 Pitching

With trade rumors swirling around Francisco Liriano I am wondering what the fuck the Twins are thinking.  Maybe Bill Smith is sneaky like a fox and this is his way of lighting a fire under Franky, but lets be real without him in the rotation we will not have a shot at three-peating as AL Central Champs.

MoonShot Scott had bones spurs "cleaned up" in his throwing elbow and there has already been some reports of "complications". Now I am no doctor, but if I was I would be clearing a day in March or April for Baker's Tommy John surgery, wouldn't you?

Great segue for Joe Nathan...all reports on his progress are good, but can he make it through the entire season?

Now I am comfortable with Duensing & Pavano, but the back end of our rotation is suspect will it be Blackburn or Slowey and can either one get the job done?

Bullpen...what is left of our bullpen. We already talked about Joe, Matt Capps has proven to be solid and the rest of it is a crap shoot.  Neshek, Perkins, Mijares, and a bunch of guys I have never seen pitch.  GULP?

"?" #6 & 7 Middle Infield

Hardy and O-dawg are out and Casilla and Nishioka are in.  I know I like Casilla when he is healthy and on a hot streak, but can he stay consistent and healthy for 162 games?  Tsuyoshi Nishioka was a God in Japan, but how will that translate in the Big Leagues? And who is playing where?

"?" #8 Morneau

No more Monkeys jumping on the bed!  Seriously what is up with the softest head in baseball!  We love ya Justin, but pull up your stirrups or something.  I am sure Pujols is asking for 32 Million a year because that is what Morneau has effectively earned since signing his big deal with the Twins.  If not his head or his back he just seems to go missing at the end of the season. How about you play a full season here in 2011 Justin?

"?" #9 Span

What happened to the Denard Span I came to love in seasons past.  Span's OBP dropped over 60 points from '09 to '10 and his OPS was down over 100 points.  And defensively he just looked lack luster.  Is the grass at Target Field just too cushy or maybe it was that multi million dollar deal that has him slackin' either way Denard needs to get back to where he should be.

All that said I have an optimistic outlook for the Twins in 2011. After all we are toughest on the ones we love and at least some of these question marks are sure to have a positive outcome. I am picking the Twins to win the Central, but the competition from the improved White Sox and Tigers should prove to stiff.  And who knows Cleveland could turn out to be reminiscent of the young 2002 Twins squad that shocked us all.

On a side note Miguel Cabrera was arrested on DUI charges last night.  The good news is there were no women around for him to beat on so at least he doesn't have to answer for that again. What a D-bag...call a cab Miggy I think you can afford it!  I cannot wait for the Tigers to come to Target Field I am gonna light him up like a Christmas tree...I will be sure to have a designated driver that night...nobody like a hypocritical heckler!

Thanks for reading