Line-Up Speculation

Surprises and disasters large and small could still be looming in the final week of spring training, but right now it looks like the Twins opening day line-up will look like this:

Shannon Stewart
Jason Bartlett
Joe Mauer
Justin Morneau
Torii Hunter
Lew Ford
Jacque Jones
Michael Cuddyer
Luis Rivas

With Ford, Jones, and Cuddyer in the sixth, seventh, and eighth spots that suddenly looks (at least potentially) like a pretty powerful lineup; certainly the most promising batting order Ron Gardenhire has been able to throw out there in the last couple years. I don’t even mind Ford batting sixth, particularly following Morneau and Hunter. It’s almost perfect, in fact; he’ll have the chance to keep rallies alive, move guys around the bases, or work with a clean slate. The only wild cards, really, are Cuddyer and Bartlett, but I would think that the second slot should be a nice way for the kid to break into the major leagues, and Cuddyer shouldn’t feel a whole lot of pressure batting eigthth. I think they’ll both be fine.

Then, of course, there’s Rivas, but isn’t it nice to know that if Luis once again sucks eggs the Twins have options? In that eventuality even one of the utility guys (Punto, for instance) would be an upgrade, and there’s always the option of pushing Cuddyer back over to second and installing Terry Tiffee –who’s gotten a good, long look in Florida, and has been decent– or one of the other spare parts at third.