Unofficial A.L. Central Thread

[AshevilleApp]

Not sure how much traction this might get. There's probably only a handful of posters who pull for Central teams. But here goes...


American League Central
Team W L PCT GB
Cleveland 24 13 .649 -
Detroit 22 18 .550 3.5
Kansas City 20 19 .513 5.0
Chi White Sox 17 24 .415 9.0
Minnesota 12 26 .316 12.5

Two major surprises, two minor surprises and one no surprise IMO.

The major surprises are at the top and bottom. Cleveland has basically come out of nowhere as far as I can tell. Playing well in all facets of the game. A friend of mine who is a Cleveland fan assures me that they will end up no better than .500 by the end of the season. He is a Cleveland fan, and therefor conditioned to lose.

Minnesota was supposed to contend with Detroit and Chicago for the Central title, but hasn't gotten untracked yet. I really don't know why. They traditionally are a second half team though, and it won't surprise me to see them make a run. They better start soon .

Kansas City and Chicago are minor surprises. Chicago started slow but has played somewhat better of late. (They still have the worst announcer in baseball . ) It seems like a matter of time before they will make a move.

I've been hearing that KC has a boatload of talent in its farm system for the last couple of years, so it seems inevitable that they will contend at some point.

Its no surprise that Detroit is in second and 3.5 back at this point. What is surprising is who they are behind. The TIgers have three very good young starting pitchers in Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer (thanks Diamondbacks!!) and Rick Porcello. Brad Penny is pitching well of late. Phil Coke has struggled as the fifth starter. Outside of Valverde as the closer, the bullpen has been a disappointment so far. The fielding is solid. They are hitting reasonably well. If the bullpen improves, they have a good chance to make the playoffs. Either as outright division winner, or as the wild card.

Any thoughts from the five other fans of A.L. Central teams?

[Thundering Herd]

Chicago started slow but has played somewhat better of late. (They still have the worst announcer in baseball . )

Couldn't agree more.

The division is full of suprises and I don't mind them. As a Twins fan, it's been a disastirous start with injuries and poor play from every one on the field (with the exception of Kubel). I am secretely pulling for the Indians. I want Cleveland to win it because of the resurgence of Pronk (Travis Hafner). Not just becuase he's from ND, but he is one of the best hitters in baseball and injuries have plague his career. He has a .340 BA and a .403 OBP.

It's also very nice to see the Royals doing well. What once was the laughing stock of the division, is now a respectable ball club with very bright young players. Kudos to Ned Yost and what he has been able to accomplish there.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

The Twins aren't going to do more than make a run at .500...

this one is written off as a disaster season. Injuries to Mauer, Young, Nishioka, Thome and now Mijares... Cuddyer and Morneau started spring late and still haven't gotten going. Their bullpen has been decimated, losing Fuentes, Guerrier, Crain and Rauch to free agency, and having Joe Nathan still not fully recovered from Tommy John surgery... their starters have been as effective as ever frankly - the difference - and the reason the Twins are SO BAD this season really boils down to one big thing: DEFENSE.

For 10 years, the hallmark of the Twins has been razor sharp defense - always at or near the bottom with regard to errors committed - this year they're near the top. While it may not seem like a big thing, when you teach your pitchers to "pitch to contact" like the Twins do, you need rock solid defense. It hasn't been there.

I give it until June 1st, but if they haven't pulled out of this tailspin by then, you'll see Thome shipped off, maybe even Pavano - Kyle Gibson will get called up and the Twins will start moving anything that isn't nailed down. Matt Capps will likely be gone as well...

[AshevilleApp]

Central W L PCT GB L10 STRK
Cleveland 34 26 .567 - 3-7 L1
Detroit 34 28 .548 1.0 8-2 W1
Chi Sox 31 34 .477 5.5 7-3 W1
K.C. 27 36 .429 8.5 4-6 W1
Minnesota 24 38 .387 11.0 7-3 W2

Things are starting to heat up. Chicago and Minnesota playing much better of late. Cleveland coming back to earth.

[Gil Dobie]

Nice game by Verlander last night. Tigers keep closing in on the Tribe.

Turned down free Twins tickets the other night, too much of a hassle getting to their new location from work.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

Twins have won 7 of 8 and no long possess the worst record in baseball... they've been playing very well with a AAA roster out there. Cuddyer, Young and Casilla have been leading the charge - but the real spark plug has - surprisingly - been Ben Revere. He always has reminded me more of Lew Ford than I've ever cared to admit - but these days he's sparking the offense and rounded in to a true top-of-the-order hitter for the Twins.

oh and Gil - Take the bus... it's insanely easy to get there on the bus.

[Gil Dobie]

Twins have won 7 of 8 and no long possess the worst record in baseball... they've been playing very well with a AAA roster out there. Cuddyer, Young and Casilla have been leading the charge - but the real spark plug has - surprisingly - been Ben Revere. He always has reminded me more of Lew Ford than I've ever cared to admit - but these days he's sparking the offense and rounded in to a true top-of-the-order hitter for the Twins.

oh and Gil - Take the bus... it's insanely easy to get there on the bus.

It's probably more than 1 bus. The metrodome was much easier to get to from the NE.
I really liked the subway in NY to get to Yankee games, and the trains in the bay are for Oakland and Giants games, but the Twin Cities is pretty bad from where I live.

[clenz]

Twins have won 7 of 8 and no long possess the worst record in baseball... they've been playing very well with a AAA roster out there. Cuddyer, Young and Casilla have been leading the charge - but the real spark plug has - surprisingly - been Ben Revere. He always has reminded me more of Lew Ford than I've ever cared to admit - but these days he's sparking the offense and rounded in to a true top-of-the-order hitter for the Twins.

oh and Gil - Take the bus... it's insanely easy to get there on the bus.

IF...and I mean IF....the Twins could every get healthy it would be great to see what they could produce.

[Gil Dobie]

Tigers blew their chance to move into a tie for first last night. White Sox halted Oakland's 10 game spiral.
Twins have a lot of home games coming up, if they done make a move now, it's never.

[Gil Dobie]

Everybody won today except Cleveland. Tigers are now tied for first.

[Gil Dobie]

Sounds like Joe Mauer might be called up from the Minors next week. May be healthy enough to play with the big club now.

[Ivytalk]

ChiSox still in da hunt!

[AshevilleApp]

ChiSox still in da hunt!

At this point, everyone is. (Edit: KC seems to be fading a bit though)

[AshevilleApp]

Sounds like Joe Mauer might be called up from the Minors next week. May be healthy enough to play with the big club now.

Have the Twins given any thought to converting Mauer to a different position? He's a great catcher no doubt, but the wear and tear of the position could shorten his career.

[AshevilleApp]

Everybody won today except Cleveland. Tigers are now tied for first.

Big series against Cleveland starting tomorrow. I'm thinking it will be Verlander, Penny and Scherzer starting the three games respectively. Good opportunity for the Tigers at home.

[Gil Dobie]

Sounds like Joe Mauer might be called up from the Minors next week. May be healthy enough to play with the big club now.

Have the Twins given any thought to converting Mauer to a different position? He's a great catcher no doubt, but the wear and tear of the position could shorten his career.

Gardy says the Twins don't want him up until he can catch full-time. All the talk right now is Mauer is a catcher until he can't catch.

[AshevilleApp]

Didn't know this until today, but ex-Tiger Jim Northrup died last week at age 71 due to complications from Alzheimers.

Northrup hit a triple in the seventh inning of Game 7 of the 1968 World Series off of Bob Gibson that drove in all the runs the Tigers needed for the win. This was back in an era when Game 7 of the World Series was played on a weekday afternoon. The nuns at my elementary school let us watch the Series on TV. I'll never forget it.

Thanks Jim and RIP

[clenz]

Have the Twins given any thought to converting Mauer to a different position? He's a great catcher no doubt, but the wear and tear of the position could shorten his career.

Gardy says the Twins don't want him up until he can catch full-time. All the talk right now is Mauer is a catcher until he can't catch.

There, right now, isn't anywhere to put Mauer.

1st is occupied by Justin and Cuddy
2nd...well he isn't going to be playing middle infield
SS...see second
3rd...Valencia pretty much has that locked down

[Gil Dobie]

Didn't know this until today, but ex-Tiger Jim Northrup died last week at age 71 due to complications from Alzheimers.

Northrup hit a triple in the seventh inning of Game 7 of the 1968 World Series off of Bob Gibson that drove in all the runs the Tigers needed for the win. This was back in an era when Game 7 of the World Series was played on a weekday afternoon. The nuns at my elementary school let us watch the Series on TV. I'll never forget it.

Thanks Jim and RIP

I heard that. I remember all the Grand Slams he hit, and listening to the World Series on the radio in school

[Ivytalk]

And the Indians are reverting to form/crashing to earth/outright sucking in all phases of the game.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

Gardy says the Twins don't want him up until he can catch full-time. All the talk right now is Mauer is a catcher until he can't catch.

There, right now, isn't anywhere to put Mauer.

1st is occupied by Justin and Cuddy
2nd...well he isn't going to be playing middle infield
SS...see second
3rd...Valencia pretty much has that locked down

meh - i'd consider moving him to third. Valencia is not world beater at third...

[Gil Dobie]

There, right now, isn't anywhere to put Mauer.

1st is occupied by Justin and Cuddy
2nd...well he isn't going to be playing middle infield
SS...see second
3rd...Valencia pretty much has that locked down

meh - i'd consider moving him to third. Valencia is not world beater at third...

He could replace Delmon

[clenz]

With the way Ben Rev is playing id rather move Cuddy to 3rd

[Gil Dobie]

With the way Ben Rev is playing id rather move Cuddy to 3rd

How about Cuddy to 2nd and Nishioka to SS?

[ODUalum11]

Glad to see the Indians coming back down to earth. Personally, I'd like to see the Tigers win the AL Central.