Predictions for Tonight

Just some notes about tonight, should be an interesting ride...

-This city has major nostalgia issues.  Normal media outlets would have been prepping the regular season fans for the new guys they would be seeing taking the field for today's game.  Instead, yesterday, the Star Tribune sport's section featured an article on the front page of Torii Hunter at the Angel's spring training.  Similarly, channel 4 had Rosen's Sports Sunday on last night.  80% of the show was devoted to Torii Hunter and none other than Corey Koskie.  ---Thanks guys for giving us all something to look back at, not forward to.

-Final Score Angels 8 Twins 2

-Livan's line 4 1/3 innings, 8 hits, 6 runs, 5 earned, 3 walks, 2 strikeouts

Angels Stars

- Most everybody will probably focus on Vlad Guerrero their perennial hitting star.  While he does have 13 hits in 29 at bats (.448 Average) against Livan something tells me he wont be the star tonight. Neither will Torii, my guess is he'll go 1-4 with single.
-my guesses for good games either Casey Kotchman, their first basemen, or Gary Matthews Jr at the dish.  Both of them have something to prove and likely match-up well versus Livan.
-Obviously Weaver (their starter) will have a good night tonight.

Twin Stars

- Mauer will have a good game going 2-4 with and RBI and a run (nothing too special though).
- Lamb look for him to get the other RBI, probably going 2-3 with a walk

Things to watch

- Count how many pitches both Gomez and Young see in all their at bats (especially their first)
- Watch Kubel, if he's to tapping his front foot during the pitchers delivery, that means he's in sink.  He needs to have a good series right off the bat otherwise Monroe will start getting unwarranted starts at DH.
- The Twins have always had a slow developing offense.  A lot of these guys can take awhile to make adjustments.  Tonight they'll struggle against Weaver but then will probably beat up on the relievers (an ugly trend that developed last year and continued during spring training). 

Other Predictions

-Rincon will get banged up in his inning of work
-Punto will make an appearance
-If Figgins get on base he will run all over Livan and there'll be nothing Mauer can do about it.