Baseball:Twins WS?

[nfg22]

So I am the biggest twins fan in the world and this year I think they might have a shot. Definatly will be looking to take the central for the fourth straight year...

[Karlifornia]

Mauer, Morneau, Hunter.....could be dynamite...I definitely think the Twins will be the favorites next year.

[nfg22]

Yeah I like the pitching if Silva Loshe or Mays step up, I think that will be crucial, because then 3 solid starters with one of the best bullpens and to add all the new hitting, I think they are the favorites..

[sterlingice]

If the Royals don't win the central *cough* I'd like to see the Twins do it again (or the Tigers- don't really have anything against them and they've had a bad go of it lately)

SI

[Scholes]

There's too many question marks to take them seriously for the series. The AL Central, maybe. Mauer? Morneau? Lew Ford? Lohse? Mays? Can Santana and Radke do it again? Bartlett? Rivas?

Too many young players needing to come through. And even if they did, once October rolls around and they go to Boston or New York, it's over.

I'm a huge Twins fan by the way, and I must say I'm a bit perplexed by the "experts" i.e Gammons, Stark, etc picking the Twins for the title.

[JasonC23]

No way, man! This is the year of my White Sox! We have S-Pod! And Luis Vizcaino! And all it cost us was Carlos Lee!!


(sobs in corner)

[sovereignstar]

There's too many question marks to take them seriously for the series. The AL Central, maybe. Mauer? Morneau? Lew Ford? Lohse? Mays? Can Santana and Radke do it again? Bartlett? Rivas?

Too many young players needing to come through. And even if they did, once October rolls around and they go to Boston or New York, it's over.

I'm a huge Twins fan by the way, and I must say I'm a bit perplexed by the "experts" i.e Gammons, Stark, etc picking the Twins for the title.

I agree that there are quite a few question marks, but the Twins have had those types of question marks before. The thing this year is that the ceiling is even higher. If the Twins can find a way to get Mauer 500+ at-bats, they will be in good shape come October. I'd say the most questionable players are Ford and Lohse. You know what you're getting with Radke and in about a month's time Santana should be hitting full stride. Bartlett is the real deal and his fielding will improve as the season wears on, just as long as the coaching staff sticks with him and make sure his head doesn't hang out there when he does screw up a play or two.

Gammons and Starks aren't the only ones that are really high on the Twins at this point. AL managers have a lot of respect for what the Twins are bringing to the table this season. That said, I'd rather the media folk stayed with the Sox/Yankees/Angels, so that the local media/bandwagon remains patient if things aren't looking too great at the start.

[Ryche]

My biggest worry is the fact that the 2,3,4 hitters have less than a one season of experience combined between them. Bound to go through some offensive slumps there. But I think the pitching can carry them to the playoffs and hopefully all the way. Santana is a rock star, Radke is solid and I think Silva will win at least 15 games this year. A strong enough bullpen to keep them in the games where the 4th and 5th pitchers falter.

Detroit actually worries me a bit in their division though. I really like their young pitchers last year and this year they seem to be playing to their talent level now, which is pretty damn good. And now they have an offense too.

[nfg22]

Morneau could be that power they needed in the middle of the lineup and Mauer certainly can hit too...Bartletts only question is his glove, especially when Silva is on the mound seeing as he needs a good middle infield to be a good pitcher, Loshe and Mays just need ERAs below 5 and I will be happy, our bullpen is solid. Rivas needs to concentrate or else I think punto will take his spot. As for Ford I think he will get better this year, remember how in expierienced he is, last year was his first year and he didnt play baseball till his sophmore year of college...so he hasnt been playing long.