Each week sports reporters Matthew Lambert and Sam Thiel will face off on a hot topic in Minnesota sports. The world of sports is changing quickly and constantly, but we want to slow it down and take a better look at the juiciest gossip, scandal, rumor or issue that is making headlines this week in Minnesota. Lambert and Thiel will take different sides and battle it out, telling you why they are right.

This week’s topic: Where will the Twins finish this year?

Last week, the MLB season began with 30 teams beginning their journey toward being crowned the next World Series champion. This week, Matthew Lambert and Sam Thiel voice their opinions about how the Minnesota Twins will do this season. Let’s talk about it…     (Recap by Sam Thiel)

Matthew Lambert / Winonan

The Minnesota Twins blew everyone’s minds last year as they finally showed they are capable of being more than a mediocre team by going 83-79.

They were even in the playoff hunt for most of the season, until they did the most Twins-esque thing you could imagine: lose games when they count.

I imagine the Twins will do well this year, but now there are expectations.

Expectations are the reason the Chicago Cubs haven’t won a title since 1908, or the Cleveland Cavaliers will never win a title with LeBron James, or, dare I say, the Minnesota Vikings haven’t been to a Super Bowl since 1976.

The Twins do well when everyone is asking for the manager’s resignation they can sneak into playoffs, only to be beaten like a redheaded step-child by the New York Yankees.

The AL Central is the most competitive division in baseball. There’s no reason why the Royals cannot repeat or Cleveland to sneak up and do what they were supposed to do last year. The Tigers will remain relevant because of Miguel Cabrera and the White Sox have a two-headed monster in José Abreu and Todd Frazier.

The Twins need star power, not replacement parts and young phenoms.

All in all, I expect the Twins to finish one-game below .500, 80-82, finding themselves third in the division.

Better luck next year Twins.

Sam Thiel / Winonan

What a difference a year makes. Under a new coach in Paul Molitor and a revamped lineup, the Minnesota Twins ended four years of turmoil by becoming the biggest surprise in baseball last season.

This team has major holes to fix, primarily in their starting rotation. Minnesota’s pitchers finished 19th in earned run average, 17th in innings pitched and last in the entire league in strikeouts. The Twins need a quality star pitcher who can go seven or eight innings each start instead of four or five.

The Twins offense has plenty of talent; they have one of the best minor league systems in the MLB and are led by potential superstars in Byron Buxton and Miguel Sanó, who are under 23 years old.

Brian Dozier and Trevor Plouffe will lead the batting department this year while Byung Ho Park could provide some excitement as the latest rookie from South Korea. Joe Mauer will be another face to watch out for this season and his sideburns are a fan-favorite amongst the Twins faithful.

Unfortunately for the Twins, they are in the toughest division. Once known as a laughing stock, the AL Central has turned into the bully of baseball, with the Royals being the reigning World Series champions.

Buckle up, Twins fans. This season will be rough. My final prediction is having us finish fourth in the division at 76-86.