As I sit here watching ESPN2 and waiting for the 2006 Major League Baseball season to start, I am quietly optimistic about the chances for the Minnesota Twins. Unlike recent seasons, the Twins aren't expected to do much this year by the standards of conventional "experts". The vogue pick to win the AL Central is the defending World Series champion Chicago White Sox, and those passing on the White Sox are generally picking the Cleveland Indians. The result is that the pressure is off the Twins, and because of that, I like their chances. A healthy Torii Hunter, a healthy Shannon Stewart, a healthy Joe Mauer, a Justin Morneau without the ridiculous expectations heaped upon him from last year, a vastly improved and confident Kyle Lohse, no more Joe Mays... there are so many reasons to be optimistic this year, and we haven't even talked about the team's offseason additions or my guys Juan Castro and Mike Redmond.

Indians and White Sox begin shortly....

06:56 PM | (0)
file under: baseball (general)