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MLB still is hoping to play 162 games, playing the postponed games at the back end of the schedule, but obviously subject to change.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 13, 2020
DECEMBER 25th, 2020-
As we close the book on another World Series, let’s take a look back at the sights and sounds from the historic Twins victory.
“AND WE’LL SEE YOU TOMORROW NIGHT!”
After Miguel Sano’s monster walk-off home run in Game 6, Joe Buck recycled his father’s famous call once again, but it finally felt right. The Twins had sent another World Series to seven games with a mammoth home run.
It was the first home run hit in the series, as the Twins-Cubs series has been played in an average temperature of 22 degrees. The most “northern” World Series in ages just happened to take place in the year that the deadly COVID-19 virus delayed the start of the season until June 1st, when Rob Manfred decided that shorter games were good, but under no circumstances could the season be shortened. The Twins barnstormed the league on their way to 104 wins, and then romped through American League playoff matchups with the Wild-Card Rangers (and Cy Young candidate Kyle Gibson) and the AL East Champion Rays. The ALCS was played over Thanksgiving weekend, which allowed many school children to attend the game. Mitch Garver (parka #8) was the ALCS MVP after he hit four home runs in one game, including two inside-the-parkers where Rays outfielder Austin Meadows couldn’t find the ball in the outfield snow.
The World Series went through a record amount of baseballs this year, despite the low amount of home runs hit. As balls became waterlogged or lost in the snow, they would have to be replaced. It became almost a one-pitch affair.
After Sergio Romo closed out the 9-inning, 7-pitcher 1-0 win for the Twins, Target Field went wild with Minnesota’s first title win since 1991. Romo announced his retirement post-game, before he ran in his boxers across the snow-laden field during the celebration. He was treated for frost-bite in his toes; he’s expected to make a full recovery.
Looking ahead to next year, the Twins will return almost their full squad from the World Series run. World Series MVP Nelson Cruz has already announced that he will be back for another year, but Eddie Rosario will likely walk in free agency after being overtaken by Trevor Larnach in the dog days of October. The upside of the season starting late is that this year will be the shortest off-season in our lifetimes, as pitchers and catchers report in just 72 days.