Last year, around this time, I wrote repeatedly about the four-team blockade in the AL Central, where the Royals were the only team who didn't have a winning record, while the Twins, Indians, Royals and White Sox were all clinging together in an effort to compete.
This year isn't as sleek or sexy as that blockade, but there's still some interesting stuff going on.
The top two teams, the Twins and Indians, have even records. 4-4 and 5-5 respectively. Which means both teams are good, but not good enough to have more wins than losses. The Tigers, in third, have one less win than the Twins, and are somehow sort of right in it. The Royals and White Sox are sort of intertwined in there, but without the massive wins.
This isn't AS interesting, but once again, the AL Central teams are here to play, and won't give up. Especially the Twins, who were leading up until the blockades happened.
Joe Mauer, Brian Dozier and Miguel Sano are so far the ones doing most of the offensive handiwork, with an emphasis on Dozier's homers and Mauer's average. Joe Mauer won an MVP 9 years ago, and despite a position change, he has not let up, and is still a pretty great lineup presence. Hell, even the pitching has improved, as Jose Berrios has Jake Odorizzi and Kyle Gibson on hand who are doing about as well as he is.
It will be tricky to get past the Indians, and escape the blockade, but the Twins do have some really crafty stuff hiding around. It will take some work to get a lot of the lineup up to speed, but this seems like a pretty cool team, one that might be dangerous when underestimated.
Coming Tonight- A power-hitting first baseman for a team that should not, by any means, be in first place, yet definitely is.
19 games vs each other. Hoping my Tigers can hang in there against the Tribe and Twins...and KC always seems to play us tough. Lots of young talent with ChiSox. Long season ahead.
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