The Minnesota Lumber Company

Sixteen runs and eight homers. The Twins so badly mauled the Angels pitching staff Thursday afternoon that the MIAC is about to expel them, too.

(For those non-Minnesotans unfamiliar with that reference, check this link.)

The Twins, through 49 games -- 30% of the schedule -- have:

• 289 runs, most in the American League
• 98 homers, most in the AL
• 102 doubles, most in the AL
• a .516 slugging percentage, first in the AL
• a .272 batting average, second in the AL
• a .340 on-base percentage, third in the AL

I was concerned coming into the season that the Twins offseason emphasis on power over on-base percentage was going to result in a lot of solo homers and nothing else. Not so. And even if it were, eight solo homers should win most games.

They are scoring more than two runs a game more than Cleveland, their chief rival in the AL Central. We are fast approaching Memorial Day, my theoretical time to start paying attention to the standings. Well, the Twins have an eight-game lead on the Indians. If the Tribe's current losing streak continues, Minnesota might have a double-digit lead by the holiday.

Wowzers.