Anything is Possible

By David Jensen

After one game, the Twins appear to be the team to beat in the American League. Livan Hernandez pitched 7 innings, giving up 2 runs on 7 hits to earn his first win as a Twin. Carlos Gomez went 2 for 3 with two runs and two stolen bases. Cuddyer drove the winning run. Even Jason Kubel got a hit. Then Neshek and Nathan dominated out of the bullpen to slam the door on the Angels.
Among the six newcomers to the starting lineup, Delmon Young went 2 for 4 with a run scored. Brenden Harris went 2 for 4 with two strikeouts and played a good second base.
Minnesota played a great game all around. The defense was stellar and the pitching was solid. They ran the bases agressively and stole four bases to set up opportunities in the early innings. I don't think I've seen a better opening day performance from the Twins. There is no way this will all come crashing down upon us.

2008 Predictions

By David Jensen

Before last season, I made predictions on the division races and playoffs. They turned out to be very poor predictions. So poor in fact, Jim Souhan might have done better. So I put some more thought into this years.

AL

East- New York
Central- Detroit
West - California
Wild Card- Cleveland
Worst Record- Baltimore
Surprise - Minnesota
Disappointment- Chicago
Champion- Cleveland

NL

East - Philadelphia
Central- Milwaukee
West - Arizona
Wild Card- New York
Worst Record- San Francisco
Surprise - Pittsburgh
Disappointment- Atlanta
Champion - Arizona

World Series Arizona in 7

AL Central

1. Detroit - Good pitching, great lineup, great manager. They should have a better September than last the two years.

2. Cleveland- Everything hinges on the Bullpen

3. Minnesota- I have no idea how the Twins will finish this year. I would not be surprised if they finished first, or last. But I don’t think they will finish behind Chicago or Kansas City, could they?

4. Kansas City- Good looking young team. Somebody should tell ownership the Royals are not a farm team.

5. Chicago - If they’re out of the race in July, look for them to pack up the circus and fade away.

Miscellaneous

Team to go 100 years without winning a
world series- Chicago Cubs

Teams the national media won't give up on until September, even though they were out of it in May- Cincinnati, Chicago Cubs/White Sox, Houston, Atlanta and Oakland

Highest attendance- New York Yankees

Lowest attendance- Florida

Teams that won't need new stadiums- Yankees, Minnesota and Kansas City

Restraining orders filed by Bob Uecker- 3

Amount of Christmas presents Carl Pohlad will dump into
Lake Superior in tons-16

Times Tyler will be enraged by "Circle Me Bert" signs- 1377

Times Joe Morgan will go on at great length when someone does something that an eight year old little leaguer could have done just as well- 57

Soulless yuppies who will truly appreciate the Twins, the Metrodome and Baseball- 0

The Twins stadium project will face several more obstacles and construction will halt in late August.

Wishful Thinking

Boston will make a trade with Minnesota that will be looked back on as the single greatest front office blunder in the expansion era. As a result, Theo Epstein will resign in shame and the Red Sox will embark on another 86 year World Series drought.

Fox will disband its sports division and Joe Buck will apologize to America shortly before going into exile in Mongolia.

That's what I could come up with while doing my laundry. I'm confidant they will prove better than anything Jim Souhan and John Kruk will come up with.

Stat Chat 3/13

Pitching Numbers:

Starters:

• Boof is at 5.40, he has had two outings, looked okay against Boston, and bad against the Yankees. He has pitched five innings and give up four walks, and only has one strike out.
• Vet. Hernandez has pitched 3 games, pitched 9 innings, and has an ERA of 8.00. Lots of innings, but lots of runs.
  
• Slowey has a 8.10 ERA in 6.2 innings. He has given up 15 hits, and has 4BB.
• Liriano came back to pitch 3.2 innings has a 7.36 ERA, with only 2 SO. He also has 3 BB.
• Baker has had two solid starts 0.00 with 4 SO. However he is sidelined with back pain, may put him out to start the year.
  

Stat Chat

By Tyler Savage

Let's look at the newcomers

• Delmon Young has had 22 AB, he has a .435 OBP, .545 SLG, .435 AVG. He is going crazy right now, but look out for this guys numbers this year.
• Craig Monroe not as many AB, .750 SLG, .375 AVG, .412 OBP. Hopefully we may have a DH.
• Gomez: .185 OBP, .292 SLG, .167 AVG. He has speed, but he needs to be on base to use it.
• Lamb: 13 AB this guys needs to stay healthy.
  

Another Question on Health?

• Mauer: 14 AB

This is your last Chance:

• Punto: .077 SLG and AVG.
• Kubel: .190 AVG, .292 SLG

Breaking down the pitching tomorrow