Jim Souhan has proven his baseball expertise through the years covering the Twins first as a reporter and now as a columnist for the Star Tribune. He’s an admirer of the 2007 Twins and also the American League’s Central Division.
Pressed for a predicted order of finish, he said Tigers, Twins, Indians, White Sox and Royals. Souhan added a quick disclaimer that the order of teams could easily change in “by far” baseball’s best division. “A really talented team is going to finish fourth in the Central this year,” he told Sports Headliners.
Souhan “loves” the Twins lineup and bullpen and likes the club house chemistry. He also “loves the young arms” of potential starting pitchers Matt Garza, Glen Perkins and Kevin Slowey. “To me the key is not getting buried early in the season with the rotation as it is (mostly veteran questionables Sidney Ponson, Ramon Ortiz, Carlos Silva),” Souhan said. “If they (the Twins) can get through mid or late May and not be buried, still have those young arms in reserve and ready to pitch in the major leagues, they’re in pretty good shape. While it’s hard to pick any team (in the division), look out (for the Twins).”
Souhan talked about the veteran pitchers contributing early while Perkins and Slowey develop in the minors but he sees a bigger role for Garza right away. “When you look at what this team’s aspirations are, they’re going to need a real No. 2 starter (behind Johan Santana),” Souhan said. “Garza is the only guy in camp right now who is capable of being a No. 2. If they get to July and their rotation is starting Silva, Ortiz, (Boof) Bonser and Ponson, then they’ve got a true ace (Santana) and a bunch of fours and fives. Maybe a three at best, Bonser.
“If you have Garza and he pitches the way he’s capable with that arm, then you’ve got legitimate No. 1 and No. 2 (pitchers) who can any given night go out and completely shut down the opposition. You can fill in behind two guys like that. Also, if they get to the playoffs and Garza is pitching like a true No. 2, now it’s not all on Santana. You’ve got a chance to win the first two games.”