Watching the Twins on an off night
It's easy to think of the Twins as trailing on the back end of the four-team scrum of the AL Central, especially when you look past Johan Santana at the rest of the rotation. Tuesday night was a very good example why they're still a team to contend with.
Boof Bonser doesn't cut it as a No. 2 starter for a lot of critics, and even I'd admit he doesn't have nearly the stuff of his Orioles counterpart tonight, Daniel Cabrera. The O's got his pitch count up, and Melvin Mora tagged him for a home run, but he never gave up the big inning. He was spent after six innings -- but wait, these are the Twins, and they still have the same names in the bullpen.
Meanwhile, Cabrera struck out nine batters in seven innings, including the side in one inning, and he didn't allow an extra-base hit. But in Cabrera fashion, even he doesn't know where his pitches are going, so he ends up walking four and giving up six singles. With Ramon Hernandez and Paul Bako hurt, the Twins steal five bases off Alberto Castillo (including Joe Mauer off startled ex-Tiger Jamie Walker) to set up runs, the last of which a Jason Tyner swipe in which he tripped short of second and still had time to crawl to the bag. Jason Bartlett drives him in with a broken-bat blooper, and four relievers make it stand. It's still Twins baseball, winning on all singles, and it's still a chore for teams to handle when they're at the Metrodome.
I don't think the Twins are necessarily set for a fall. At least one of these four teams in the Central is going to have a really disappointing year, because there probably aren't enough wins to go around to get all of these clubs over .500. But I don't know which team it's going to be. I do know I would probably prefer a dome for tomorrow's Tigers game, but that's a weather matter.
I keep mentioning to anyone who'll listen(and they are few and far between......lol), that the Twins will not be "out" of any race, for one reason: Santana.
He can easily pitch the Twins to a 26-6 record on the days he starts(that won't be his record, but with the Twins bullpen, and Santana's dominace, this is a reality), and all the Twins have to do 4 days out of 5 is play .500 ball, and they finish 91-71!
Yup, they play average baseball 4 days out of 5, and Santana alone pushes them to over 90 wins.
No one else in MLB has such a weapon. Combine that with their ability to manufacture runs, still hit a dinger or two, and once again, they will "sneak up" on folks.
Report any abuse or spam
I never count the Twins out of anything, especially as long as they play in that dome. I still see it as Detroit vs Minnesota, with Chicago or Cleveland the "other" contender. Without doing the actual math on the possbility, you could have all four teams contending if it became one of those years when 90 wins bags the division. Think AL West for the longest time.
When you play the Twins, you have to expect that they're going to do that garbage they do, the whole "Punto's Pirrhanas" thing, and you just have to try to keep your cool about it. Don't get knocked off your game because you don't seem to get any breaks. I've seen that infect many Twins opponents, our guys very much included. "July 30, 2006, a day that will live in infamy."
Report any abuse or spam
I can't even begin to tell you how painful that July 30th game was to be at. Even the Twins' fans I was with didn't think they deserved to win the game.
It makes you wonder how much of their advantage they're going to lose in a couple years when they move into their new park. No more dome balls, no more seeing eye hits that would be routine grounders in other parks... It makes me smile just thinking about it.
Report any abuse or spam
I'd say Rod Gardenhire better win that Manager of the Year in the next two seasons. After that, he's out of luck when they move outside.
That July 30 game, even the Twins announcer seemed embarassed about it. Wish I could remember his name, pretty good announcer.
Report any abuse or spam