AL Central Smack Talk 2011

There should be a thread designed for AL Central fans that want to talk smack with each other without having to deal with the hordes of Yankees and Red Sox posters who litter the message board.

So if you be a Tigers, White Sox, Royals, Indians, or Twins fan who needs a place in 2011, look no further. No holds barred, but please be civil in discourse.

The very popular  AL Central Thread has begun. Let the smack begin....

My Twins are primed for 2011. There are a lot of question marks. Injuries.

Will Francisco Liriano shake his rough Spring and deliver the number one stuff that Minnesota desperatley needs?

Will Justin Morneau recover from the multiple concussions and give MVP type numbers to solidify the middle of the order?

Will Joe Nathan be back? Today he surrendered six runs in a 1/3 inning effort. Or will Matt Capps end up not being a luxury?

Will Minnesota fill the pen holes left by a mass departure of Jesse Crain (to Chicago... eww), Matt Guerrier, and Jon Rauch?

Can Carl Pavano deliver numbers once again that make Yankees fans sick to their stomachs? He has been lights out so far this Spring.

Will Nishioka replace Orlando Hudson well and can we call him Yoshi?

Will Joe Mauer find a way to hit the ball out of the spacious Target Field in 2011?

Is Delmon Young on the road to becoming an elite force in the AL?

Will Jim Thome asked to be buried under the flag pole he struck last year?

So many questions.

Tigers look good.  Looks like the Twins and White Sox will try to play catch up  all year.

!.  Tigers  ....
2 Twins.....  5 GB
3. White Sox.... 9GB


thats how i see it

It would shock me to have you see it any other way.

The performance of Jose Valverde, Rick Porcello. Austin Jackson and Brennan Boesch are important to any thoughts of division title.

Nice to have you aboard Dougy, delusional as always.

i can honestly say I have missed your anti-Nostradamus prophecies. Tigers better watch out for the Royals coming from below. Third is not safe.

what a patty cake schedule the Twins have for the last 4 series of the year.

Tigers have a favorable last 3 series.  So Twins better not be to far behind.

Can I be a Twins fan for the purpose of this unconsitutional thread?

first learn the game

We abide by the supreme law of the land whenever possiible here in Minnesota, barring cases involving our defensive tackles.

You may apply for adoption, but you must be able to paddle a canoe at least. Or have gone to 12-step treatment.

Will Justin Morneau recover from the multiple concussions and give MVP type numbers to solidify the middle of the order?

---

Justin Morneau has never had a full season where he posted a wRC+ of at least 140 nor has he had a season where he finished in the top 10 in the AL in WAR. No reason to give MVP type numbers now when he never has before over a full season.


Will Joe Nathan be back? Today he surrendered six runs in a 1/3 inning effort. Or will Matt Capps end up not being a luxury?

---

He won't be his usual self, at least at the beginning of the year. Usually takes a pitcher till at least his 2nd year back before he returns to his old self.




Can Carl Pavano deliver numbers once again that make Yankees fans sick to their stomachs? He has been lights out so far this Spring.

---

Probably a 4.00-4.25 ERA.


Is Delmon Young on the road to becoming an elite force in the AL?

---

lol, no. Atrocious defense and there is only little room for improvement in his bat.

Justin Morneau has never had a full season where he posted a wRC+ of at least 140 nor has he had a season where he finished in the top 10 in the AL in WAR. No reason to give MVP type numbers now when he never has before over a full season.

Well let's see, he won the MVP for one... From 2006-2009 and even 1/2 of 2010 Morneau delivered very well for the Twins. 30 HRs, over 100 RBI, near .375 OBP, walks to strikeouts near 1:1, good defense.

Not sure why you would suggest he has not been productive, short of the WAR. He has been stellar for 5 years even with his injuries.

He has a swing to drool over and I think you will eat your WAR words before the 2011 season is over. Ever more a contributor than say a Grady Sizemore.

You may apply for adoption, but you must be able to paddle a canoe at least. Or have gone to 12-step treatment.
----------------
No 12 step--- not a drinker

BUT

I have a Lavro driftboat that I use and keep on the Delaware River, A BT Tournament-17 Bassboat. Before I bought the driftboat I had a 16ft American Trader tri-keel Square stern (before they went wood only) that I used for fishing the Susquehanna here in NE PA-- brown water with lots of boulders--- bassboat hulls don't like that. Now I grab the driftboat if I am going to fish the Susky.

I have also fished small and largemout (with the occasion Northen and Bowfin in the lake region outside of Minneapolis

Will that qualify me?

first learn the game
--------------------
My 9 year old greandson laughs at you.

Justin Morneau has never had a full season where he posted a wRC+ of at least 140 nor has he had a season where he finished in the top 10 in the AL in WAR. No reason to give MVP type numbers now when he never has before over a full season.

----------------
A couple things
A- So what?
1-- You are aware that he does own an MVP Trophy, aren't aren't you?
2- You are aware that he has a runner up in a season he was worthier than the MVP, aren't you?
3- 2008 OFFENSIVE WAR 4th

Twins will take the central again this year. Everyone should be back and good to go by the start of the season or shortly there after. Capps will fill in for Nathan until he's fully ready to go again. Pitching is the only issue, like it always is. But somehow they always seem to do enough to take the central. Span will bounce back from last year and have a solid year. Looking forward to another great season with many W's

Nathan   6Rs over  1/3 inning   .  wow

You all have it wrong:

1. White Sox
2. Tigers 3.5 GB
3. Twins 5.5 GB

White Sox have to much to over come..  Ozzie.
He will make sure to blow it.
He will act the fool and disrupt the team.  This might well be his last year in the south side

on the other hand.  Tigers will win despite Leyland.

I am pretty sure the White Sox won it with Ozzie in '05, the last ALCentral team to win it! You have worse troubles with Cabrera and his demons!

Watch out for Cabrera, he might try to swing with his bottle of scotch or threaten to kill some fans or other players. What a joke, this guy needs some jail time. He's a disgrace to baseball

White Sox have to much to over come..  Ozzie.
He will make sure to blow it.
He will act the fool and disrupt the team.  This might well be his last year in the south side



Hey Dog, you certainly won't be mistaken for a member of MENSA anytime soon. That is a fact!

Ozzie blow it???????  What do the Sox have to overcome? Ozzie? You mean the guy "blew it" when he lead the Sox to a World Championship 5 1/2 years ago. Why don't you worry about your own chain-smoking manager who keep apologizing for your scumbag first baseman every time he gets his a$$ in trouble...which is often.

Yep, he acts a fool by doing what? Sticking up for his players? The media overhypes his actions in such a negative way it is a disgrace. Where were these same media fools when the man went 99-63 and had the best single-season playoff run (11-1) in the history of MLB.
110-64 isn't luck!!!

Not as bad as your choker Tigers as a 2-1 or 3-1 favorites to beat the Cardinals in 2006 to only get their a$$e$ handed to them by a mediocre St. Louis team.

Sox, if healthy, win the Central by 7 games over MN and your team may finish 4th behind Cleveland.