Twins Mid-Season Report - Part 2

Starting Rotation:
Many experts predicted that the strength of the 2002 MN Twins would be their starting pitchers. Joe Mays, Brad Radke, Eric Milton, and Rick Reed (counting Mets stats) all had double figures in wins during the 2001 season. Add in rookie Kyle Lohse and the Twins had the makings of a solid starting rotation. This held true for the first 2 weeks of the season, and then the injuries started piling up. Both Radke and Mays have spent the vast majority of the season on the disabled list. Luckily Lohse, Milton and Reed have been fairly healthy and taken the ball every fifth day.

Bullpen:
The bullpen was a huge question mark entering the season. LaTroy Hawkins was spectacular during the first half of the 2001 season, but imploded during the second half, as did the entire team. The first thing new Twins manager Ron Gardenhire did was name Eddie Guardado the closer. This move has brought stability to the Twins bullpen. The other key factor is the presence of veteran reliever Mike Jackson. Jackson has brought a veteran presence and really helped the young Twins pitchers understand what it takes to be a relief pitcher.

Player by Player Progress Reports:
Eric Milton- When Milton has been on this year, he has been awesome. But when he doesn’t have his best stuff, watch out fans sitting in the outfield bleachers. The great thing about Milton so far is he has made 20 starts. He has not yet missed his turn in the rotation. Milton has racked up 11 wins, which leads all Twins pitchers. He has struck out 81 batters, while only walking 23. Very good strikeout to walk ratio. Milton WHIP is a respectable 1.22, but his ERA is a whopping 5.14. Milton always seems to have a high ERA, but needs to keep it in the mid 4’s to be a solid fantasy starting pitcher.

Rick Reed- Reed was the main trade acquisition last year. Reed really struggled with the Twins last year, but has seemed to be more relaxed this year. He has missed a few starts with minor injuries, but nothing major as of yet. Reed has won 6 games, and also has a great strikeout to walk ration (65 K and 17 walks). Some of Reeds best games have come during interleague play. Reed just isn’t comfortable in the AL yet. Reed will hopefully improve his stats during the second half of the season. Reed is a good spot starter in your fantasy league.

Kyle Lohse- Lohse beat out Matt Kinney for the fifth spot in the rotation during spring training. Lohse has been a key member of the Twins during the first half. Lohse is second on the Twins with 8 wins, 70 K’s, and in innings pitched. Lohse won’t complete many games, but has been solid for 6 innings during most starts. Lohse seems to have a bright future and may be worth a look in keeper fantasy leagues.

Brad Radke- Radke started the year as the Twins ace. Things quickly changed when he started having groin problems. The main concern with this injury is the affect it has on his change up. Radke has stated that he feels tightness in his groin when he throws his change up. He seems to have no problems when throwing the fastball. Radke has only made 10 starts this year. He is expected to come off the DL sometime around July 20. He may be a good pickup for the rest of the year, because he hasn’t pitched many innings and should be fresh for August and September.

Joe Mays- Mays was coming off a break out 2001 season where he won 17 games and had the 3rd best ERA in the AL. Things have not worked out so far this year. Mays got off to a horrible start. In his only 3 starts of the 2002 season, his ERA was 11.57. Mays has been on the DL since mid April and has now started rehabbing. If all goes will with his next 2 rehab starts, Mays could join the Twins rotation at the end of July. Mays is another potential sleeper that may have been dropped early in the year in your fantasy league. You may want to grab him now, while you have the chance.

Tony Fiore, Matt Kinney, and Johan Santana- These three pitchers have filled in for Radke and Mays. All three have done a nice job. Fiore already has 7 wins and Santana has been almost unhittable in his last 3 starts. Kinney is currently on the DL with minor arm problems. None of these guys are super fantasy players. The one who may have some value is Fiore. He has done a nice job both starting and relieving and seems to pick up wins when the started has struggled and he pitches the middle innings.

Eddie Guardado- “Every Day” Eddie has been outstanding this year. He is near the top in saves with 28 and his WHIP is 1.00 and ERA is 2.86. All very solid numbers and which makes him a must have closer in your fantasy league. Guardado is use to pitching a lot of innings, so should be solid the rest of the year.

JC Romero- Many baseball experts predict Romero becoming the next Twins closer. Romero has 3 nasty pitches and seems to have found a place in the bullpen. Romero had previously been a started, but not a successful one. Romero has a lot of fantasy value in leagues that have HOLDS as a category. Romero currently has 21 HOLDS.

Mike Jackson- Jackson was signed to a minor league deal during the off season. Jackson is now in his second year since having arm surgery and is finally getting back to the Jackson of old. His fastball may not be 94 anymore, but he possesses one of the leagues nastiest sliders. Jackson has 16 HOLDS this year.

LaTroy Hawkins- Hawkins was the Twins closer during the 2001 season. He was awesome during the first half and terrible during the second half. New Twins pitching coach, Rick Anderson, has helped Hawkins change is delivery slightly and that seems to have really helped. The Twins have also been careful when they use Hawkins. When Hawkins has confidence, he can be unhittable. His stats are awesome so far in 2002. His WHIP is 0.87 and he has an ERA of 1.47. Hawkins is also starting to get more HOLDS. He has 6 so far.

Roster Update:
The Twins have made one minor trade so far. RF Brian Buchanan was traded to San Diego in exchange for a minor league SS. The main reason Buchanan was traded, was to make room for RF Michael Cuddyer<. Cuddyer was ripping apart Triple A pitching and needed to get brought up. Cuddyer has brings flexibility to the Twins bench. Cuddyer can play RF, 1B, and 3B. Cuddyer has been solid so far in his short stay with the big club. Keep an eye on Cuddyer if you are in a keeper fantasy league.