Monday, April 26, 2010

AL Central, Twins Central

As the MLB season approaches the 20 game mark, the Twins have started off hot and no AL Central team wanted this to happen. 

The Minnesota Twins are off to a 13 and 6 record in the AL Central, a 3 game lead over the second place Detroit Tigers and a 5.5 game lead over the last place Royals. 

When Joe Nathan got injured in spring training, most baseball anaylsts believed that the Twins were going to struggle to be the top team in the AL Central this season.  But as any baseball fan should know, never count out the Minnesota Twins. 

The Twins manager, Ron Gardenhire, had to decide between 3 different pitcher's in his bullpen on who would get the closer's role in the 2010 season. 

Jon Rauch, Jose Mijares and Matt Guerrier were the 3 relief pitchers that were being looked at by Gardenhire. 

The 3 pitchers battled in spring training and on the plane ride to Los Angeles for their MLB season opener, Gardenhire called Jon Rauch to the back of the plane and told him that he earned the closers role. 

19 games into the MLB season, Jon Rauch has recorded 6 of 7 saves in save opportunities.  But the Twins have needed Rauch because of their tremedous offense. 

The Twins offense has generated 101 runs and the pitching and defense has only given up 70 runs in 19 games this season. 

Very few teams in the AL Central are going to have a chance to catch the Twins if they continue to pitch and hit well. 

The Twins also rarely lose back to back games during the season, which makes catching them even more difficult because teams have to go on long winning streaks to make up ground for the games they lost. 

The Detroit Tigers have the best chance of catching the Twins because of their pitching anf hitting.  The problem is that the Tigers rarely play consistently which hurts them. 

The Twins should have an easy time winning the AL Central with their great offense, defense and pitching.  Starting the season off 13 and 6 is just what they wanted and the other AL Central teams are wishing they had won a couple of those close games early in the season.


Jon Rauch Pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2009