2007 Minnesota Twins Preview: Pitching
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by user False Prophet
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| Twins Preview: Offense |
| Twins Preview: Pitching |
| Week 1 (April 2-8) |
| Week 2 (April 9-15) |
| Weel 3 (April 16-22) |
I've waited till I saw the rotation once, and now I have time to publish this, so here it is, pitching.
Starters
1. Johan Santana
Johan is going to win the Cy Young again. He'll win the MLB pitching Triple Crown, and be a possible MVP Canidate. Expect him to reach 20 Wins this season. He would have last year, but they clinched a playoff birth before he got his last start. 200 K's are not out of the question for this Venezualan Southpaw. Another season can be expect of Santana where he puts up a sub 3.00 ERA.
Santana is still as dominant as ever, and the logic provided by experts about the lack of other pitchers hurting his stats is rediculous. When Santana is on the mound, the other starting pitchers don't matter at all. All the "experts" who write for ESPN and SI need to go back to their little caves and shut up.
Grade so far this season: B-
Johan is almost back to Midseason form, but he needs to work out the kinks a bit more
2. Boof Bonser
Boof is a good pitcher. He's not going to be a phenom like Liriano was last year, but he can be relied upon to eat up solid innings on his starts, putting less pressure on the bullpen when he starts. I see him winning 12 or so games, with 100 K's and to push for a sub 4.00 ERA.
Boof got better throughout last season. He had a good start in the Post season, and can be expected to bring that each and every time he starts. The only problems I see happening with him is faitigue. I don't know how long Boof will be able to hold up. If he starts to get tired in July, the Twins are in trouble. He needs to last through the season for the twins to win the Division this year. Should he fill Brad Radke's roll as an innings eater, the twins will be fine. If he begins to slip, I don't know how far I can trust the twins to go.
Grade so far: C
If he diddn't get rocked by the Yankees, this'd be higher, but anyone expectingto stay in the 2 position in the rotation of a contender can't do as bad as he did on Tuesday.
3. Ramon Ortiz
Ortiz was solid in his first start. He proved that he was worth the contract, and should be able to be a reliable second or third starter for the twins this year. I like what ortiz can bring to the twins, and expect him to have a good season. Expect a Sub 4.00 ERA, and to push for 100 K's this season.
The only thing that is better than Ortiz's potential for this season, is look at him as a 3rd or 4th starter next season when Liriano returns from his shoulder injury.
Grade so far: A
I saw him pitch Wednesday, and he was a stud. There's all ready talk of a possible late season controversy for the top job with johan in the same way Liriano would have if he was healthy to the end of the season.
4. Sidney Ponson
Ponson troubles me after getting rocked by New York. I think that he's the loose end in the Rotation, and that were going to end up seeing Glen Perkins take his spot in the rotation sometime before the All Star Game.
Grade so far: F
Diddn't last 5 innings, got rocked by the Yankees, and made me wonder if the reds would give us Kyle Loshe back for Ponson. At least Loshe was good occasionally.
5. Carlos Silva
Originally, I felt that Silva was going to be the guy in the back of the rotation that you wanted to never see because he was a sure fire loss. He had a sinker ball that never sank last season, and was miserable last year, spending time in the bullpen.
After watching his first start I've changed my mind about Silva. He has a split finger fastball, and a couple of different pitches that allows him to not have to rely on his sinker all of the time.
My overall impression of Silva leaves me happy with him. I have no idea what to expect from him, but a sub 6.00 ERA and 11-12 wins would be a success in my opinion. I guess pitching coach Rick Anderson was right about Silva, he said Silva was looking great in the Bullpen sessions,and that Silva should be a decent pitcher for the twins.
Grade so far: A-
He lost his only start, but went 6+ innings with only 2 runs allowed. That's a lot better than I could have hoped.
Bullpen
The bullpen is freakishly amazing as always. With Perkins, Reyes, Guerrier and Crain all avalible as Long relievers, and faults in the starting rotation is no problem. Beyond that, the Bullpen gets even Better. First, we have Pat Neshek, a sidearmer with amazing control, and an ability to pitch out of tought Situations. What's even better is how absolutely dominant he is when he's on the mound. He controls the game, and is a great pticher made even better for not even being the Set up man in the Bullpen.
Then, we hit the Set up man, Juan Rincon. Expect Neshek and Rincon to switch roles, but Rincon is a good pitcher, no question. He will give up a few runs here and there, but overall, the Impression he's made on me is you can count on him to keep the game in hand so Joe Nathan can finnish it off.
Nathan is the best closer in Baseball period. He has an uncanny ability to control the game in a way I've never seen. Take Wednesday night. Bottom of the 9th, one out, and he gives up 2 hits that sets up a one out situation with runners on second and third. He strikes out the next batter. We now have 2 outs, and Nathan gets his swagger back and finnishes the game off. He won't let runners score, and does it with no really spectacular pitches.
Grade so far: A
They're all ready in midseason form, and are ready to dominate like always.
