| Andrew Kneeland. 1st June, 2008 - 9:55 pm
 The three anchors of the Minnesota Twin's starting rotation are all in their mid-20's. Nick Blackburn, Glen Perkins, and Kevin Slowey are a combined 8-8, but have an ERA of 3.26 in a total of 21 starts in 2008. The rest of the pitchers who have made starts this year for the Twins are Livan Hernandez, Francisco Liriano, Scott Baker, and Boof Bonser. They have a 10-11 combined record to go along with a bloated 5.41 ERA in 32 starts.
The puerile trio: Blackburn, Perkins, and Slowey had a rough start to the season but have since rebounded fantastically. In their last nine starts they are 5-2 with an outstanding 2.03 ERA. This stretch includes two complete game attempts, with one ending better than the other.
Nick Blackburn recently completed eight innings while not allowing a base runner past second base. He eventually gave up one run in the ninth but completed the best pitched game by a Twin's pitcher yet this year.
The primary reason behind these young pitchers' success? Pin-point precision.
The three have issued a superb 21 walks through 21 starts and have a remarkable 78 strike outs. That is a ratio of 3.71 K/BB and is higher than Daisuke Matsuzaka, Brandon Webb, Carlos Zambrano, and Joe Saunders.
The three also have a combined WHIP (walks plus hits per innings pitched) of just 1.194.
Like stated before, these three have heated up in the month of May after an ordinary April. They couldn't have chosen a better time. The Detroit Tigers are struggling, and the Cleveland Indians are totally falling apart. The wonderful pitching of these three hurlers has helped tremendously in keeping the Twins within striking distance of the red-hot Chicago White Sox.
These three shouldn't be named All-Stars yet as it has only been a month, albeit a dazzling month. It's not like anybody knew these players were good. Granted, Perkins didn't have the best of success pitching in a relief role with Minnesota, but both Blackburn and Slowey were highly touted as minor leaguers. Slowey was the Twin's minor league pitcher of the year in 2007, and Blackburn was named Minnesota's best prospect by BaseballAmerica going into 2008.
Some may say that a lackluster Twin's offense will be the demise of Perkins, Blackburn, and Slowey. Minnesota does not have a history of power hitters and are known for their offensive ineptitude around the league. This year, though, the whole team is on a mission to throw off that tag.
Nobody gave the Twins a real shot going into the 2008 season, but this trio of talent is out to prove otherwise. If they can continue to anchor this young team, there is no reason why the Minnesota Twins cannot win a division title. |
