MLB Opening Day 2008

Opening Day in baseball marks the first day of spring for many. This year is no different as spring is definentely in the air with 4-8 inches of snow.

The thing that kills me year after year is how the Minnesota Twins are so underated at the beginning of each year and this season is no different. Sports Illustrated (a publictation that has the Dolphins and the Panthers, both non playoff teams, playing the Super Bowl two years ago) predicted that the Twins would finish in 5th place in the AL Central, even behind the Kansas City Royals. A team that has finished last in the division in four straight years. One year in which they didn't finish last, 2002, they ended up with the worst record in franchise history, 62-100. Somehow, I see the Twins winning more games then this juggernaut from KC.

Finishing with their first losing record since 2000, the critics are down on the Twins since they lost Johan Sanatna to the Mets and Torii Hunter to the Angels. While I believe each is on the decline, especially Hunter, I don't think these losses are as great as they seem.

My favorite player, Francisco Liriano, is back after missing all of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery. I think that Liriano is better the Santana. His 2005 season was the best that I have seen from a pitcher. A 12-3 record, with 144 strikeouts, a 2.16 ERA in only 121 innings. His 16 starts is less then half a full season. a 25 win season would have been possible if he has started the season with the team. When Santana was 23 years old, he was still fighting for a spot in the starting rotation by pitching long relief from the bullpen and making the occasional spot start.

Santana's 2007 season was the worst of his career. Ignoring the fact that he went a career worst 15-13 (the terrible Minnesota offense take some of the blame here) since becoming a full time starter in 2004. Others career lows came in runs allowed, strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, innings pitched and homeruns given up lead the entire majors.

Liriano is starting the season in the minors where he will pitch a game for Fort Myers in A ball and start a game for AAA Rochester before replacing whoever underachieves during the first two weeks of the season. He will come in and pitch about 6 2/3 innings giving up a run or two with about eight strikeouts as he his pulled because of his pitch count. I'll revist this prediction in two weeks.

Staying in the spirit of bold predictions ala Davidson, I predict that "The Franchise" will have more wins and a lower ERA then Santana. The Twins will also not finish in last, but in 3rd with around 85 wins as Cleveland and Detroit battle it out for the AL Central crown.