Playoff Prospects

[DesertTwinsFan]

What a fun season it's been! This team is entertaining and so easy to like. The playoffs seem a sure thing now, in some form. The 12 game string against Boston-Cleveland-Washington-Cleveland will say a lot.

 

My concern is that the Twins have a losing record against teams above .500. They are 26-31 against those 10 opponents: NYY-Tampa-Boston-Cleveland-Houston-Oakland-Atlanta-Philadelphia-Mets-Brewers, with winning records only vs. Tampa and Houston (that's a nice one) and split with Brewers. To their credit, they are above .700 vs. losing records and have won every one of those series.

 

Although they could end up with winning (or split) records vs. 3 more teams, if they burn through those 12 games mentioned above, I find it hard to see them winning three series in a row against playoff teams given their current record vs. them.

 

Anyone have a good argument to give me hope?

[USAFChief]

Anyone have a good argument to give me hope?

Their first postseason series will be against a team that doesnt have an above .500 record. The team they play will be 0-0.

[twinssporto]

Once the playoffs arrive its anyone's game.  You can look at stats til the cows come home but the team that goes far is the team that gets hot during those games. History is littered with big regular season winners that choked or got cold during the playoffs.  

 

That's what makes watching the playoffs so fun. It's anyones game to win...They are all great teams.  My recommendation to you is; go into the playoffs with confidence and no fear. Personally, I think we are going to the World Series.  If we blow it all in September or the first round of the playoffs I'm going to survive. I've been a Twins fan my whole life and literally had to grind out the last 10 years as a fan. This has been one of the most entertaining seasons I can remember.  Fun! Finally!

 

Go Twins!

[Doomtints]

I think the Twins will finish the season on an upswing.

 

As for the playoffs, this team might be flying so high from smashing so many power records they might just barrel over everybody in the AL and get challenged for the first time in the WS. If this happens, baseball will truly enter a new era, if it hasn't already, where teams chase power and pitching is a mere afterthought.

 

But, more likely, the competition in the playoffs will be largely unimpressed by the power and will shut down the Twins offense.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

 

What a fun season it's been! This team is entertaining and so easy to like. The playoffs seem a sure thing now, in some form. The 12 game string against Boston-Cleveland-Washington-Cleveland will say a lot.

 

My concern is that the Twins have a losing record against teams above .500. They are 26-31 against those 10 opponents: NYY-Tampa-Boston-Cleveland-Houston-Oakland-Atlanta-Philadelphia-Mets-Brewers, with winning records only vs. Tampa and Houston (that's a nice one) and split with Brewers. To their credit, they are above .700 vs. losing records and have won every one of those series.

 

Although they could end up with winning (or split) records vs. 3 more teams, if they burn through those 12 games mentioned above, I find it hard to see them winning three series in a row against playoff teams given their current record vs. them.

 

Anyone have a good argument to give me hope?

I think I can, I think I can.

[stringer bell]

I won't say that games against other contenders are meaningless, but what matters is how well a team is playing in October. By almost all measures, the Twins were among the very best in April and May. They haven't played as well since. The Astro team the Twins faced isn't the same as the team they might face in the playoffs and the Yankees will probably be as close to full strength as they have been all year. 

 

They key, IMHO, is to pitch well. If Odorizzi, Pineda and the rest of the rotation can pitch like they did earlier, they have more than a chance. It is pretty hard to predict what will happen. Playing at the highest level possible is needed to emerge a champion.

[twinssporto]

 

I think the Twins will finish the season on an upswing.

 

As for the playoffs, this team might be flying so high from smashing so many power records they might just barrel over everybody in the AL and get challenged for the first time in the WS. If this happens, baseball will truly enter a new era, if it hasn't already, where teams chase power and pitching is a mere afterthought.

 

But, more likely, the competition in the playoffs will be largely unimpressed by the power and will shut down the Twins offense.

I like the first paragraph. Totally agree. The second paragraph, not so much...It's gonna be a barn burner!!!

[jimbo92107]

 

Anyone have a good argument to give me hope?

Overall the Twins today are a better, deeper, more well-balanced team than the one that ran up a great record in the first half. Their young stars are now playing with confidence. Their rookies are surrounded by skilled veterans. Their subs are as good as many teams' starters. Their coaching staff has produced positive results on a consistent basis. Heck, they took Duffey and May, two guys I thought were going to be traded or cut, and transformed them both into valuable power relievers. They revamped the approach of several players, including Miguel Sano, whose waistline, I am happy to note, no longer resembles the unsightly gut that I see every time I look down. 

 

Yew wants moar good newz? Littell. Dobs, Smelt. Shak, Thorpedo. Stewart. Live arms, every one. Even the new kid Grats can hurl a decent heater, tho we're all waiting to see him K a guy with three straight change ups. I dares ya, kid!

 

But wait, they're's moar! Buck is Back! Torts is back! Both appear healthy, and A-Stud brought his swagger back with him! Beisbol B Fun Agin! We now have two of the best contact hitters in mlb with El Cherubo and Sweet Luis, batting behind and ahead of the all-time mlb home run hitting lumber company!

 

Don't turn that dial, we have one more unbeatable offer! Wade provides more solid OF depth, along with speedster Ian Miller. Hildy and Harper are almost ready to rejoin the team, if needed. Meanwhile, half the relief staff were starters in the minor leagues, so if somebody needs to soak up innings, we've got several options, starting with the Smeltzer Magic Show, ending with Open up a Big Can of Flaming Graterol. 

 

Does this mean we'll win it all? I don't know. But what it does mean is that this Twins team has the depth and balance and power to hang with any team in the league. We could still get shut down by a Verlander on a good day, but this same team has also chased Verlander off the mound, while this pitching staff can keep the team close, even against a good hitting club. 

 

If you're not convinced by now, it gets tougher. I could bring out the Cat Snaffler, which removes the stuck on head of an unruly feline. I could show you my set of gold plated Ginsu knives. The Confetti Salad Stomper, now with wider Stomp Plate. I could show you the forbidden Gutter Klown, now with longer claws and Turbo Mode. I could show you the Puking Presidents Soap Dispensers. Kevlar Baby Diaper. Any one of these could become a cheap slasher flick. 

 

Point is, it's time to smile. The Twins are winning. There are no guarantees, which is an even better reason to smile right now. Nothing lasts, but this right here, right now, is good stuff. 

[IndianaTwin]

 

Well, by definition most teams have losing records against teams with winning records. Do you think Yankee fans are excited knowing they lost the season series to three of the five teams left in the playoff hunt? Are Houston fans pumped knowing they would carry a 14-14 record into the playoffs against NYY, Min, TB and Cleve?

 

Among games among the five current playoff teams, NYY is 22-15, Min 17-16, Hou 14-14, Cle 15-18, and TB 16-21. The Yankee advantage is from going 12-5 against TB.

 

Oakland is in the race, so add them and it’s Hou 24-19, NYY 23-21, Oak 22-21, Min 20-20, Cle 19-23, TB 19-25. In this one Hou gets its advantage by winning 10 of 15 vs Oak.

 

And in all of those, I’d say there’s not substantive difference that can’t be overcome in a short series.

[BK432]

 

Well, by definition most teams have losing records against teams with winning records. Do you think Yankee fans are excited knowing they lost the season series to three of the five teams left in the playoff hunt? Are Houston fans pumped knowing they would carry a 14-14 record into the playoffs against NYY, Min, TB and Cleve?

Among games among the five current playoff teams, NYY is 22-15, Min 17-16, Hou 14-14, Cle 15-18, and TB 16-21. The Yankee advantage is from going 12-5 against TB.

Oakland is in the race, so add them and it’s Hou 24-19, NYY 23-21, Oak 22-21, Min 20-20, Cle 19-23, TB 19-25. In this one Hou gets its advantage by winning 10 of 15 vs Oak.

And in all of those, I’d say there’s not substantive difference that can’t be overcome in a short series.

 

100%. Took my post 

[strumdatjaguar]

Meanwhile, Verlander threw a no-hitter yesterday Yes, everyone is 0-0, but realistic handicapping puts the Astros above all others with the Dodgers second. The Twins are arguably in a second tier of playoff teams with Yankees and Braves.

[strumdatjaguar]

And maybe I’m a bit crazy NOT to put the Yankees in that top tier. I just think the Twins would be very competitive with them in a playoff series.

[Number3]

Twins are already way above expectations this year. I have said over and over that the 12 games after today's Tigers game will say a lot about prospects for the playoffs and, in fact, are de facto playoff games.

Twins just have to stay healthy and starters have to be fearless. Never would pull for them to lose (although did come close during the Gardenhire tenure) just making it to the ALCS would be a fantastic outcome. Speaking of Gardenhire,(pointless I know) one of the many Gardyisms was "I hate second place". He has since done a wonderful job of making sure his teams finish no where near second place.

[notoriousgod71]

 

And maybe I’m a bit crazy NOT to put the Yankees in that top tier. I just think the Twins would be very competitive with them in a playoff series.

 

Each game would be 15-14 with 12 home runs apiece. The games would end at 3:30 am.

 

In that respect, thankfully we will likely get the Astros who should at least be able to keep the games under five hours.