Are The Twins a Sleeper Pick in The American League?

Do not look now but the Minnesota Twins are in first place, yes first place. Yesterday they beat the Detroit Tigers to win the opening series at home, and let's not forget that all of last year the Twins won five series's at home.

It is funny how just some competent starting pitching can change the outlook on a season. I am not becoming a homer, and already crowning the Twins as Central division champs, because I still see this team winning somewhere around 70-75 games this season, but I might have to up that to 80 games if the starting pitching continues to produce quality starts.

Lets come back to Earth because face it we still have 159 more games to play this season. Yes the Twins starting pitching out pitched the Detroit Tigers this series. Vance Worley looked really good after the first few innings, Kevin Correia looks very comfortable pitching in the American League, and Mike Pelfrey looks like he has never heard of Tommy John surgery.

Yet the Twins played with the lead for only five innings in the series, but still managed to win two games. Aaron Hicks finally broke through yesterday and collected his first major league hit. Joe Mauer looks prime for another stellar year nearly two years removed from the whole bi-lateral leg weakness fiasco in 2011. Josh Willignham was the first player to hit a home run in this series. Brian Dozier had a clutch hit in Wednesdays game, which was followed up by Eduardo Escobar walk-off double.

There are some players I am worried about, Chris Parmelee looks confused up at the plate, and Pedro Florimon needs to minimize his mistakes at short, because the real reason he is up here in the majors is to play solid in the field, because Pedro hits just as good as Tsuyoshi Nishioka, but fields the ball a lot better then Nishioka.

Trevor Plouffe looks primed for a break out season if only he can stay healthy. Remember last year when Target Field became a showdown between Plouffe and Willingham, which Willingham ended winning by crushing over 30 home runs while Plouffe nursed a injured wrist.

It is refreshing to see the Twins start this season on a great note, because it wouldn't have shocked anyone if they got swept by the Tigers, it just would have had fans beginning to think Minnesota Viking football in April. but instead this team looks like it could mover out of the basement of the American League, and might be a sleeper pick to grab one of those wild card spots in the post-season.

Do not call me a homer yet, but if a rotation consisting of Brian Duensing, Carl Pavano. Nick Blackburn can reach the postseason then a rotation with Diamond, Worley. Correia, and Pelfrey can just as easily squeaked into the October, but then again it is only April. A lot can happen between now and October, but I am just happy that I can say the Twins are in first place so-be-it if it is only the first few days into April.