Anomaly in the Twins
Minnesota has an anomaly in the Twins. In a state that likes to buck tradition and keep thing interesting, like making a former pro-wrestler governor, the Twins have long been competitive in the MLB despite having the payroll a fraction of the traditional powers.
This season the Twins were expected to compete for the American League Central division title. There were supposed to be games late into the season at Metrodome that held meaning to baseball fans. The Twins were supposed to be in a rat race with the Indians and the Tigers.
The MLB season proves why baseball experts are not baseball gods. The Twins are competing for the AL Central title, but with the White Sox. A few weeks ago it looked like Twins tickets would not even showcase a competitive team. Now they have overcome the .500 mark and are within a couple of good series from overtaking the White Sox.
Of course, the last few seasons the Twins have won the AL Central four times in six years. The team is always in the hunt and baseball fans always have to consider the need to buy World Series tickets at the Metrodome. This season is still young and that may still come to pass.
What’s odd is that this year the pitching has been the weakness. Normally the staff keeps the team in games while the offense manages to produce just enough runs to keep the team afloat. The departure of Johann Santana left a hole at ace that nobody has been able to fill. Scott Baker is having an alright season so far and Nate Blackburn is putting up respectable numbers, but the rest of the wins staff is floundering.
The offense is rolling behind Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, and Jason Kubel. Delon Young has not become the player he is suppoed to be yet (Torii Hunter), but he is still young and the season is far from over.
Really the only thing Minneapolis has going for them are the Twins. The Timberwolves have begun a rebuilding process that will take years of painful seasons to get of and the Vikings are a mystery. Will the defense hold up. Will Adrian Peterson keep exciting crowds with his game breaking ability? It seems that the Twins are the only sure thing in the state.