Strong (if meaningless) early returns

by EmeraldTwinkie on Mar 11, 2010 4:37 PM EST

I'm sure I'm not the only one who noticed that, prior to Tuesday's game, none of the pitchers expected to be on the Twins' staff had so much as given up a single earned run. So, how crazy-good are that group's stats at this ridiculously early point? And how is our projected lineup doing?

The answer is: pretty darn crazy-good. The group consisting of Baker, Slowey, Blackburn, Pavano, Liriano, Guerrier, Neshek, Rauch, Crain, Mijares, and Condrey have a combined 0.84 ERA and 0.84 WHIP (coincidentally), with 21 K and 7 BB in 32 innings. Only Pavano has given up any ER.

Meanwhile, the lineup of Span, Hudson, Mauer, Morneau, Cuddyer, Kubel, Hardy, Young, and Punto are not too shabby themselves, with a combined slash-line of .295/.364/.462.

Ah, the joys of small sample sizes and inferior opponents...

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It's just spring training, but it is sort of amazing

Could you imagine an 8-game run of pitching like that in the regular season? Sign me up.

by Luke in MN on Mar 12, 2010 9:58 AM EST reply actions

I do think a good early

start is a sign of good things to come and a comming together of a team with new faces. The one that need a strong spring start to me is Young. I think he still has’nt proven himself to be a everyday starter. He’d better start showing some pop, Lf’s are not that hard to find.(or trade for). i.e. Portes

by b1 on Mar 13, 2010 8:52 AM EST reply actions

I just read

on Yahoo Rumors that Fox is claiming that Liriano is the likely inheritor of the closer role. IF that is the case I will be very disappointed. He would make a good closer, but he’d make a much better starter. The closer role is too overrated, and I think we need to focus on a guy who can get outs over 7 innings as opposed to a guy who can get outs for 1. Am I being unreasonable? I hope not.

by SouthSotaPop on Mar 15, 2010 2:32 PM EDT reply actions