2007 Minnesota Twins Preview
The 2007 Minnesota Twins Will Win the American League Central.
The 2007 MLB Preview looks very promising for the Minnesota Twins. If their starting pitching can come together this season, they might just win it all.
The 2007 Minnesota Twins are loaded. Not financially, of course. This is the team that has operated with an annual average payroll of $54 million over the last five seasons. The results? The Minnesota Twins captured the AL Central crown in four of those five years. Considering the New York Yankees spent an average of $180 million per year over that same stretch and only captured one more division crown than the Twins, Minnesota is the undisputed king of applying the concept of Value For Money.
The team looks very tough again. Their only issue (and it could be a big one) is which of the young starters will step it up now that Brad Radke has retired and Francisco Liriano will miss the entire season due to injury.
The 2007 Minnesota Twins Have a Potent Offense
This is one of the top lineups in the game. Justin Morneau won the MVP last season over Derek Jeter by hitting .321 with 34 homers and 121 RBI. Catcher Joe Mauer won the batting title in 2006 with a .347 average to go along with his 13 Dingers and 84 Ribbies. But it doesn’t end there. Outfielder Michael Cuddyer broke out in 2006 with 24 Home Runs and 109 RBI. Torrii Hunter continues to be one of the great defensive center fielders in baseball and he can also hit: Hunter popped 31 home runs and drove in 98 runs in 2006. Backing them up are a bevy of solid offensive contributors: Luis Castillo, Jason Bartlett, Rondell White, and Matthew LeCroy will provided plenty of support for the team’s big boppers.
The 2007 Minnesota Twins Bullpen is Very Tough
Joe Nathan ranks among the five best relievers in the Major Leagues. He was virtually untouchable in 2006, saving 36 games to go along with his absolutely frightening 1.58 ERA and 1.4 strikeouts per inning.
Veteran Lefty Dennis Reyes found something last season that he never had before. After ten years in the Big Leagues with an ERA of close to 5.00, Reyes dominated hitters to the tune of a 5-0 record and a 0.89 ERA. Juan Rincon (75 Appearances, 3-1 record, 2.91 ERA) is another tough customer who will bridge the gap between the starters and Nathan. This is a very, very strong bullpen.
The 2007 Twins Starting Pitching is in Flux
Two-time Cy Young Award winner Johann Santana will anchor a starting rotation that is in a state of flux. Santana continued to dominate American League hitters in 2006, going 19-6 with a 2.74 ERA and 249 strikeouts. Santana has been great for five years. He will be great again in 2007.
After Santana, the pitching gets weaker. Superstar rookie Francisco Liriano tore up his elbow last August will not pitch again until 2008, if ever. Fellow rookie Boof Bonser was quite promising in ’06, but he will need to go beyond his 7-6 record and 4.22 ERA to be a solid second behind Santana. Matt Garza had a tough rookie season, but he still very young, and is pitching quite well during spring training. Carlos Silva was a big disappointment in 2006 (11-15, 5.76 ERA) after two very promising seasons in ’04 and ’05. Because he is just 27 years old and has a history of success, however, there is reason to believe that Silva can right the ship.
If two of the three starters behind Santana can pitch up to their abilities, the 2007 Minnesota Twins will cruise to another AL Central title. If not, then Santana, the offense and the bullpen will have to carry the team.
Prediction: Santana will be Santana, the offense will produce, and the rest of the starters will hold it together well enough for the 2007 Minnesota Twins to hold off the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central Division.
Record: 95-67 (First Place in AL Central).
That's your 2007 MLB Preview for the Minnesota Twins. Check out other 2007 MLB Previews for the Tigers, Yankees and Red Sox.
