Sink or Swim: The Next Stretch of 15 Games...

[PseudoSABR]

[TABLE=class: tablehead, width: 922]

[TR=class: evenrow team-10-26, bgcolor: transparent]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1]Fri, May 23[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1, align: left]

• @
  
• San Francisco
  

[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1, align: right]10:15 PM[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1, align: center][/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1]Gibson (4-3)[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1]Lincecum (3-3)[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1, colspan: 2][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: oddrow team-10-26]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent]Sat, May 24[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent, align: left]

• @
  
• San Francisco
  

[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent, align: right]10:05 PM[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent, align: center][/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent]Nolasco (2-4)[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent]Vogelsong (2-2)[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent, colspan: 2][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: evenrow team-10-26, bgcolor: transparent]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1]Sun, May 25[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1, align: left]

• @
  
• San Francisco
  

[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1, align: right]4:05 PM[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1, align: center][/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1]Deduno (1-2)[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1]Bumgarner (5-3)[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1, colspan: 2][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: oddrow team-10-13]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent]Mon, May 26[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent, align: left]

• vs
  
• Texas
  

[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent, align: right]2:10 PM[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent, align: center][/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent]Correia (2-5)[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent]Tepesch (1-0)[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent, colspan: 2][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: evenrow team-10-13, bgcolor: transparent]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1]Tue, May 27[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1, align: left]

• vs
  
• Texas
  

[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1, align: right]8:10 PM[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1, align: center][/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1]Hughes (5-1)[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1]Darvish (3-2)[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1, colspan: 2][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: oddrow team-10-13]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent]Wed, May 28[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent, align: left]

• vs
  
• Texas
  

[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent, align: right]8:10 PM[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent, align: center][/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent]Gibson (4-3)[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent]Baker (0-0)[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent, colspan: 2][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: evenrow team-10-13, bgcolor: transparent]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1]Thu, May 29[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1, align: left]

• vs
  
• Texas
  

[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1, align: right]1:10 PM[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1, align: center][/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1]Nolasco (2-4)[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1]Martinez (0-1)[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1, colspan: 2][/TD]

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[TR=class: oddrow team-10-10]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent]Fri, May 30[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent, align: left]

• @
  
• NY Yankees
  

[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent, align: right]7:05 PM[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent, align: center][/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent]Deduno (1-2)[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent]Nuno (1-1)[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent, colspan: 2][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: evenrow team-10-10, bgcolor: transparent]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1]Sat, May 31[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1, align: left]

• @
  
• NY Yankees
  

[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1, align: right]1:05 PM[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1, align: center][/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1]Correia (2-5)[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1]Tanaka (6-1)[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1, colspan: 2][/TD]

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[TR=class: colhead, bgcolor: transparent]

JUNE

[TD=width: 20%]OPPONENT[/TD]

[TD=width: 10%, align: right]TIME (ET)[/TD]

[TD=width: 10%, align: center]TV[/TD]

[TD=width: 14%]MIN PITCHER[/TD]

[TD=width: 14%]OPP. PITCHER[/TD]

[TD=width: 22%, colspan: 2][/TD]

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[TR=class: oddrow team-10-10]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent]Sun, Jun 1[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent, align: left]

• @
  
• NY Yankees
  

[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent, align: right]1:05 PM[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent, align: center][/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent]Hughes (5-1)[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent][/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent, colspan: 2][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: evenrow team-10-8, bgcolor: transparent]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1]Mon, Jun 2[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1, align: left]

• @
  
• Milwaukee
  

[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1, align: right]7:20 PM[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1, align: center][/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1]Gibson (4-3)[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1]Garza (2-4)[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1, colspan: 2][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: oddrow team-10-8]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent]Tue, Jun 3[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent, align: left]

• @
  
• Milwaukee
  

[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent, align: right]8:10 PM[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent, align: center][/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent]Nolasco (2-4)[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent]Estrada (3-2)[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent, colspan: 2][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: evenrow team-10-8, bgcolor: transparent]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1]Wed, Jun 4[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1, align: left]

• vs
  
• Milwaukee
  

[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1, align: right]8:10 PM[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1, align: center][/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1][/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1][/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #F1F1F1, colspan: 2][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: oddrow team-10-8]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent]Thu, Jun 5[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent, align: left]

• vs
  
• Milwaukee
  

[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent, align: right]8:10 PM[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent, align: center][/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent][/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent][/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: transparent, colspan: 2][/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

[SydneyTwinsFan]

I can see 6-8 and the rubber band still firmly in place at 29-29 by the end of this stretch.

[Brandon]

I can see the Twins going either 8-7 or 9-6 if they get lucky during this stretch.

[blairpaul715]

14-0 BABY!!!!!!! LOL............I would take 6-8 or better, we are better than I expected, Hughes has been HUGE!!!!

[PseudoSABR]

There's only fourteen games, for some reason I thought the Milwaukee split series was five games. Does the two-and-two thing happen every season?

 

In any case, this is the kind of stretch in recent years where the Twins have buckled; all of these teams are (at the very least, relatively) built to win now.

[Brock Beauchamp]

A lot of road games against a lot of tough teams in this stretch. I think they'll scrape by, losing a few more than they win and ending the stretch around .500, give or take a game.

 

We all thought they'd buckle against Detroit and Boston but they won both those series.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Given the SoS for April/May, I think most of us would have laughed had someone said they'd be 2 games above .500 near the end of May. This is definitely going to be a big test, but I'm to the point where I think they can do it. I think they'll still be within a game or two of .500 at the end of this.

[kdrupp09]

I think 6-8 sounds about right, they will likely lose at least 2 in New York because of the teams weird mental thing with the Yankees.

[GCTF]

Pseudo, your poll is missing an option.

 

[DaveW]

I will be at that Yankee series, so you can count those as three losses as the Twins have lost 21 of the last 22 games I have attended live.

[Gernzy]

We could easily win 8-9 games in this stretch. We seem to play the good teams very well.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I will be at that Yankee series, so you can count those as three losses as the Twins have lost 21 of the last 22 games I have attended live.

 

Damn. I knew your streak was bad. I didn't know it was that bad.

[twinsnorth49]

2-1 vs Giants

 

2-2 vs Texas

 

1-2 vs Yankees

 

2-2 vs Milwaukee.

 

7-7, although could see 1-3 vs Texas as quite possible to go 6-8. Either way if they came through that with 6 wins I'd be pretty happy.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Dave, please sell your tickets.

[nicksaviking]

Let's find a way for Hughes to skip that start at Yankee stadium. He's pitching well and I'm not much in the mood for gambling on his confidence by fighting a ghost and possibly losing.

 

Give the start to Pelfrey, with Corriea pitching the previous day, getting slaughtered once again at Yankee stadium in back-to-back daytime road games might be enough to give the dynamic duo the hook.

[PseudoSABR]

Pseudo, your poll is missing an option.

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]7535[/ATTACH]

I almost put rally monkey in parenthesis for the final option, but I worried the joke is too esoteric and old for most get it.

[Beezer07]

Whatever .500 is during this stretch, that's what the Twins will go. 1-2 against SF, 3-1 against Texas, 1-2 against NYY, 2-2 against Milwaukee.

 

If I had to pick teams where predictions go wrong...I could see 2-2 against Texas and 3-1 against Milwaukee

[D. Hocking]

I will be at that Yankee series, so you can count those as three losses as the Twins have lost 21 of the last 22 games I have attended live.

 

You have obviously angered some sports god at some point. Have you attended most of the Wolves lottery/draft functions, the infamous Vikings/New Orleans title game, the 1998-99 Vkings/Falcons game? It would explain a few things.

 

I say 6 and 8. I think they have been playing a little better than they are, but there are legitiamte improvements. I think they are moving in the right direction. I like how they have come back late in a number of games - not giving up.

[Tibs]

I went with swim. No real reason for it. The team is playing better lately, so we'll see what happens.

[AlwaysinModeration]

Where is the "dislike" button?

[AlwaysinModeration]

I will be at that Yankee series, so you can count those as three losses as the Twins have lost 21 of the last 22 games I have attended live.

 

Meant to reply to Dave about the dislike button. Post fail.

[gunnarthor]

I think 6-8 sounds about right, they will likely lose at least 2 in New York because of the teams weird mental thing with the Yankees.

 

I think the Twins are 5-5 in their last 10 games in NY, as weird as that seems.

[DaveW]

You have obviously angered some sports god at some point. Have you attended most of the Wolves lottery/draft functions, the infamous Vikings/New Orleans title game, the 1998-99 Vkings/Falcons game? It would explain a few things.

 

I say 6 and 8. I think they have been playing a little better than they are, but there are legitiamte improvements. I think they are moving in the right direction. I like how they have come back late in a number of games - not giving up.

 

I have been to 8 Vikings games, have yet to see them win a single game. (Never in the dome though)

 

0-3 when watching the T-pups.

 

Good news is I am above .500 when it comes to the Wild.

 

I was however at game 7 back in 91, so at the end of the day I will take 21 out of 22 losses any day

[TheLeviathan]

This team is finding some unique ways to win. I keep waiting for the wheels to fall off but some scrub finds a flukey stretch to carry the team and they keep squeaking them out. A .500 month this month is (strange as this sounds to some) a real testament to the coaching staff.

 

I think Bruno and Molly are adding a ton to this club right now.

[Beezer07]

This team is finding some unique ways to win. I keep waiting for the wheels to fall off but some scrub finds a flukey stretch to carry the team and they keep squeaking them out. A .500 month this month is (strange as this sounds to some) a real testament to the coaching staff.

 

I think Bruno and Molly are adding a ton to this club right now.

 

Plus Gardy's 3-year plan is finally showing returns.

[kdrupp09]

I think the Twins are 5-5 in their last 10 games in NY, as weird as that seems.

 

Wow, I was not aware of this, I just remember all the "good" years where we couldn't beat the Yankees even with Johan at his peak and the numerous sweeps in Division Round playoffs.

[PseudoSABR]

I think Bruno and Molly are adding a ton to this club right now.

Surrounding Gardy, who's been something of a player's coach, with coaches who have strategic and technical expertise seems to be paying off. I'm not sure how Molitor manages the clubhouse or personalities, but maybe the Twins have pretty optimal staff as is.

 

That Gardy's retirement vests at the end of this season seemed to lay the foundation for his departure, though that seems a bit premature now...

[VandyTwinsFan]

We all thought they'd buckle against Detroit and Boston but they won both those series.

 

Previous 15 Games:

2-0 Padres

2-1 Mariners

2-1 Red Sox

2-1 Tigers

1-3 Indians

 

I had that stretch plus the Dodgers and Orioles before it as a defining time period. Scouting reports on guys come out...batting averages start falling...pitches stop missing bats...team starts losing. Twins went 9-6. I'm converted. This team can play .500 ball. The Rangers are no longer scary. Yankees are also mediocre. The Twins can ball with those guys. I'll say 7-7.

[JB_Iowa]

Previous 15 Games:

2-0 Padres

2-1 Mariners

2-1 Red Sox

2-1 Tigers

1-3 Indians

 

Only losing against the Indians ... and the Tigers just went 0-3 against them.

 

I'll go 8-7 just for the fun of it. Don't think the rubber band will stretch much either way.

[stringer bell]

The stubborn fact is the worm is bound to turn a bit on close games. In the 9-6 stretch just completed the Twins won all of those games by one or two runs. They were outscored despite winning 60% of those games. Getting back a hitter or two will help. Having the starters and front line relievers pitching 90% of the innings will help. The roster chaos was at it's peak when the team was in Cleveland, but things have straightened out since then.