Re: Why is everyone on ESPN blowing the Twins
 

This is the same network that hired Steve Phillips to be a baseball analyst. what a joke.

Re: Why is everyone on ESPN blowing the Twins
 

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Looking at the experts predictions on ESPN for the upcoming baseball season and four of the first five "experts" (including both Gammons and Stark) picked the Twins to win the World Series. Am I missing something here? Did they trade for a bunch of players overnight that I didn't know about?

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Because of this guy.

http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphic...04/san1111.jpg

Re: Why is everyone on ESPN blowing the Twins
 

http://www.startribune.com/stonline/...auer0708.l.jpg
This guy won't be too bad either.

Re: Why is everyone on ESPN blowing the Twins
 

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http://www.startribune.com/stonline/...auer0708.l.jpg
This guy won't be too bad either.

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Hah Ha. That pic looks like he belongs in the hot tub. I bet he's a catcher off the field too.

Re: Why is everyone on ESPN blowing the Twins
 

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http://www.startribune.com/stonline/...auer0708.l.jpg
This guy won't be too bad either.

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Don't make fun of the soon to be greatest baseball player of all time.

Hah Ha. That pic looks like he belongs in the hot tub.

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Re: Why is everyone on ESPN blowing the Twins
 

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Looking at the experts predictions on ESPN for the upcoming baseball season and four of the first five "experts" (including both Gammons and Stark) picked the Twins to win the World Series. Am I missing something here? Did they trade for a bunch of players overnight that I didn't know about?

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We've got THE best starting pitcher in baseball, the guy nobody wants to face.

We're probably in the top 3 defensively.

We've got a lot of good solid bats.

We don't need to buy our talent like the friggin' Yankees, and we didn't get rid of half our players like Boston. Once the Yankees rotation finds its way to the DL, the Twinkies should still be in the thick of things. Not to mention, we didn't LOSE anybody from last year's team, which was mere hits away from defeating the Yankees in the Divisional series.

SPs: Santana, Radke, Mays
Setup: Rincon
Closer: Nathan
Bats: Mauer, Torii, Jones, Stewart, Cuddyer...

We're a solid team, and its just because we're NOT the Yankees that the haters say we don't have a chance.

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Now Santana obviously had a great year last year, but it takes more than half a season to name someone THE best starter in baseball.

Mauer is unproven. Yes, it sure looks like he will be great, but Todd Van Poppel was unstoppable until he got to the major leagues. So was Ban McDonald. Wait until he actually plays a full season before anointing him the chosen one.

Jacque Jones might be THE most inconsistent player in baseball.

Radke and Mays are nothing better than fifth starters on some of the good teams in baseball.

I don't doubt that the Twins will have a good year. I just can't believe that so many writers are picking them to win it all. Yes, they do have a good team that should win a division, but can they get through the lineups of Anaheim, Boston or New York in 2 playoff series? Assuming that Santana only pitches two games in a seven game series, do you really want the ball in Brad Radke's hands in a deciding game?

Please note that I was not trying to "hate" on the Twins with my original post. I just found it unbelievable that all kinds of writers were picking them. If one or two writers picked them I understand, but four of the first five they asked picked them. That does not make sense to me.

Re: Why is everyone on ESPN blowing the Twins
 

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Radke and Mays are nothing better than fifth starters on some of the good teams in baseball.

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Radke is a solid #3 starter for pretty much every team in baseball.

Re: Why is everyone on ESPN blowing the Twins
 

i think their bullpen has a lot to do with it.

Re: Why is everyone on ESPN blowing the Twins
 

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I'd much rather be blown by twins.

http://mediapickle.com/content/pics/...wins_botd2.jpg

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Ni Han.

Yugoslav

Re: Why is everyone on ESPN blowing the Twins
 

Here's my opinion on it (if anyone cares):

The Twins are a good team, but they're being highly overrated right now. My personal belief is that the Tigers have a good chance to give the Twins trouble in the Central, probably not win it, but keep it close pretty late in the season.

This means nothing but looking at the head to head matchup:

C Rodriguez vs Mauer, push although probable slight edge to Tigers
1B Pena vs Morneau, again push although probable slight edge to Tigers
2B Infante vs Rivas, Infante pwns Rivas
SS Guillen vs Bartlett, Guillen pwns Bartlett
3B Inge vs Cuddyer, I actually give the edge to Inge here, he's more proven and to those who say you need to give Cuddyer a full season to see what he can do, well Inge has never played a true full season either
LF White vs Stewart/Ford Edge Twins
CF Monroe vs Hunter Edge Twins
RF Ordonez vs Jones Edge Tigers

Starting Pitchers

Top 2
Bonderman/Johnson vs Santana/Radke Edge Twins

3-5
Maroth/Robertson/Ledzema vs Silva/Lohse/Mays
Edge Tigers

This one will likely be controversial so lets break it down

Maroth: 11-13, 4.31 ERA, 108K, 1.39 WHIP
Robertson: 12-10, 4.90 ERA, 155K, 1.41 WHIP
Ledzema: 4-3, 4.39 ERA, 29K, 1.38 WHIP in 8 starts

Silva: 14-8, 4.21 ERA, 76K, 1.43 WHIP
Lohse: 9-13, 5.34 ERA, 111K, 1.63 WHIP
Mays(2003): 8-8, 6.30 ERA, 50K, 1.52 WHIP

Bullpen Edge Twins

After looking at this, someone please explain how the Twins are being picked to win the World Series by anyone. Ain't happening this year.

Edit to add:

Manager Gardenhire vs Trammel, Edge Tigers

Overall, very slight edge to the Twins