Last Updated on April 1, 2010 1:57 pm by admin
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -After 28 years on artificial turf covered by a gray ceiling held up by blasting air conditioners, the Twins have left the Metrodome for Target Field as the team’s 50th season in Minnesota begins.
The pitching staff has plenty to prove, from fifth starter Francisco Liriano’s latest chance to regain his rookie form to the cadre of replacement candidates for All-Star closer Joe Nathan. The Chicago White Sox are also a legitimate challenger in the AL Central, and the loss of Nathan to an elbow injury could loom large.
These Twins, though, feature a franchise-record payroll of about $96 million and carry the confidence of last year’s late push and epic tiebreaker victory over the Detroit Tigers that gave them their fifth division title in eight years.