The Bottom Line: Twins Struggle to Hold Leads VS Yankees
by Jesse on Oct 11, 2009 11:04 PM EDT
in Game Recaps
56 comments
Twins 1, Yankees 4
Every game of this series saw the Twins take a lead. In game one it was 2-0. In game two it was 1-0...and then 3-1. Tonight it was 1-0, again. And with the exception of game one, which was all Yankees all the time after the top of the third inning, games two and three could have been won by the Twins if only they could lock it down.
Nick Blackburn pitched very well in game two. And back home, Carl Pavano pitched an absolute gem in game three. Pavano struck out nine Yankee hitters in seven innings, walked nobody and allowed just five hits. Sadly, two of those hits came in the top of the seventh, when Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada each went deep.
Ron Mahay, Jon Rauch and Jose Mijares each walked a batter in the ninth, loading the bases for Joe Nathan with just one out. Nick Punto ignored a stop sign and was thrown out as he tried to dive back to third base. Jason Kubel upped his strikeout total to nine in the series. It's hard not to be a little bitter right now, to not have a sour taste in your mouth, but if you're looking to point a finger for the outcome of this series it can only be pointed at the team we love. And somehow, that makes it even worse.
It was a spectacular season. And that's all I'm going to say for tonight. No analysis, no name-calling, no wallowing in misery. The Minnesota Twins are the AL Central Division champions, and they played their tails off to earn that title. But the fact that I feel like I do only goes to show me how much this team means to me, and I already know that by tomorrow morning I'll be looking forward to the off-season, with the hope that next year...next year...might be the season we finally bring home the World Series trophy.
Congratulations to the New York Yankees, who advance to the ALCS. They made the plays they needed to make, and they took advantage of every single mistake the Twins made in this series. Which is exactly what you expect a championship-caliber team to do, big market or small markeet. Or mid-market, in Minnesota's case.
Thanks for a great season, everybody. I'll see you tomorrow.
Stars of the Game
Joe Mauer: Playing the role of MVP, Joe picked up the Twins' lone RBI of the night.
Denard Span: Two hits for the leadoff guy, along with a stolen base. Solid night.
Michael Cuddyer: A pair of hits for Cuddles, who also had a strong night.
Matt Guerrier: A big scoreless eighth inning.
Carl Pavano: Seven innings of fantastic ball, it was the best I've seen him all year. I definitely would like to see him back next season.
Tears
Nick Punto: After starting a rally with a leadoff double in the eighth, he ran through a stop sign from Scott Ulger on Span's chopper up the middle. It killed a rally the team desperately needed.
Brendan Harris: Hitless in big spots tonight.
Jose Morales: Looked overmatched at times; still looking forward to seeing him as Joe's backup next season.
Jason Kubel: Overmatched at all times. Nine strikeouts in the series with three more tonight. Extremely disappointing, sorry Patches.
Ron Mahay, Jon Rauch, Jose Mijares: Walking the bases loaded, with the team on the ropes. It doesn't get any worse than that, it really doesn't.
Respect
Alex Rodrigez: I hate the fact that you're such a great ballplayer. I liked him before he came to New York. Like a lot of players.
Andy Pettitte: Pitched a great game. One of the all-time great post-season pitchers.
Mariano Rivera: Continues to amaze, even at this point of his career. His buzz-saw of Mauer to end the Minnesota threat in the eighth was sick.
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Mauer Extension watch Day 1 begins tomorrow
And to a lesser extent will Cabrera and Pavano stay or go
by Hjorvarthr on Oct 11, 2009 11:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Not able to hold leads...
Not taking advantage of runners on base and base running errors (Punto I think the world of ya, but WTH was that?!)
Those three things really did in the Twins.
That and someone kidnapped Jason Kubel while someone else told A-Rod he was allowed to hit in the postseason.
Still though a great end to the season and I’m still proud of the Twins.
by Art_M on Oct 11, 2009 11:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
A-Rod and Kubel switched minds
in a wacky comedy movie situation
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Oct 11, 2009 11:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Newest Rockie fan
right here
Son, when you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose: it's how drunk you get. ~Homer Simpson
by thewild_viking_twins on Oct 11, 2009 11:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Angels all the way!
Cheering for the Rockies in the NL, dunno if it is Angels/Rockies World Series
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Oct 11, 2009 11:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I'd still have to stick with the Angels.
mostly because I want to AL to win every time (unless it’s the Yankees), but I also wouldn’t mind seeing Torii get his ring.
"Baseball doesn't owe me a thing. I owe my whole life to baseball." -Kirby Puckett
by fischean on Oct 11, 2009 11:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pavano...seriously impressive tonight.
He was clearly out to show the Yankees that he’s still got it. And when he’s healthy, he just might. I hope he comes back next year.
With that: GO ANGELS!!!! I hope they sweep the Yankees in blowout games every night.
"Baseball doesn't owe me a thing. I owe my whole life to baseball." -Kirby Puckett
by fischean on Oct 11, 2009 11:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
+1
I agree with everything you just said!
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
—Hasta la victoria siempre ¡Patria o Muerte! –Ernesto "Che" Guevara
by less cowbell, more 'neau on Oct 11, 2009 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
haha, go figure!
:)
"Baseball doesn't owe me a thing. I owe my whole life to baseball." -Kirby Puckett
by fischean on Oct 11, 2009 11:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
right is right
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
—Hasta la victoria siempre ¡Patria o Muerte! –Ernesto "Che" Guevara
by less cowbell, more 'neau on Oct 11, 2009 11:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
Pavano was great tonight
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Oct 11, 2009 11:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Do you think he pitched well enough...
…for the Yankees to buy him back?
I know, but it had to be said.
by MNPundit on Oct 11, 2009 11:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks, I needed that
I smiled! I was not expecting that so soon!
by by jiminy on Oct 12, 2009 12:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
As far as the poll goes Angels all the way!
Torii Hunter and Nick Adenhart. Plus in a way, they remind me of a better version of the Twins. So GO HALOS!
But my allegiance is to the Twins. I’m still proud of them. After so many wrote them off in July and August and declared them dead, they are still Central Division Champs! It’s better to have lost in the playoffs than never to have been in them at all.
WE WILL be back next year, and better than ever!
GO TWINS!!!
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
—Hasta la victoria siempre ¡Patria o Muerte! –Ernesto "Che" Guevara
by less cowbell, more 'neau on Oct 11, 2009 11:16 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
I will +1 you lots.
and rec you. The Angels=bigger market Twins. Really like them a lot.
"Baseball doesn't owe me a thing. I owe my whole life to baseball." -Kirby Puckett
by fischean on Oct 11, 2009 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wasn't supposed to be like this
Seems like we were matching up great then everything fell apart. Too many mental errors and missed chances. Stinks that this series will be all that the media will remember of the season. Kate Hudsen must be good post season mojo for A-Rod cause he looked better than usual.
by doug84 on Oct 11, 2009 11:24 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs
I can't talk at this point. (literally)
I’ll share my thoughts from section 114 tomorrow.
Damn shame, though.
I always loved that one.
by FoulJack on Oct 11, 2009 11:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
You guys have nothing to be down about
Angel fan checking in; we’ve been “Denkingered” in the past too, and it hurts like hell to see the Evil Empire get the benefit. Our boys will do their level best to make sure the thieving ends there starting Friday.
I’ve respected the Twins franchise and Ron Gardenhire ever since we faced you guys in ’02, and to see the team fight back and overtake the Tigers in the last week and game 163 was absolutely incredible, especially without having Morneau in the lineup. If nothing else, it was a hell of a way to say goodbye to the Metrodome. The Cabrera taunting was a nice touch too.
Congratulations on a great season; I’m just sorry it had to end the way it did.
Rally Monkey, Rally Rat...only ten more Halo Rally animals to complete the Chinese Zodiac.
by BigKahunaMan on Oct 12, 2009 12:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Good Luck Angels!
I’m rarely rooting for the home team now that I’m in CA but everytime I’ve driven down to see a Twins v Angels series I’ve had a great time. Angels fans are top notch.
Go gettem’
Win Angels!
by caluofmn on Oct 12, 2009 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Respect for the Twins
These are very tough losses, in very close games. Deeply disappointing — but not the soul-crushing, hate-everything kind of losses of years past. I think the Twins won some respect around the country this week. Except for the no-sleep game, it was clear these games could go either way down to the last inning, and it was not the mismatch many people assumed.
The more painful losses to me were the ones in previous years where the Yankees seemed to expose the Twins as pretenders, champs of a lesser division that really wasn’t in their league. But I really didn’t feel that this time. I think the Twins showed the world that they are a good team.
In game 2, it took a $300 million free agent and a $180 million free agent to beat them. That was the difference — and even then, it required a bad call and a baserunning blunder to put the game away.
I wasn’t sure what would happen going into this series. I thought the Twins might get blown out. But they didn’t. I leave the season with my head up.
I leave thinking, yes the Yanks scored the most runs in the league — but the Twins were fourth.
I leave knowing that the Twins had real problems with both the starting rotation and the bullpen all year — and still gave up just twelve more runs than the Yankees did.
I leave feeling like this was a genuinely good matchup, that was entertaining to watch, between two very different but very good teams.
The Yankees had a few too many superstar sluggers — but they needed them all, and it still wasn’t a sure thing.
This was no humiliation, no embarrassing mismatch. Despite the sweep, I leave with more pride in the Twins than I had going in. I don’t fear the Yankees. I only wish we could play them a few more times. Like again in the playoffs next year.
by by jiminy on Oct 12, 2009 12:33 AM EDT reply actions 3 recs
+1
That’s a great way to sum up the end of the Twins season.
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Oct 12, 2009 1:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This...is really good.
Well done. Really.
"Baseball doesn't owe me a thing. I owe my whole life to baseball." -Kirby Puckett
by fischean on Oct 12, 2009 1:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I want to root for the Angels..
but I’m sick of seeing former Minnesota stars win championships in other cities…it’s like the only way they can do it.
Percy Harvin is my dealer.
by y2jayjk on Oct 12, 2009 1:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Why does everyone forget the fact that these guys were on steroids?...
…and are still in the league. Worse than what Pete Rose did IMO.
BetterLaettner
by BetterLaettnerThanRider on Oct 12, 2009 1:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Incredible
Incredibly tough to take this time. The worst was how we clearly could play with them, but squandered great pitching. It was painful to watch the Twins’ RISP bats totally fall apart in the playoffs for the 6th time this decade. It was painful to watch Gardenhire over-manage his bullpen into oblivion and under-manage his defensive outfield. It was painful to watch one of our star hitters totally implode and one of our other star hitters revert to swing-at-all-fastballs mode. It was even more painful to watch them make critical and disastrous base running mistakes (the media hasn’t figured it out yet, but this team hasn’t “done the little things right” in years now. Team baserunning has sucked for several years.)
That was a fun ride, but I’m glad it’s over in a way. I said after Punto’s disaster in the 8th, “if the Twins win this game, they better win the whole damn thing, because I don’t want to spend whole bunches of time watching them play like this if they aren’t going all the way.”
"You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the damn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all."
~ Earl Weaver
"In God we trust. All others must provide evidence."
~ Billy Beane
by AdamOnFirst on Oct 12, 2009 4:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Watching Blackie's great performance on Friday night
and then Pavano’s excellent game last night just…squandered still makes me a little sad inside. But you know, if nothing else, it gives us a lot of hope for next year.
The baserunning gaffes over the past couple of games, too…just unacceptable for a playoff team. :\
"Baseball doesn't owe me a thing. I owe my whole life to baseball." -Kirby Puckett
by fischean on Oct 12, 2009 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
A certain finger raised
to all those high payroll teams. Watch Boston whine about being outspent & the Angels to clam up as long as their winning.
A fond farewell to the Metrodome as well. I can still remember my first game there and the sheer brilliance of the field and smell of beer in the bleachers.
by Jernskogen on Oct 12, 2009 4:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Lots of ???
I thought our starting pitching was excellent for the post season, but this series left me with some questions for the off season.
Do we keep Pavano? Will he hold up for a whole season again?
Can Blackburn have an entire season like September?
Will the Twins sign an ace to the rotation?
O-Cab?
When and how much for Mauer?
What to do about the bullpen, Lirano, Boof, etc.?
Now that the Twins are out I think I’ll be focusing on the Vikings and whoever beats the Yankees.
by Tuba on Oct 12, 2009 9:59 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
If the Twins are going to sign a big name pitcher
might I suggest a John Lackey who is still pitching in the post season…
Sorry Angels fan, I’m on your bandwagon but he will get alot of attention this offseason.
by caluofmn on Oct 12, 2009 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Are Sheets, Prior, Hardin worth taking a shot on? If they get a Crede type contract for one of these guys I say go for it. If the asking price is too high or Boras is just being a DB forget it. I like Lackey but I think his price will be too high.
by Tuba on Oct 12, 2009 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
Agreed on going for a high risk, high reward player with an incentive laden contract. I also would like Lackey but think he will be out of our price range.
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Oct 12, 2009 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Keep Pavano? I think last night proved that we should consider him, at the very least.
Blackie? He’s so touch and go sometimes, but I hope he’s able to settle into that kind of pitching all year next year.
"Baseball doesn't owe me a thing. I owe my whole life to baseball." -Kirby Puckett
by fischean on Oct 12, 2009 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Blackburn is a fantastic number four guy
who can sometimes pitch like a two or more regularly a three. And he eats up innings; he’s now led the staff in IP two years in a row.
I like him a lot, and as long as he can play on his extremes I’m happy to keep him around.
by Jesse on Oct 12, 2009 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
that points out the mistake going into this season...
The Twins had some nice pitchers but no real 1. There were just too many questions.
I’d like to see Pavano stay if it doesn’t break the bank. I’d also like to see Perkins moved on to another team.
Then we can see the Twins go into the spring with Baker, Pavano, Slowey, Blackie, and Duensing.
by caluofmn on Oct 12, 2009 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
those five, yeah -- AND a number one
I like those five guys, but not one of them would be the favorite in just about any matchup with the Yankees. Like you said, we still need a real number 1 — someone people are actually afraid of.
by by jiminy on Oct 12, 2009 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Like you said, we still need a real number 1 — someone people are actually afraid of.
We have that in Bobby Keppel.
Oh, wait. You mean someone that the other team is afraid of…
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Oct 12, 2009 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
how about we split the difference
with someone both teams are afraid of…
now pitching for the Minnesota Twins…Nuke Laloosh!
by caluofmn on Oct 12, 2009 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't know about that...
My thoughts on Bobby Keppel were more along the lines of Number Two.
"There are only two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein
by BeefMaster on Oct 12, 2009 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Torii deserves one
I can’ t believe how close the vote is! How could people on this site choose allegiance to the Yankees?!
I’m rooting big time for Torii Hunter the rest of the way. If any non-Twin deserves a title, it’s him.
by ericj69 on Oct 12, 2009 4:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I find it very hard to believe
That any real Twins fan could root for the evil empire. They represent everything that is wrong in MLB, a big name, moneyball team of egos. It’s got to be casual fans who think Jeter is “cute”
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
—Hasta la victoria siempre ¡Patria o Muerte! –Ernesto "Che" Guevara
by less cowbell, more 'neau on Oct 12, 2009 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Poll question
How can a team from the NL be your allegiance for the ALCS?
"There are only two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein
by BeefMaster on Oct 12, 2009 5:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Don't harsh me with your semantics, dude.
Answer: I don’t know. I just write the questions.
by Jesse on Oct 15, 2009 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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