30 Teams In 30 Days: The Twins Are The Best Team In The AL Central, But Mainly By Default

Yesterday, I was accused of blind homer ism by putting the tigers at number 16. I feel like I will be accused of doing the same by putting the Twins at 15. But I think my logic is sound. This division sucks. It’s a joke. I would be stunned if whoever wins this division wins 90 games or more. The Twins won 87 and this division a year ago, in which four teams finished below .500. They won the division by default, and when I look at their roster, I don’t know if they got better. Sonny Gray was fantastic for him last season. He’s gone. Kenta Maeda wasn’t a gangbuster, but he’s a solid pitcher. He now pitches for the Tigers. I guess they think that Chris Paddack will come back and shove. 

I’m down on him because I don’t think they’re that much better than the second-best team in this division, but they are still the best team in the AL Central. Royce Lewis put on a show in the postseason a year ago. If he can finally come into his own, then the Twins have a legitimate star in the heart of that lineup. It’s not Minnesota’s fault that they play in a bad division. Well, it’s kind of their fault. They have the best team, but it’d be nice if they could field the better one. Having them at 15 doesn’t necessarily mean I see them on the outside looking in come playoff time. They had a nice run in the postseason last year, winning a playoff game for the first time Since 2004 and even winning the wildcard round against the Blue Jays. 

Pablo Lopez was one of the best pitchers in baseball down the stretch last year. There was a time when people were saying that that trade would be a disaster, but I think it will end up being pretty beneficial for both sides. There are a lot of individual pieces that I like. Like I said in the video, I think they have one of the nastiest closers in baseball. But I just don’t think that this is a very complete team. With that said, you don’t have to be complete to win the American League Central.