Tough Stretch of Schedule -Comparisons to Same Matchups in 2011 and 2010
Since the 2012 Twins challenging early portion of the schedule is cited as one of the reasons for the team's poor start, I was curious to see if the Twins struggled as mightily in the same matchups played in the same ballparks in 2011 and 2010. Here's the comparison:
2012: 5-14, 71 runs scored, 109 runs given up
2011: 6-13, 73 runs scored, 90 runs given up
2010: 11-8, 79 runs scored, 61 runs given up*
*The Twins only played 3 games in New York in 2010 as opposed to 4 played there this year. I substituted the first Yankee game played at Target Field in order to have the same number of games.
It's sort of yes and no in that regard. The Twins only won one game more versus these opponents last year but surrendered a full run less per game than this year's team. Perhaps last year's team had already approached the point where the run disparity to win probability slope against good teams flattens out. What we should be alarmed about is that the pitching decline will have a more profound impact on the chances of winning versus the Kansas City's of the world.