It depends if you want a real answer, a sarcastic answer or an irreverent one.
Actually, all three have the same answer: play four games against the Royals. After going 2-4 in the games leading into the series against Kansas City, a four-game sweep of the division bottom-dweller is exactly as the proverbial doctor ordered. Fortunately for us, things turned out better than the last time we played the boys in blue.
For the first time in the history of the Twins, Minnesota swept a four-game series in Kauffman Stadium. They did it with a metaphorically limping rotation, a literally limping Jason Kubel and an almost limping Torii Hunter. You could go on and on about how "not normal" this series was, but at the end of it all we're 4-0...and that's the best news there is.
Series At A Glance
Twins Stat Royals
56 Hits 35
41 Runs 15
1 Err 4
5 HR 2
19 XBH 8
18 K 30
41 BB 11
Certainly, the fact that the Royals are fielding a bad team isn't any sort of a surprise...but they aren't this bad. Really, they aren't, I promise. A team fielding nine replacement-level players won't lose a four-game series with an average score of 10-4.
It's not as if this series was all roses for the Twins, either. Brad Radke, he of the oh-my-gawd-I-have-to-cringe-please-don't-let-his-arm-fall-off-on-this-pitch ilk, looked solid in his start. Santana, other than leaving a few not-so-choice two-strike pitches up in the zone, really wasn't that bad; even if he wasn't THE Santana. Silva was alright as well, going six and some change in game three. Finally, Mike Smith pitched three interesting innings, but the Twins bullpen managed to hold the Royals to only one run in the final six innings.
Did I say the series wasn't all roses? Because after writing what I just did...I'm not so sure. Things weren't ideal...but you couldn't really hope for any better. Let's just say that the offense and the bullpen gave their starters some support when things weren't going as smoothly as they would have liked.
Before And After
A few lines from a few of your favorite Twins; before and AFTER a set against Kansas City.
Luis Castillo
AVG OBP SLG
Before .275 .336 .364
After .286 .345 .374
Joe Mauer
AVG OBP SLG
Before .365 .437 .518
After .365 .445 .525
Torii Hunter
AVG OBP SLG
Before .275 .349 .451
After .280 .353 .460
Michael Cuddyer
AVG OBP SLG
Before .265 .347 .485
After .270 .359 .503
Jason Bartlett
AVG OBP SLG
Before .348 .417 .461
After .377 .443 .497
Justin Morneau
AVG OBP SLG
Before .319 .367 .596
After .321 .376 .599
The Detroit Tigers
Freaks. They're all freaks. And I mean that in the BEST way possible. Pudge hits a walk-off homer. Inge scores one run on a Monroe single, and that's the only run of the game. Todd Jones SOMEHOW KEEPS GETTING SAVES. Joel Zumaya, and who he could be as early as next year when he gains control of that 300 mph fastball, makes me want to crap my pants. If you haven't figured it out, news flash: The Detroit Tigers are for real.
Over the next seven days the Twins face yet another week-long test; three games against the Tigers followed by four against the faultering Blue Jays. All of the so-called "experts", from those on Baseball Tonight to our very own Sid Hartman, believe the Twins simply aren't good enough to make the playoffs. Yes, they believe this in spite of the Twins being exactly 0.5 games out of the Wild Card. Of course it's all just "prediction" and speculation, to cause a ruckus and debate and so that should things go as they professed they can say "See? I told you." The fact that I brought it up is some sort of victory for them, I suppose, but honestly...giving a team that's half a game out of a playoff spot zero chance of a postseason berth is a bit premature.
But that, and Sid Hartman, is a tangent I'll save for another day (probably tomorrow). Detroit (remember? I was talking about them just a minute ago) is 20-11 since July 1, which is basically the rate they've been winning at all season. They aren't slowing down, their offense has some pop and they still boast Major League Baseball's lowest ERA by more than 1/3 of a run. A series victory for the Twins will require more over-achieving by our beloved Rochester callups, more spectacular performances by the bullpen, a couple of solid starts from whatever is left of the rotation and hopefully another Jeremy Bonderman meltdown on Wednesday.
Hold on for a bumpy ride.