Minnesota Twins: Will the Twins Take the AL Central Again in 2011?

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Minnesota Twins Gunning for Third Straight Division Championship in 2011

The good news for the Minnesota Twins is that they were able to avoid a season-opening sweep at the hands of the Toronto Blue Jays. The bad news is that they were outscored by 14 runs in the three games, and that seemingly every single one of the team's most glaring question marks was on display.

First and foremost, Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau did not get off to good starts, going a combined 2-for-17. Carl Pavano and Francisco Liriano were knocked around a little bit in their starts, and Joe Nathan was hardly sharp in his long-awaited return.

If the Twins are to make a run at their third straight AL Central championship, each of the aforementioned players is going to have to get back on track. And that's exactly why panicking at this point in time is not exactly advisable. Track records are oftentimes a lovely thing, and the track records of Mauer, Morneau, Pavano, Liriano, and Nathan suggest that they are going to be just fine as long as they're on the field.

Unfortunately, that last part is a pretty major "if," that has already been dwelt upon by a rather large number of baseball fans and pundits alike in the early goings of the 2011 season. Health is going to be a major concern for the Twins, particularly when it comes to Mauer and Morneau, both of whom are former MVPs that are capable of putting the team on their shoulders in times of need.

Provided Mauer and Morneau can stay on the field, the Twins are going to be as steady as ever. But in all honesty, that's another thing that should have Twins fans feeling worried. The AL Central seems to be much stronger this year, and simply being steady might not to cut it. The Chicago White Sox are going to score runs in bunches, and the Detroit Tigers look as strong as they've been in years. Heck, even the Kansas City Royals look like they have some fight in them.

All this being said, the Twins are still my pick to win the division, and I'm not about to take it back quite yet. One subpar series doesn't hold that kind of sway in my mind.

However, I will admit that I'm more worried now that I was before.

For more baseball coverage, check out our list of Each Team's Stars That Will Break Out This Year.

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