A 5-4 road trip

[Brock Beauchamp]

That was the last long road trip for the Twins this season (one road trip left, a seven game set). They had to square off against Houston, Kansas City, and the bad half of Chicago.

 

5-4 with a 3-3 record against KC and Houston on the road.

 

The Twins are somehow still in this thing and they continue to win ballgames. They might actually have a shot at this thing.

 

I'm still not sure how that happened, but it happened.

 

13 home games remaining with only seven more road games to play.

[bird]

Cleveland worries me.

[Aggies7]

Cleveland AND LA are right up our backs. Keep an eye on the Astros. I feel like the Astros are the kind of team that can go into a free fall, especially with the Rangers playing so well and those two teams still have a few series left together. Going to be a fun final three weeks.

[Blake]

Twins go on a tear, KC face-plants, Twins win the division.

 

(I also believe in Santa, the Tooth Fairy and the small of a woman's back)

[DaveW]

Cleveland AND LA are right up our backs. Keep an eye on the Astros. I feel like the Astros are the kind of team that can go into a free fall, especially with the Rangers playing so well and those two teams still have a few series left together. Going to be a fun final three weeks.

LA just had a massive choke. Were up 3-0, 2 outs, no one on in the 9th and lost 5-3.

 

Twins 2 up on LA and 3 up on Cleveland, just keep winning series and hope Texas stumbles a bit.

[D. Hocking]

I remember when we lost that last Yankee series, everyone was saying - don't panic -if we just win series from here on out, we can still be in this thing in a month.  This series in NY is just a small misstep and does not mean anything.  At least that s how I remember it happening.  I am sure rereading old posts would support that memory.

 

It is definitely nice to be in mid-September and for the Twins to be relevant.  The Vikings will be playing tomorrow night and I will care just as much or more about what is going on with Twins-Tigers. 

[DaveW]

Twins got lucky with some rain outs in the Dertoit series and we are avoiding verlander. All three games are extremely winnable. Go for the sweep! If that happens I think no matter what happens in the Rangers/Astros series the Twins would be at worst tied with the Rangers or one game back of Astros? (Or better!)

[twinssouth]

Played 2 division leaders and still came out of the road trip 5/4. Pretty impressive.

[Hrbowski]

I expect the Twins to win, so I was hoping for a 9-0 road trip.

[stringer bell]

They gained on Texas and Houston while on this trip. Now they need to gain some ground while at home. Cleveland is now .500 while playing a game tonight.

[jokin]

 

Cleveland worries me.

 

They gained on Texas and Houston while on this trip. Now they need to gain some ground while at home. Cleveland is now .500 while playing a game tonight.

 

 

And Cleveland should worry the Twins.  12-4 over the last 16 games, while the Twins are 9-7 in the same stretch.

7 head-to-head games left- four at Cleveland in the second to last series of the season.  The IIndians have much bettter pitching and hitting statistics, over the full season and the previous 3 weeks.  Of course, the Twins have defied the odds all season, no reason they can't continue as the Team of Destiny for the last 3 weeks. (The Indians/Tigers double rainout this weekend continues to keep the breaks working in the Twins favor).

[Willihammer]

The Comcast feed from Chicago was fun to listen to. Total deflation from Hawk. He really fawns over some Twins players tho, esp Hunter. I love how the Twins own Sale and the Whites in general lately.

[DaveW]

Cleveland is 3.5 back of the twins now. As long as the Twins can "split" with them I won't be worried. Too little, too late, not a good team anyways.

[jokin]

 

Cleveland is 3.5 back of the twins now. As long as the Twins can "split" with them I won't be worried. Too little, too late, not a good team anyways.

 

I dunno, their pitching, being fully healthy now, plus Brantley, Kipnis and the addition of Lindor make them a pretty decent team.- statistically much better team hitting and pitching numbers than the Twins.  One that will be a threat to the Twins for the next few years.  

 

But I think you're right that even just 3-4 head-to-head should be enough to hold them off.

[stringer bell]

Cleveland is 3.5 behind Minnesota, 4.5 behind Texas and 6 behind Houston. I do think they will be the toughest challenge going forward. I really don't think the Indians can win enough to get to the postseason, but winning four or five or more against the Twins would probably end Minnesota's season.

 

[nater79a]

 

Cleveland is 3.5 behind Minnesota, 4.5 behind Texas and 6 behind Houston. I do think they will be the toughest challenge going forward. I really don't think the Indians can win enough to get to the postseason, but winning four or five or more against the Twins would probably end Minnesota's season.

 

For sure. The Indians could be a thorn in the Twins' side.  But anytime you have to jump three teams in the standings it's incredibly tough. For the Indians to make the post-season they would need to get sizzling hot or hope three teams (Twins, Rangers, Angels) all go in the tank. 

[gocgo]

 

LA just had a massive choke. Were up 3-0, 2 outs, no one on in the 9th and lost 5-3.

Twins 2 up on LA and 3 up on Cleveland, just keep winning series and hope Texas stumbles a bit.

Rather than Texas stumbling, how about Houston falling on their face?  I could see Houston missing the playoffs.

[stringer bell]

Two standings-related factoids:  Minnesota (- games with Chicago) 61-62

                                                    Chicago  (- games with Minnesota)  61-61

 

                                                    Baltimore (- games with Minnesota) 69-66.

[Old Twins Cap]

Twins have to win games.  Period. 

 

Losing to anyone at this point would be a blow. 

[stringer bell]

 

 

Rather than Texas stumbling, how about Houston falling on their face?  I could see Houston missing the playoffs.

That's what I've been saying for awhile. Houston just had one of those near-miraculous rallies to win at LA. I don't know how far that will carry them, but it can't hurt. They are still a lousy road team and have ten left on the road. They play Texas seven times in the next 13 games, something will have to give.

[gocgo]

 

LA just had a massive choke. Were up 3-0, 2 outs, no one on in the 9th and lost 5-3.

Twins 2 up on LA and 3 up on Cleveland, just keep winning series and hope Texas stumbles a bit.

Or how about the Yankees going about 7-13 down the stretch and miss the playoffs altogether?  I'd take that.

[gocgo]

 

That's what I've been saying for awhile. Houston just had one of those near-miraculous rallies to win at LA. I don't know how far that will carry them, but it can't hurt. They are still a lousy road team and have ten left on the road. They play Texas seven times in the next 13 games, something will have to give.

You would hope so.  I think we want either one to go at least 5-2 in those remaining games.  We don't want a 4-3 split.

[Dantes929]

 Minnesota (- games with New York)  72-63.   

or better yet - games with New York and Toronto 70-58  

Not really going anywhere with this.

[stringer bell]

25 games ago the Twins started on a road trip that would be the first part of 19 out of 25 games being on the road. Of the six teams they played on the road, five were postseason contenders. In that 25 games, the Twins have won 60%, playing perhaps their best sustained ball on the road all season. If the Twins win 60% of their remaining games, they will have a record of 86-76, right on the cusp for postseason. Since they play 13 of their final 20 at home, I think that number is doable, maybe even a bit better.

[stringer bell]

 

 

 Minnesota (- games with New York)  72-63.   

or better yet - games with New York and Toronto 70-58  

Not really going anywhere with this.

My point was that while the Twins handled both Chicago and Baltimore, against the rest of the league, those two teams have been the equal to the Twins. Chicago is done, and Baltimore probably is, as well.

[Blake]

On another note, I think the Twins need to find a way to sit Brian Dozier for a game or two. I think Dozier is worn down and needs a break.

 

Which leads me to what I think was a serious managerial mistake by Moliltor. Dozier should have been rested more earlier in the season when the Twins could have afforded to have Dozier out of the lineup.

 

(Last year's post All Star performance by Brian Dozier should have been an indicator)

 

This late in the season isn't the time to take Mr. Dozier out of the lineup but, unfortunately, I think it needs to be done.

[Dantes929]

 

On another note, I think the Twins need to find a way to sit Brian Dozier for a game or two. I think Dozier is worn down and needs a break.

 

Which leads me to what I think was a serious managerial mistake by Moliltor. Dozier should have been rested more earlier in the season when the Twins could have afforded to have Dozier out of the lineup.

 

(Last year's post All Star performance by Brian Dozier should have been an indicator)

 

This late in the season isn't the time to take Mr. Dozier out of the lineup but, unfortunately, I think it needs to be done.

You can easily put Nunez and Escobar in the middle and give Dozier a break if needed.    Nunez has had a much better year than Dozier's 2nd half.so statistically he should be in there full time and Dozier relegated to utility status.    I am not endorsing this but the idea that we can't sit a struggling player has hurt us in the past and just goes against all logic..   In 2008 we may have lost the division because Morneau played 163 games plus the all star game plus the home run derby.  Ended up batting .171 the last 16 games of the season.   I've never cared for the idea that stars play better than replacement when hurt or fatigued and in Dozier's case, his whole 2nd half is pretty bad.    A breather at the very minimum is in order. 

[Dman]

 

On another note, I think the Twins need to find a way to sit Brian Dozier for a game or two. I think Dozier is worn down and needs a break.

 

Which leads me to what I think was a serious managerial mistake by Moliltor. Dozier should have been rested more earlier in the season when the Twins could have afforded to have Dozier out of the lineup.

 

(Last year's post All Star performance by Brian Dozier should have been an indicator)

 

This late in the season isn't the time to take Mr. Dozier out of the lineup but, unfortunately, I think it needs to be done.

 

I have been thinking the same thing.  Dozier has been brutal at the plate for a while now.  Power is down.  Walks are down. BA is down.  The only thing steady is the defense.  His bat feels like it has been a rally killer.  When he comes up in an important spot I cringe. Keep hoping he busts out again but maybe some time on the bench might help.

[nicksaviking]

In terms of the Twins winning games down the stretch, Cleveland's pitching staff is frightening. They're young though, hopefully they are wearing down. 

 

I'm most worried about the Angels series.  They always seem to be the West Coast version of the Yankees for the Twins.

[SwainZag]

 

On another note, I think the Twins need to find a way to sit Brian Dozier for a game or two. I think Dozier is worn down and needs a break.

 

Which leads me to what I think was a serious managerial mistake by Moliltor. Dozier should have been rested more earlier in the season when the Twins could have afforded to have Dozier out of the lineup.

 

(Last year's post All Star performance by Brian Dozier should have been an indicator)

 

This late in the season isn't the time to take Mr. Dozier out of the lineup but, unfortunately, I think it needs to be done.

 

I'm not sure I believe rest in the early season will lead to better play months later.  Realistically if Molitor would have given Dozier 2 games extra off each month from April-July, would he really have that much more...energy months later?  I just don't think that's how it works, especially for position players.