Twins Third Done Installment

After today's game against the Oakland A's, the Twins will have quite literally finished 1/3 of the season. For players who have regularly started this is a fun place to take significant stats times 3 and project where they'll be at the end of the year. Some highlights:

- 84 wins

- Morneau with 48 HR, 132 RBI, 75 BB, and 99K's (MVP II)

- Hunter with 33HR, 135 RBI, 36 BB, 114 K's, and 27 SB (contract year?)

- Cuddyer with 21 HR, 111 RBI, 69 BB and 114 K's (Needs to pick up the power)

- Punto with 78 BB and 90 K's (When did Punto start taking pitches and walks?!? He leads the team, this is inexplicable unless ESPN stats are just wrong.)

Kings of Control - BB/K (Bold is more BB than K)
L. Rodriguez 5/3
J. Bartlett 17/19
N. Punto(!) 26/30
J. Cirrilo 8/5
L. Castillo 14/11
J. Mauer 16/15

King's of Swing (Bold is a multiple of 3 or greater)
T. Hunter 12/38
M. Cuddyer 23/38
J. Kubel 11/33
J. Tyner 4/8
A. Casilla 1/8
L. Ford 2/6
J. Rabe 0/7

Interesting Team Vs. Stats

The Twins have 3 fewer AB than their opponents through 53 games, so these stats are quite approximate.

-Runs: 254 - 233 - Twins on pace to score 762, about 90 fewer than the Yankee's pace.

-Twins have 26 more hits than opponents - 505-479 for a .275 - .260 advantage

-Twins have slight edge in XB hits with 105 - 98.

-Twins getting killed with the long ball losing that race 40 - 61 (OUCH!)

-Twins close in BB with a lead of 176 - 170. This stat recognizes that Twin pitchers are slightly more stingy than the average staff (ranked 9th), and that the batters are slightly less patient than average (ranked 18th).

-Twins enjoy a HUGE advantage in the K zone leading 382-270 (who needs defense?)
This is a perfect storm of Twins not striking out (4th lowest in league) and a dominant staff (4th highest in league)

-Twins also outrun their opponents in SB with a 42-19 advantage while also avoiding CS with an 8-14 advantage.

How important are homeruns? Even with a huge advantage running the bases and striking out the other team, the Twins are only 3 over .500 because of their -20 HR deficit.

Also of note, the Cleveland Indians will be going to the World Series this year. Every other AL team is along for the ride. The Indians had the kind of performance last night, scoring 5 runs in the bottom of the 9th to beat the Tigers. This ensures the Indians win the Central and have the confidence and swagger to sweep all future competition to the waste bin of the 2007 AL season. Considering the ineptitude and self destructive NL, just give the Indians the crown now.

Finally, the Twins have done what I asked of them since writing them off, and then some. Their sweep of the White Sox and win vs. the A's means they have effectively won 4 series in a row. Now just 30 to go... Good think inter league play starts soon.