Post by Fish Troll on Apr 30, 2007 21:49:33 GMT -5
Repeating in Central won't be easy
Twins are 5-7 against their AL Central counterparts
By Kelly Thesier / MLB.com
DETROIT -- There is a mutual sentiment in baseball that not much can be learned about a season after just the first month.
But while numbers and records in April may not be revealing, the Twins did get a chance to learn something very important about this season in the first month. And that's a reinforcement of just how tough this American League Central division could be this year.
The Twins series against the Tigers this past weekend not only finished out the month of April, but it also completed their initial look at all four of their divisional foes. In the span of the month the team has played five games against the Royals, two against the Indians and White Sox, and a three-game series against the Tigers.
And having a chance to get a quick glimpse at what lies ahead for the next five months within the AL Central, well, the Twins' feeling about the division hasn't changed -- this is as good as it gets.
"I definitely think it's the best division in baseball from what I've seen," Mike Redmond said.
It hasn't been an easy road for the Twins in the AL Central so far as the team is 5-7 against their division opponents while 9-4 when facing other AL teams. That isn't a surprise though, as the belief all along has been that this will be a division that's going to be a dogfight until the end.
After the first month of the season, the logjam at the top of the AL Central division has the top four teams separated by a total of just 2 1/2 games. Yes, it's still early but knowing the type of talent that each club brings to the table makes it seem like the fun is just starting.
"Every team is loaded," Johan Santana said of the division. "They can pitch, they can hit and do the little things. It's going to be very interesting to see what happens and at the end of the season where each team is going to be. Whoever takes advantage early in the season and does everything they are supposed to do is going to have a good chance to be in the playoffs."
The usual suspects are there once again with the defending American League pennant winners, the Tigers, near the top of that list. Detroit, who had its already strong lineup improved with the addition of Gary Sheffield to the order, has shown its offensive prowess with their division-high 119 runs scored in the first month.
The pitching for the White Sox has rebounded as the club has given up the third-fewest amount of runs so far this year. The Indians appear to have rebuilt their bullpen enough, allowing the fewest number of earned runs in the AL Central so far, to take the early lead in the division.
But then there are the Royals, who are building around budding stars like Alex Gordon and Mark Teahan and have already started to cause some havoc against the division, at the very least against the Twins. Kansas City is 3-2 against Minnesota with a series win and a series split, despite still sitting below the .500 mark.
"A lot of people are picking Kansas City to finish last but they've played us pretty tough," catcher Joe Mauer said. "I think these teams could finish in any order."
A slight change to the unbalanced schedule now has teams playing 18 games against their division rivals this season, rather than 19 like in previous years. But one less game doesn't mean much for helping to reduce any of the potential mud-slinging that could go on down the stretch between the clubs.
"I would imagine this division is going to be pretty entertaining as the summer goes along," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "When you look at it pitching wise, bullpens, and the lineups when healthy, they are very good all the way through."
"Our expectation was not to take anybody lightly," Michael Cuddyer added. "We expected every team to be tough and so far, that's been the case."
Being the defending division champions sometimes puts an enticing bull's-eye on the back of a club, but as the Twins admit, when you're in a division like this one, that isn't exactly the way it is.
"I think we're actually kind of the underdogs," Cuddyer said.
So what is going to be the deciding factor in a division with so much talent and a history of teams beating up on each other?
"It's consistency, it's pitching, it's whoever can stay the healthiest over a long period of time," Redmond said. "I mean, we're beat up and still winning. To take two of three vs. Detroit when we're down two or three guys, that's a good sign. That's a really good sign for us.
"It's a long season so anything can happen. But when we get back to full strength, I like our chances."
Kelly Thesier is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Twins are 5-7 against their AL Central counterparts
By Kelly Thesier / MLB.com
DETROIT -- There is a mutual sentiment in baseball that not much can be learned about a season after just the first month.
But while numbers and records in April may not be revealing, the Twins did get a chance to learn something very important about this season in the first month. And that's a reinforcement of just how tough this American League Central division could be this year.
The Twins series against the Tigers this past weekend not only finished out the month of April, but it also completed their initial look at all four of their divisional foes. In the span of the month the team has played five games against the Royals, two against the Indians and White Sox, and a three-game series against the Tigers.
And having a chance to get a quick glimpse at what lies ahead for the next five months within the AL Central, well, the Twins' feeling about the division hasn't changed -- this is as good as it gets.
"I definitely think it's the best division in baseball from what I've seen," Mike Redmond said.
It hasn't been an easy road for the Twins in the AL Central so far as the team is 5-7 against their division opponents while 9-4 when facing other AL teams. That isn't a surprise though, as the belief all along has been that this will be a division that's going to be a dogfight until the end.
After the first month of the season, the logjam at the top of the AL Central division has the top four teams separated by a total of just 2 1/2 games. Yes, it's still early but knowing the type of talent that each club brings to the table makes it seem like the fun is just starting.
"Every team is loaded," Johan Santana said of the division. "They can pitch, they can hit and do the little things. It's going to be very interesting to see what happens and at the end of the season where each team is going to be. Whoever takes advantage early in the season and does everything they are supposed to do is going to have a good chance to be in the playoffs."
The usual suspects are there once again with the defending American League pennant winners, the Tigers, near the top of that list. Detroit, who had its already strong lineup improved with the addition of Gary Sheffield to the order, has shown its offensive prowess with their division-high 119 runs scored in the first month.
The pitching for the White Sox has rebounded as the club has given up the third-fewest amount of runs so far this year. The Indians appear to have rebuilt their bullpen enough, allowing the fewest number of earned runs in the AL Central so far, to take the early lead in the division.
But then there are the Royals, who are building around budding stars like Alex Gordon and Mark Teahan and have already started to cause some havoc against the division, at the very least against the Twins. Kansas City is 3-2 against Minnesota with a series win and a series split, despite still sitting below the .500 mark.
"A lot of people are picking Kansas City to finish last but they've played us pretty tough," catcher Joe Mauer said. "I think these teams could finish in any order."
A slight change to the unbalanced schedule now has teams playing 18 games against their division rivals this season, rather than 19 like in previous years. But one less game doesn't mean much for helping to reduce any of the potential mud-slinging that could go on down the stretch between the clubs.
"I would imagine this division is going to be pretty entertaining as the summer goes along," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "When you look at it pitching wise, bullpens, and the lineups when healthy, they are very good all the way through."
"Our expectation was not to take anybody lightly," Michael Cuddyer added. "We expected every team to be tough and so far, that's been the case."
Being the defending division champions sometimes puts an enticing bull's-eye on the back of a club, but as the Twins admit, when you're in a division like this one, that isn't exactly the way it is.
"I think we're actually kind of the underdogs," Cuddyer said.
So what is going to be the deciding factor in a division with so much talent and a history of teams beating up on each other?
"It's consistency, it's pitching, it's whoever can stay the healthiest over a long period of time," Redmond said. "I mean, we're beat up and still winning. To take two of three vs. Detroit when we're down two or three guys, that's a good sign. That's a really good sign for us.
"It's a long season so anything can happen. But when we get back to full strength, I like our chances."
Kelly Thesier is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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