Post by Deleted on May 30, 2011 12:44:33 GMT -5
Minnesota Twins (7-5) @ Texas Rangers (7-6)
MIN: Fausto Carmona (0-2, 14.85)
TEX: Matt Harrison (1-1, 1.93)
Establishing control of your division early is important in baseball. This is something the Texas Rangers and Minnesota Twins know very well.
Last year at this time, the Texas Rangers were already on top of the division, by a healthy margin, and would stay there until the end of the season. Already off to another hot start, Texas looks to make it two wire-to-wire seasons in a row, in spite of an improved division.
Meanwhile up north, the Twins struggled out the gates in 2013, and learned the importance of a strong April. Early AL Central favorites, couldn't get it going until the bitter end, and even their hot finish only brought them a sniff within .500. Not nearly good enough to catch the Chicago White Sox. The good news is that the Twins are off to a good start to their 2014 campaign, and look like competitors in the early goings.
Both teams have added to their own talent via trade, and this early season showdown gives us a good chance to take a look at the talent.
On the Texas side, the buzz around the league was the loss of Prince Albert Pujols. While the Rangers did not give up oodles of premiere talent, the loss of Justin Smoak and Wilmer Font does not go unnoticed in Arlington. Without Smoak or Pujols as an option at first-- and no imminent help on the way via the farm-- the Rangers went out and signed slugger Justin Morneau. Morneau is off to a cold start (.150/.286/.275), which should be worrying following his full 2013 performance. This signing could have been one of the off-season's best if the big Canadian can return to his 2011-2012 production levels.
And while the Matzek-Feliz ace duo might get all the hype, Matt Harrison has quietly gotten off to a good start. Sporting a 1-1 record to go along with his stingy 1.93 ERA. His success, as well as that of Tanner Scheppers and Colby Lewis, will largely determine the outcome of the Rangers' season. The bullpen is not nearly as strong as it was last season, and Texas needs their starters to eat innings to keep them fresh. Harrison's numbers won't stay this good all season, but he needs to keep them respectable for the Rangers to compete.
Minnesota liked where they were at the end of last season, and mostly stood pat during the off-season. Their biggest acquisition was to reach out and snag RH Rick Porcello from San Diego (a fine organization), a deal that should help their rotation by bumping everyone else down a slot. Early returns might make Twins fans wince, but things should even out a bit down the line.
The Twins' young core offers a bunch of question marks. Ben Revere enters his third season in the PBL, after two productive seasons as Minnesota's leadoff man, but the injuries kept him off the field last season have raised some eyebrows.
Rene Tosoni began his PBL career looking like a blossoming perennial MVP candidate, but has since come down to earth. He completed his first full season last year, and was impressive (.290/.384/.584), but his health remains an issue.
Helder Velasquez, a Rule V draftee from Colorado, has been hyped by the team as the next big power-hitting middle infielder, but his on-field performance last year cast some doubt on his ability. If he can reach the upper limit of his upside, he'll terrorize the AL Central for years.
Thread starters:
Which position would you rather have your team in? The Rangers' (star-studded cast with questionable support)? Or the Twins' (the potential is there, just haven't quite been able to seize it)?
MIN: Fausto Carmona (0-2, 14.85)
TEX: Matt Harrison (1-1, 1.93)
Establishing control of your division early is important in baseball. This is something the Texas Rangers and Minnesota Twins know very well.
Last year at this time, the Texas Rangers were already on top of the division, by a healthy margin, and would stay there until the end of the season. Already off to another hot start, Texas looks to make it two wire-to-wire seasons in a row, in spite of an improved division.
Meanwhile up north, the Twins struggled out the gates in 2013, and learned the importance of a strong April. Early AL Central favorites, couldn't get it going until the bitter end, and even their hot finish only brought them a sniff within .500. Not nearly good enough to catch the Chicago White Sox. The good news is that the Twins are off to a good start to their 2014 campaign, and look like competitors in the early goings.
Both teams have added to their own talent via trade, and this early season showdown gives us a good chance to take a look at the talent.
On the Texas side, the buzz around the league was the loss of Prince Albert Pujols. While the Rangers did not give up oodles of premiere talent, the loss of Justin Smoak and Wilmer Font does not go unnoticed in Arlington. Without Smoak or Pujols as an option at first-- and no imminent help on the way via the farm-- the Rangers went out and signed slugger Justin Morneau. Morneau is off to a cold start (.150/.286/.275), which should be worrying following his full 2013 performance. This signing could have been one of the off-season's best if the big Canadian can return to his 2011-2012 production levels.
And while the Matzek-Feliz ace duo might get all the hype, Matt Harrison has quietly gotten off to a good start. Sporting a 1-1 record to go along with his stingy 1.93 ERA. His success, as well as that of Tanner Scheppers and Colby Lewis, will largely determine the outcome of the Rangers' season. The bullpen is not nearly as strong as it was last season, and Texas needs their starters to eat innings to keep them fresh. Harrison's numbers won't stay this good all season, but he needs to keep them respectable for the Rangers to compete.
Minnesota liked where they were at the end of last season, and mostly stood pat during the off-season. Their biggest acquisition was to reach out and snag RH Rick Porcello from San Diego (a fine organization), a deal that should help their rotation by bumping everyone else down a slot. Early returns might make Twins fans wince, but things should even out a bit down the line.
The Twins' young core offers a bunch of question marks. Ben Revere enters his third season in the PBL, after two productive seasons as Minnesota's leadoff man, but the injuries kept him off the field last season have raised some eyebrows.
Rene Tosoni began his PBL career looking like a blossoming perennial MVP candidate, but has since come down to earth. He completed his first full season last year, and was impressive (.290/.384/.584), but his health remains an issue.
Helder Velasquez, a Rule V draftee from Colorado, has been hyped by the team as the next big power-hitting middle infielder, but his on-field performance last year cast some doubt on his ability. If he can reach the upper limit of his upside, he'll terrorize the AL Central for years.
Thread starters:
Which position would you rather have your team in? The Rangers' (star-studded cast with questionable support)? Or the Twins' (the potential is there, just haven't quite been able to seize it)?