Twins to Win AL Central..

[bleedingpurple]

Is there little doubt that they win the AL central this year??:shrug: This team should be vastly improved since last year and here is why..

Catcher - Joe Mauer missed a month of last year and still was the MVP. A stud offensively and defensively.. Jose Morales is quality back up offensively.. Defensively he lacks a bit.

First Base - Justin Morneau.. Stress fracture in his back caused him to miss the stretch run and play offs. Keep him healthy and he is prennial All Star.


Second Base - The signing of Orlando Hudson is a major upgrade offfensively and takes care of the #2 spot in the lineup.. Not as good defensively as Casilla or Tolbet but this signing allows for these guys to filll their roll of utility player instead of everyday player..

Short Stop - JJ Hardy.. Slumped last year after putting up decent numbers in Milwaukee in years past. Twins aquired him in a trade for Gomez:mj07: Brewer fans must be upset with that trade.. Hardy is a solid defender a a major upgrade hitting in the 8th spot compared to anything the Twins have had..

Third Base - This should be a platoon position between Nick Punto and Brendon Harris. Both guys came on during the stretch run last year. Punto is one hell of a defensive player.

Left Field - Delmon Young. A guy who never reall fully reached potential. Waiting for his power swing. This guy has been in and out of Gardenhire's dog house because he question's Young's effort.. Young showed a great flash of brilliance in the final 2 months of the season and hope he can pick up where he left off. Defense is of concern.

Center Field - Denard Span.. Good lead off hitter and great defensive player.. He could be a special hitter if he has a tad more discipline at the plate.. This guy could be a stud.

Right Field - Michael Cuddyer. Besides Mauer was the backbone of this offense since the All Star break. Clutch hits and home runs was the key. He became more discipline and comfortable at the plate and was the season's savior.. Defensively his range is average but one of the best defensive arms in the game..

DH - Jason Kubel.. A pure hitter who has showed off some power the last 2 years.. This guy is damn good..

Jim Thome- Don't know how much more the guy has but for 1.5 million he was low risk.. If does prove to hit righties, this really boosts the bench because Kubel can play left field and Thome can DH leaving Young on the bench..


All in all this team is solid defensively and offensively should be dynamite having power, contact, and speed. The big defference is the upgrade up the middle offensively in Hardy and Hudson. Last year's everyday players are now strenghtening the bench.. No team in the AL central can match them.. They could have the most balanced offense in the AL..

Now for pitching..

 

[bjfinste]

Short Stop - JJ Hardy.. Slumped last year after putting up decent numbers in Milwaukee in years past. Twins aquired him in a trade for Gomez:mj07: Brewer fans must be upset with that trade.. Hardy is a solid defender a a major upgrade hitting in the 8th spot compared to anything the Twins have had..

Um, no. Overpriced perennial disappointment. Not expecting much out of Gomez but at least he is cheap, which freed up money to sign pitching. These are my two favorite teams so at the end of the day I hope things work out for both guys.

As to the main point of your post, the Twins will definitely be favored but by no means a shoo-in. I'd have to see a price before I'd be willing to make a 6-month investment.

But overall a very strong lineup when healthy. The Hudson signing is big b/c now Hardy can hit 8th (and he's no better than a No. 8 hitter). Milwaukee was always hurt by having to stick him in the 2 hole ahead of Braun and Prince and he would just kill rallies.

I wouldn't completely close my eyes on the White Sox this year. If the starters stay healthy, that is a very strong rotation that could win a lot of games, and a decent bullpen as well.

Twins are the definite favorite, though.

 

[bleedingpurple]

The pitching staff had a topsy - turvy kind of year filled with ups and downs..

Starting Pitching.

Fransico Liriano - This is a guy who still has good stuff but falls behind in counts and gets hammered. Also his walks to strikeout ratio is terrible. I talked to one scout and blames most of it on his mechanics and his stubborness to listen to the Twins coaching staff.. Liriano is pitching in Winter ball where he as a 0.48 ERA and has 5 walks to 24 strikeouts.. Maybe he is getting stronger and turning the corner.

Carl Pavano - I was skeptical when the Twins dealt for him last year but he really helped the team and beat the Tigers a couple of times. Pavano has been injury prone and that is the key for him.

Kevin Slowey - He was having a decent year until a wrist injury sidelined him for the season.. This kid does not over power you but he is a great location guy and is learning how to sequence his pitches.. Great potential.

Nick Blackburn - This guy is a streaky pitcher.. Has stretches where he dominates and then stretches where they knock him all over the place.. I am not much of a fan of this guy but he does eat up innings. Plus he is young and maybe he can have a breakout year.

Scott Baker - Started last year with an injury and it took him a long time to get into a groove. I believe he led the AL in HRs given up but had a decent season.. He is the most consistent of the starters and if needed to win one game he is the guy I want. He has decent stuff with good location.. Only thing is when he does make a mistake with the change or curve, it's ALWAYS out of the park.

Brian Duensing and Anthony Swarzak-- Both young and contributed to the team last year. Do not have a shot at cracking this lineup if all of these guys are healthy..

BULLPEN-- What a shaky ride that was last year, OMG didn't know what hit em until about the last month and half when they settled down. Can't blame it all on them, the starters let them down early and they were over used and spent.

Jesse Crain - This guy has had injury problems and he is inconsistent at times. He has the velocity but he likes to leave it up in the zone at times. He is streaky and will pitch 10 - 12 scoreless innings and then not buy and out for long periods of time. The fans cringe when he comes into the game but he does have a live arm and great potential to have an ERA at 3 or less.

Pat Neshak - Missed all of last year with Tommy John surgery. He has an unorthodoxed delivery with not a full side winder but damn close.. This guy was the 8th inning guy and punishes right handers. What do you expect from him though coming off the surgery?? He and Gardy are both exccited that he is back.

Clay Condrey - Don't know too much about him but he seems like he has been solid in the past for the Phillies.. An experienced guy that the Twins need.

Matt Guerrier - 8th inning guy for much of last year. He does have good stuff at times but he was over used and it showed at the end of the season. Seems like this guy was use 4 - 5 days straight during the stretch run.. Give the guy credit.. Would like to see the Twins be able to shve about 15 innings off of his total from last year.

Jose Mijares - A left handed specialist who throws SMOKE...Last year was his first full year and the young lefty did not dissappoint after a tought start. Sky is the limit for this kid.. Does walk a few but has a very high stikeout to innings pitched ration.

Joe Nathan- Has been a stud closer unless he is pitching against the Yankees.. He had a terrible end to last year and I am a bit skeptical about him imploding this year... It seems to me that he lost a couple mile off of his fast ball, location was a problem, and he didn't have the confidence at times. He was throwing more and more sliders in the dirt.. Hopefully he straightens himself out and regains velocity and confidence..

Well I didn't expect to write a book but I am definitely going to wager the Twins to win the Central, pennant and world series..

This team has the same nucleus of players as last year but the young arms are more experienced plus the additions of Hardy, Hudson, and Thome dramitically upgrade the bench and offense.. This should also allow them to be able to acquire a player later in the year. This team could be a legitimate threat to win it all if they stay healthy (Of course)

Wild Cards on the team are...

Joe Nathan
Pat Neshek
Jim Thome
Fransico Liriano

If these four have good years then I fully expect the Twins to even beat the Yanks this year.:scared

 

[bleedingpurple]

Um, no. Overpriced perennial disappointment. Not expecting much out of Gomez but at least he is cheap, which freed up money to sign pitching. These are my two favorite teams so at the end of the day I hope things work out for both guys.

As to the main point of your post, the Twins will definitely be favored but by no means a shoo-in. I'd have to see a price before I'd be willing to make a 6-month investment.

But overall a very strong lineup when healthy. The Hudson signing is big b/c now Hardy can hit 8th (and he's no better than a No. 8 hitter). Milwaukee was always hurt by having to stick him in the 2 hole ahead of Braun and Prince and he would just kill rallies.

I wouldn't completely close my eyes on the White Sox this year. If the starters stay healthy, that is a very strong rotation that could win a lot of games, and a decent bullpen as well.

Twins are the definite favorite, though.

I don't think the DIE HARD fans were upset that they traded Hardy but more pist at what he was worth on the Market. I personally would rather have a couple bucket of balls than Gomez. I know he is young but he isn't the bunter he was now that teams are prepared for it.. Plus he needs to shorten his swing, his long stoke kills him. Great defense and speed though.What I don't understand is the Brewers traded CF Tony Gwynn to the Padres last year and now they trade for Gomez.. I think it made more sense to keep Gwynn.

 

[TON]

My White SOX

1B = Konerko, still puts up good numbers and very undrated as a defensive 1B

2B = Beckham , do we see a sophmore slump ? I dont know, looked very good last year

3B = Teahan , Not bad, a definite upgrade from Getz ( 2b ) but thats where Beckham is now

SS = Alexi , same player as JJ Hardy

OF , Quintan, Rios, Pierre , Power and Speed

DH , dont like the platoon approach but we'll find out


SP, Peavy, Buehrle, Floyd, Danks and Garcia , much better than the 5 twinkies

RP, Thorton, Putz and Jenks 7,8,9


Dont think be any means the Twins are a run away, actually just got my W/Sox + 1600 to win th AL Pennant

Good Pitching beats Good Hitting


Either way, we are only a couple months away :mj06:

 

[Mr. Poon]

well as a Royals fan, or I guess you would say an inocent bystander, here is my 2 cents. Twins should and will be favored to win the division. However, history of this division the last handful of years is that the favorite never wins it. If I were to put $ on a team for this division, it would definitely be the White Sox. Not a team with depth but belive if they aren't hit with injuries they will be in first throughout the season.

 

[Destructor D]

I would put a lot of money on the Royals:142smilie :mj07:

Being a Royals fan, it's very painful each season. At least they have an amusement park in the outfield and playground for the kids...

 

[Sylvan]

Middle relief could be an issue for the Twins. I know Neshek is back, and I am glad for that, but it seems they over used their middle relievers last year. But this could be easily be solved with better, deeper outings by the starters. My god, how many innings did Guerrier pitch last year? Baker seem to have too many 5 innings pitched games, he should go at least 7 most times out.

What's up with Perkins? No one is talking about him. I absolutely love Slowely, probably because I'm such a huge Brad Radke fan. They are very similar.

Anyway, that's my two cents. Go Twins!