BG's home PG lays out the Central:
The Twins already have what the industry considers the best organization in baseball, and despite losing three-quarters of the infield that started the 2004 season, they may be better than the team that won 92 games last year. The Indians have rebuilt their system and vision to the point where they got to within a game of being .500 last season, and this year could well jump into serious contention. Only the Royals, who must build with their young pitchers, will report to spring training next week knowing that the playoffs are more than just a shot away....The Twins easily won the division in 2004 because of their pitching, which had Cy Young-winner Johan Santana. They led the league in ERA. Their starters' 4.08 ERA was 0.69 better than anyone else in the division, and the bullpen, anchored by All-Star Joe Nathan, was 32-24 with a 3.93 ERA that was 0.38 better than any divisional rival. If, at age 26, Kyle Lohse figures out how good his stuff is and reduces his 5.34 ERA and Joe Mays comes back from arm surgery – and all early indications are good – the staff will be deeper. It's possible that J.D. Durbin, he of the golden arm, will be given every opportunity to make the bullpen and learn the ways of the big leagues in that role before his time comes to start.
Even though they lost so much of their infield, Twins general manager Terry Ryan is convinced the offense will be better if Mauer – who one AL GM says is the best catcher in the league – is recovered from knee surgery. "We have every indication that he will be fine and able to catch regularly," Ryan said. Morneau and Mauer give them two big bats in the middle of the lineup, and if Jason Kubel hadn't torn up his knee in the Arizona Fall League, there might be three kids in the heart of the order. Michael Cuddyer finally will get his full-time shot at his natural position, third base. Nick Punto, Jason Bartlett and Juan Castro will compete at shortstop.