- Historically, the National League has been stronger than the AL, but it's become quite evident that the AL is much better. The Dodgers have been leading the NL West for most of the season, but have been routed in consecutive games in the Metrodome. This Dodger team includes some ostensibly big names, like Jeff Kent, Nomar Garciaparra and Derek Lowe, but they have been no match for the Twins' collection of emerging stars.
- Francisco Liriano is a stone killer right now. It will be interesting to see how he does in subsequent trips around the league, but right now he is overpowering just about every batter he faces. He's even more of a power pitcher than Twins stopper Johan Santana, which hardly seems possible.
- Joe Mauer is becoming an amazingly good hitter. He went 5-5 last night, lashing singles to all parts of the ballpark. He is starting to flirt with .400; it's difficult to imagine that he could maintain this pace all year long, but no one in baseball seems to have found a good way to pitch to him.
- Some of prospects for the Twins are no longer "suspects." It's been interesting to see the simultaneous blossoming of Michael Cuddyer, Justin Morneau and Jason Kubel into solid, resourceful major league hitters. Jason Bartlett is now starting to show some hitting talent as well. Longtime Twin power supplier Torii Hunter is now about the fifth or six best batsman on the team.
- It's amazing how well the Tigers and White Sox are playing. Jim Leyland came into a team that had as recently as 2003 been one of the worst teams in major league history, but now his Tigers are beating everyone they face. The White Sox continue to be at least as good as they were last year, when they won the World Series. Eventually these teams will play each other again, and maybe then the Twins can make their move. But it's going to be tough.
Not that long ago, the AL Central was known as Comedy Central for the lack of quality teams among its ranks. Things change.
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