Where in the AL do the Twins rank?

[cHawk]

This was a topic that came up in the game thread today that I wanted to dive a bit deeper into.

Where do the Twins rank among AL teams? They begin the season 27-17 (23-9 in their last 32) 1st in the AL Central. Their pitching staff has (surprisingly) been the strength of the team and their offense has (also surprisingly) been their weakness.

The Twins haven't played many games against high-level competition. They won 2 of 3 in Tampa Bay, and they also went 0-5 in 5 games at home against Houston and Los Angeles. The AL Central is not the strongest of divisions. Some of these factors might suggest the Twins aren't as good as their record.

Where do y'all stand on this?

[twinssporto]

Top 3 in the AL right now.

Will only get better! If I felt otherwise why watch a plane crash?

I'm decidedly positive!

When the leaves in Minnesota turn bright orange and red I think we'll be knuckle deep in a World Series....Giddy up Twins fans!

[Rosterman]

Not many teams or players are hiting, period.

All they have to do is beat up on division teams. If division teams can't beat the Twins, then they will have trouble beating teams in the other divisions, too.

 

I don't see any Wild Cards coming from the central.

[cHawk]

24 minutes ago, twinssporto said:

Top 3 in the AL right now.

Will only get better! If I felt otherwise why watch a plane crash?

I'm decidedly positive!

When the leaves in Minnesota turn bright orange and red I think we'll be knuckle deep in a World Series....Giddy up Twins fans!

I love your optimism

[Mander]

Hard to say at this point. They need to face better teams. We will have a better idea after they play the Yankees, Blue Jays, and Rays in June. So far they were destroyed by Houston and the Dodgers, and split series with the Rays and Red Sox.

[jimbo92107]

Astros bullied the Twins, and the Yankees have a better record. Otherwise, Twins are about 3rd, by my figuring. Plus, the Twins could get better as the season goes on, depending on the breaks. 

[se7799]

Arrow pointing up all read.  Enjoying the ride!  This is our year to make some noise.  If you cant be optimistic at this point...I don't know what would.

[Battle ur tail off]

15 hours ago, Mander said:

Hard to say at this point. They need to face better teams. We will have a better idea after they play the Yankees, Blue Jays, and Rays in June. So far they were destroyed by Houston and the Dodgers, and split series with the Rays and Red Sox.

This has been the case for almost every Twins team that has made the playoffs in the last how many years. 

 

I think this is a good club and if things break their way they might make some noise. That said, I am not expecting more than a division title. 

[wsnydes]

I voted top 5.  That's more of an indictment on the league in my view.  

That weakness is also what gives me some hope that they'll actually at least win ONE game in the playoffs though.

[Brandon]

top 5 is my vote.  They are clearly in the 3-6 range in the league.  You have the Yanks and Astros as 1 &2, with Minnesota, Anaheim, and Tampa and maybe Toronto are in the next tier.  

[Nine of twelve]

I wasn't paying attention. I voted 6-10 because I thought the question referred to MLB, not just the AL. I'd say top 5 in the AL.

[Einheri]

 Probably about 6 once they face the better teams more.  Right now I hope they can keep beating on the AL Central and win the title.  After that, any team can win it all if they get hot at the right time and have some luck.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

On 5/25/2022 at 10:55 PM, jimbo92107 said:

Astros bullied the Twins, and the Yankees have a better record. Otherwise, Twins are about 3rd, by my figuring. Plus, the Twins could get better as the season goes on, depending on the breaks. 

The Twins have so many young players who are improving every game and who are gaining confidence, the team will get better. I predict the Twins will rise to the occasions in June and at least break even against the evil empire and the other really good teams in the American League. Then if Maeda and Acala return healthy, and the Twins avoid injuries and avoid getting into bench clearing brawls with Josh Donaldson and his Yankee supporters and if Buxton starts bunting some, just to loosen things up and he gets his batting average back to above .250, then the Twins will still be playing when the first snow falls in Minneapolis...  in October. 

[tarheeltwinsfan]

10 hours ago, Einheri said:

 Probably about 6 once they face the better teams more.  Right now I hope they can keep beating on the AL Central and win the title.  After that, any team can win it all if they get hot at the right time and have some luck.

I agree. Even the 0-18 Twins can take it all. Go Twins. It's time for Ritchie the Rally Goat to butt the playoff jinx into the Mississippi River.

[TwinsDr2021]

I would say they are not in the top 2 that is NNY and Houston. But are somewhere in the Rays, Jays, Angles and White So group. The next tier is probably Boston, Cleveland and Texas, the rest are glorified AAA teams (at best)

[Nine of twelve]

At the time I write this the AL has 6 teams better than .500 and 9 teams at or below .500. Of those 9 teams only Chicago seems likely to challenge the other 6. If Chicago does not get it going there won't be much suspense in the 2022 regular season.

[Number3]

Twins are right at the top of the big heap that exists below the short list of elite teams. The scary thing is that their margin of victory is very slight and easily converted to losses as in the last 2 games. 2 runs seems to be a norm other than a few outliers. Last night 2 runs on 12 hits. Correa has not been clutch whatsoever though his average has crept up. Then Rocco steps in and pulls the starter after giving up 2 hits and 80 pitches. KC scores 3.... ball game. Real answer to the thread is ...remains to be seen.

[LA VIkes Fan]

Somewhere between 4 and 6 behind Houston, the Yankees - both clearly better- and Toronto. The Blue Jays rotation and lineup are both better than the Twins. We are right there with the Angels, Rays and White Sox in that second tier. 

I thank for the Twins to move up to the first year is entirely dependent on that lineup hitting better. The rotation is what it is and unlikely to get better. I think the bullpen will be fine with one more arm that we could pick up for prospects at the trade deadline. The way to get better is to get more offense.  There is a possibility that the lineup could get better if Buxton remembers how to hit, and one or two of the Lewis, Kirilloff and Steer group comes up to replace Miranda, Gordon and/or Urshela. Correa Is actually hitting about what you would expect, his value is that he hits like this and plays gold glove defense at a premium position at the same time, and I don’t think we can expect a lot more out of Polanco, Sanchez, Jeffers, Urshela, or Kepler other than marginal improvement.  We need another bat or two so we can stop playing the backup catcher as the DH. Those two guys should only catch and the DH spot should then be available for Arraez or one of the starters taking a half-day with one of those three AAA guys playing the field. I hope we call up at least Lewis and Kirilloff within the next 2-3 weeks and they give the offense a boost. 

[LA VIkes Fan]

The offense is what separates us from being the solid #3 in the AL. Last night was a great example.  Bases loaded, productive out leads to a tie score, and the hitters are Miranda and Gordon against a nasty reliever. Both hitters are young and learning and it would be a good learning experience for young up and coming guys on a non-contending team. But that isn't what we want to or should be. We're a contending team. That's why I say the lineup is a hitter or two short. 

My take? I would rather that those two spots were Lewis and Kirilloff (but only if his recent surge is real). To me, that's the kind of marginal improvement we need to be making if we want to take this year seriously. I know it's tough because unless we make a trade, Gordon is probably good enough that he would get claimed if we DFA him. Still, I think his days are numbered any way. Bring up Lewis for Miranda and give Arraez and Garlick or Sanchez First Base until we think Kirilloff is really ready. When he is, try to either package Gordon and a decent prospect for a reliever or trade him for prospects to create the spot for Kirilloff.  Lewis is in a 3B/LF/DH grouping with Urshela, Garlick and Larnach until then.

[chpettit19]

I see the AL as 4 tiers right now.

Early WS contenders: NYY and Houston

Solidly in the playoff hunt and currently expect to make it: Twins, Rays, Angels, Jays

Will they, won't they tier of teams that could turn it on and make a run at the above 6 teams or collapse into the the middle of the next 5 teams: White and Red Sox, Rangers, Guardians

Rebuilding teams with no real hope of jumping into the playoff race: As, Os, Ms, and our friendly division punching bags in Detroit and KC

It's most definitely better to be in the 2nd tier than the 3rd tier, but as we get into the dog days of summer the third tier will bleed itself into the 2nd and 4th and we'll have a more defined 3 tiers by the deadline probably.