AL CENTRAL

Detroit 9-4

Cleveland 6-5

Chicago 6-6

Minnesota 5-9

Kansas City 3-9

Any Surprises after 14 games?

In my mind this is about exactly where I figured, with the exception of Chicago being lower by a couple games and KC winning a couple more games. Given the Twins schedule I predicted after 35 games 14-21, we will see where that ends up.

I wanted to make a couple comments on a few thoughts that have been thrown around with the media, friends.

1. Jamey Carroll, http://mlb.sbnation.com/2012/4/13/2946897/jamey-carroll-shortstop-twins-history. This story was brought up by a buddy who was watching the Twins game on ESPN vs NY, instantly texted me on why Jamey Carroll was batting 2nd in our lineup. His quote " Too many managers look at the second spot as a bunting/throw away spot. Kills so many rallies putting a ****ty hitter in the middle of your best hitters.: Now Jamey Carroll is a lifetime .277 hitter with no power. This is a common thing I guess with putting maybe a 2nd best batting avg/obp guy in the 2nd spot, what if we had Joe Mauer in that spot?

Span

Mauer

Willingham

Morneau

Doumit

Valencia

Parmalee

Casillia ??? Why not? This would allow Joe Mauer more AB's, (I know that isn't that many, but it is) Mauer doesn't hit for power, he hit for power in the Dome, he isn't hitting HR's to the opposite field in Target Field. He is a gap, OBP, singles hitter. Lets be real, unless he starts hitting for power would it make sense to have him hit in the 2 spot. I am not sure, it is something that had some merit I guess.

2. Trade Span? I was listening to the Common Man today, they were responding to a thread of trading Denard Span. I was fishing this morning on Lake Superior and I just yelled out why would you be talking about trading Span? Yes we need pitching, we don't have OF's. Revere is not a lead off guy, sure he can run fast and cover lots of ground in the outfield, but he has as subpar arm. Everyones tradeable!! I get that, but I don't think trading Span is an option at this point. I think the upcoming draft is the place where we will upgrade pitching, also I think the free agent market, albeit not a huge pitching market next year is where we upgrade pitching, not trading Span.

3. Abolishing Savery? (Joe Sheehan) This article was in SI, and this is something I have thought about for a long time and I totally agree. He talks about how the "save" has changed the way that managers use there bullpen. If I have my best K/BB ratio guy in my bullpen, I am facing the middle of my lineup up 1 with 1 out guys on 2nd and 3rd in the 7th inning, why am I not putting the best bullpen guy in there? I know why, because of the Save stat. This stat really messes with the best way a manager can use his bullpen. I know I can put my best guy out there in the 7th, and in the 9th if I wanted to I could go lefty righty lefty if I need 3 outs if I want to, why not? I think this is one of the biggest overrated stats in the game, the first manager to start getting away from the "save", and use your best players in the best spots I will give a lot of credit to.

4-9, Man 5-8 looks a lot better. The Twins had a very good chance of winning a 4 game series in New York and would have given the Twins a lot of confidence early in the year. Pavano, Marquis pitched very well considering their start. Swarzak and Liriano really, really blew a great chance at a helluva series in NY. Curtis Granderson is really good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am very impressed with him, he is the only person I am impressed with on a team that I can't stand. The bats are coming alive, I look forward to see how many game streak Willingham gets to, I am excited to see Hendriks pitch tonight, we need a lot of help in that rotation, Pavano and Marquis are really going to have to be leaders and step up in a lot of games.

Luke Hughes is cut by Minnesota! This was a surprise to me, as I thought Hughes was going to have a year to put pressure on Casilla/Valencia. I am dissapointed with this move, injuries to the pitching staff really hurt Hughes. I was definitely wrong with my thoughts of Hughes making more of an impact on the Twins this year.

This is a really nice story. Thank you for contributing it.

I'd love to have you post a few of these topics in the forum. Literally, #1 could be a topic. #2 could be a great topic. #3 could be a topic and have a Twins slant to it. I don't want to steal them from you, so if you have a chance, please, throw those out there.

I will add them tonight