Front Page: Twins ALDS Game 3 Recap: Twins Season Ends in Heartbreak

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

One thing the Yankees have going for them is a relatively competitive division. It helps that their 104 wins came against decent teams (Baltimore aside). 

 

Also, sample size is a thing. We had a winning record against the Astros this year, but none of us would have realistically expected to beat them in a playoff series. Unfortunately we didn't have it for this series. 

The ALE was barely more competitive than the ALC. If any season didn't really play to those tropes, it was this one.

 

The only real difference was the two Sox teams.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Fun fact, the Twins winning percentage versus the AL divisions:

 

ALC: 66%

ALW: 68%

ALE: 63%

 

That seems pretty much like a team that just beat other teams.

[SoDakTwinsFan4]

Had the Twins played (and been managed) this way for the first two games, we'd be looking at a game four.

 

Nevermind that I wouldn't be so effing angry right now.

 

I like Baldelli but he needs to be better next season. I glossed over some of his weaker points but he walked such a different game than he talked that SOMEONE needs to call it out and he needs to learn from the experience.

 

I thought, based on your comments after game 1, that you had no problem with how Baldelli managed. Change of heart?

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

I thought, based on your comments after game 1, that you had no problem with how Baldelli managed. Change of heart?

I was extremely intoxicated at the time, take anything I said about game one with about fifty pounds of salt.

 

Once I sobered up, I just scratched my head and wondered what the hell I had witnessed.

 

What I remembered witnessing, anyway.

[Michigan Twins Fan]

 

Fun fact, the Twins winning percentage versus the AL divisions:

 

ALC: 66%

ALW: 68%

ALE: 63%

 

That seems pretty much like a team that just beat other teams.

 

But you're not playing all teams from the other divisions; you're playing the best. Our winning percentage against "winning" teams was below .500. 

 

And the Red Sox were a good team who are saddeled in a division with two great teams. If you traded the two Sox teams, I would wager that you would have seen more wins by the Red Sox and fewer by the White Sox. 

 

The numbers you've posted are interesting, but for this discussion who we did against divisions writ large is unimportant. How we did against playoff teams is, and the Yankees and Rays did a number on us while we got a series win against the 'Stros. 

 

I think there's a good analog to my college team, Villanova. The Big East is good competition, but it's not the Big 10 or the ACC. And 2016 and 2018 excepted, it shows in the tournament. 

[bighat]

I totally understand why so many fans feel just DONE with this team right now. I felt super ticked off last night - when they had the bases loaded and nobody out, didn't score...it was just sickening. That said - and I'm just speaking for myself - this sweep doesn't take away the fun I had this summer watching this team. There were some special moments. I refuse to let last night's sweep tarnish those fun moments we all had watching and commenting here on the game threads together.

• Watching the Twins bash another opponent 14-5 or whatever. 
• Watching Luis Arraez come out of nowhere to become a special player.
• Seeing Miguel Sano click in the second half of the season. Mitch Garver's emergence.
• Taylor Rogers turning into an elite reliever, mowing teams down.
• Nelson Cruz and those 3-homer games.

 

That said, I'm not sure I'm even sure I have the stomach to summon hope again. This Twins team looked absolutely out-classed and out-matched by superior talent and coaching. It wasn't even close. Was this Yankees-Twins? Because it looked like Yankees-Orioles. Being exposed as frauds on the national stage was frankly embarrassing.

 

The Twins didn't look like one pitcher away from competing. They looked wayyyy farther away than that. Let's just hope it doesn't take this team 8 more years to even reach the playoffs again. The bad taste from this series won't go away for many fans until we make it right, advance in the playoffs. Pronto.

 

Edited October 8, 2019 by bighat

[the_brute_squad]

Top of the mind rant. I don't know how coherent this is but this sweep pisses me off.

The only team to get swept - The MN Twins

Record for most playoff losses in a row - The MN Twins

Team that allowed the Yankees to score 7 runs in one inning (a Yankee record) The MN Twins

This team was out pitched, out defensed, out coached, out everything.

101 wins and a HR record isn't acceptable. Fans must demand more than that. I'll take 90 wins and a World Series appearance.

This team needs to shore up its defense in a huge way and pick up one front line pitcher.

Graterol better not be seen as a bullpen pitcher or I'm done. The Astros have proven starters can throw 98mph and start a game.

Bring Odo back - he's worth it as a #2 or #3 pitcher.

Teams that win World Series don't settle for this result, the fan base certainly shouldn't either.

 

[wsnydes]

The ALE was barely more competitive than the ALC. If any season didn't really play to those tropes, it was this one.

 

The only real difference was the two Sox teams.

Except the East has only one of the 5 worst teams in baseball rather than two and it also had a second playoff team. I wouldn't call that the same division. The East wasn't as good as it usually is, but it's still quite a bit better than the Central.

[Richard Swerdlick]

Baseball to me is a celebration of the warm weather months. I greatly enjoyed the many hours of entertainment that the Twins and their minor league teams provided me. Next year I plan to subscribe to MILB TV to be able to watch some of those minor league games. Thank you to the TWins and the TWins Daily staff for a wonderful summer.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Look, they didn't perform, but this doom and gloom is a bit over the top... for now.

 

That streak sits at 16 games, and yes it's ugly. Most of the guys on this team had nothign to do with anything but this series... and a few more can back one more game. We'll see ALDS action over the next few years with this core of players.

 

Let's see how they handle the offseason. Let's see how they perform next year before we decide that they are nothing but a bunch of losers. 

[insagt1]

The gloom is warranted...if you are a fan, and winning is important. If not, different story. Why SHOULDN'T fans be very disappointed at what we just saw, if winning in post season is important. Post season finishes off the regular season. Its what they all play for. Its harder to win in October than April for many reasons. Some organizations just do it a lot better than others.

 

Its good that you can't point a finger at just one player for this failure. Almost all of them contributed. Their bats turned to sawdust with runners on. The strikeouts mounted so fast you could barely keep track of them. The bullpen that was so terrific second half, all went to hell in a handbasket. Rogers, Romo, May, Duffey...they all failed when asked to hold the line. The stage was too big for Dobnak. The manager lifted Berrios way too soon. Littell's inexperience got the better of him. Kepler played hurt and looked awful...hitless. Garver suddenly stopped hitting. Sano fanned 8 of 12 times and hit a weak pop up in a spot that could have broken the game open early. He looked like Sano 2018. Even Cruz did not have the series we hoped he would have. They put Adrianza on the roster and kept Turtle off....and then never played Adrianza? Castro probably would have whiffed as many times as Garver.

 

No 100 win team should ever be embarrassed the way the Twins were. Some will argue this really isn't a 100 win team. Well it was, making the playoff failure feel even worse. But the time to 'feel happy', proud...etc about the regular season is not right now. Maybe in a few weeks. But not now. How our manager can say he's happy, right now, just doesn't make any sense.

[laloesch]

 

But you're not playing all teams from the other divisions; you're playing the best. Our winning percentage against "winning" teams was below .500. 

 

BINGO. Let's face it the Twins feasted on the cellar dwellers and struggled against decent competition. Until this team can consistently beat good teams (aka acquire some decent starting pitching for heavens sake), and find a manager (Maddon is available, go get him!) that is interested in running this team with some fire and spirit and not coddling these guys like it's a daycare / spa this will be the result. 

 

There is absolutely NO excuse for a 101 win team to play like this in three straight games and not come close to pulling off one win. I've been watching Twins baseball for a long long time and this was totally PATHETIC!

[Vanimal46]

The 2nd inning was so painful. Bases loaded, no outs, and came up empty. I was thinking about turning off the TV then because they had no chance to win after that deflating effort. Probably should have so I wouldn't be so tired today.

[bighat]

 

The 2nd inning was so painful. Bases loaded, no outs, and came up empty. I was thinking about turning off the TV then because they had no chance to win after that deflating effort. Probably should have so I wouldn't be so tired today.

 

I did turn it off then, and just watched via MLB GameCast while browsing YouTube videos of my favorite comedians. It was too painful to watch and it just seemed like I was punishing myself for no reason.

 

I've never felt worse about watching this team all season. Pretty sad that so many of us literally could not watch this game due to depression/anxiety/frustration.

[LewFordLives]

I think Rocco and his players saw the weather forecast and decided it was time to end the season and get back to their winter homes down south. They embarrassed themselves and their fans. I have been through many ups and downs with this team over the decades and I don't remember a time where they just completely laid down like this during a playoff series. Pathetic!

 

I can't stand Rocco's press conferences. Say what you want about Gardy. At least he gave the impression he cared.

[LewFordLives]

I think Rocco and his players saw the weather forecast and decided it was time to end the season and get back to their winter homes down south. They embarrassed themselves and their fans. I have been through many ups and downs with this team over the decades and I don't remember a time where they just completely laid down like this during a playoff series. Pathetic!

 

I can't stand Rocco's press conferences. Say what you want about Gardy. At least he gave the impression he cared.

[bighat]

 

 

Graterol better not be seen as a bullpen pitcher or I'm done.

 

I picked this out of your rant because I agree with you.  Well, I won't be "done" but I certainly think Graterol should be seen as a potential starter for this team. Sure hope the Twins brass agrees.

 

We need a great player to come alive and spark this team. Right now we have lots of decent guys, but not a truly transcending player (aka: Acuna, Lindor, Scherzer, Bellinger, Verlander, etc). Buxton was supposed to be that guy, but he's not, and the Twins can't make the next step without a true winner on this team.

[nokomismod]

I hear the term around baseball playoffs being whichever team gets hot can win it all. Well getting hot means doing the right things to win and I am dissapointed because even though this team did not have great pitching, the defense and hitting really let the team down. Clean up the defense in game one and the questionable pitching changes and that one could have been a W.

This to me was the biggest stat:

RISP

Game 1: 1 for 9

Game 2: 1 for 7

Game 3 : 1 for 12

Not sure if it was being in love with home runs or just well executed pitches by the Yankees but the Twins failed to deliver with productive at bats when it mattered.

 

Anyway I loved the season and the community here. Will be following the offseason closely and Go Gophers!

[AceWrigley]

Great season, bad post season. I picture all diehard Twins fans in Minnesota all walking around looking like the deer caught in the headlights this morning.

[USAFChief]

 

I hear the term around baseball playoffs being whichever team gets hot can win it all. Well getting hot means doing the right things to win and I am dissapointed because even though this team did not have great pitching, the defense and hitting really let the team down. Clean up the defense in game one and the questionable pitching changes and that one could have been a W.

This to me was the biggest stat:

RISP

Game 1: 1 for 9

Game 2: 1 for 7

Game 3 : 1 for 12

Not sure if it was being in love with home runs or just well executed pitches by the Yankees but the Twins failed to deliver with productive at bats when it mattered.

 

Anyway I loved the season and the community here. Will be following the offseason closely and Go Gophers!

And the "1" in the "1 for 12" in game three didn't produce a run. That was Arraez' soft single to left, to load the bases in the 2nd inning, 

 

 

[VATwinsFan]

 

16 straight losses. Let that sink in.

Take it back to the second game of the ALCS with the Angels in 2002 and the Twins have lost 23 out of 25 playoff games (including the 2017 WC game).

 

Isn't that just about statistically impossible?

[Puckett34]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nuSnE6GNdo

[mdonaghue]

Completely disappointed.  No one remembers if you don't win it all.  The Twins senior management has the long-time Red Sox/Cubs approach - if we field a team that is competitive in the regular season, people will show up.  We've made our money, who cares about championships?

 

If they were serious about winning - they would have picked up some serious starting pitching, told Buxton to stay at AAA until he figures out how to avoid crashing into walls (injuries keep him off the field - if he can't play, he doesn't help the team), and hired a manager who knows how to run a bullpen.  Baldelli seems to be just like Gardenhire in that regard - completely indefensible bullpen moves.  

 

The real issue, though, is not showing up to play in the playoffs.  Baldelli took Molitor's guys, had a DH added to the mix (who had a great year), and rode them to 101 wins.  And, then he has the gall to say that he isn't disappointed.  

 

In the real world, Baldelli would be fired for that performance and statement.  He's clueless.

[Sjoski]

The game of baseball teeters in the strike zone. In all three games it was obvious the empire's slanted the strike zone in the Yankees favored. Smoltz mention this in game 2 from the broadcast booth. the best thing that could happen to bring more parity into MLB is electronic balls and strikes... Especially in the playoffs. do you think mlb or any of the networks want to see Minnesota and the Nationals in the world series... NNY is a superior team but Minnesota never even had a chance... It was like the outcome was decided before the games were even played.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

It is going to be a long, cold winter, even here in North Carolina.

[SomeGuy]

 

Fun fact, the Twins winning percentage versus the AL divisions:

 

ALC: 66%

ALW: 68%

ALE: 63%

 

That seems pretty much like a team that just beat other teams.

32-37 against teams over .500.  The only playoff team with a losing record in those games.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

The 2nd inning was so painful. Bases loaded, no outs, and came up empty.

I thought it was interesting choice by the director, meant to evoke memories of the Phil Cuzzi inning in 2009 which had the same result.

Edited October 8, 2019 by spycake

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

and Go Gophers!

Too bad baseball doesn't have a "Quick Lane Bowl"

[SpicyGarvSauce]

 

Being at this game, this fan base is pathetic. They cheer cheer cheer every terrible bullpen pitcher when they announce his name, and they stand with blank looks in the urinal line during the game rather than being pissed off at how terrible this team played.

 

Then after the game the resounding opinion is "well shoot it was a fun season and they weren't supposed to be this good."

 

Not only does this team not know how to win, this fan base doesn't know how to expect winning.

This is the same fan base that was chanting "over-rated" when Aaron Judge was at the plate.

 

Yeah, clueless.

[Brock Beauchamp]

But you're not playing all teams from the other divisions; you're playing the best. Our winning percentage against "winning" teams was below .500.

 

And the Red Sox were a good team who are saddeled in a division with two great teams. If you traded the two Sox teams, I would wager that you would have seen more wins by the Red Sox and fewer by the White Sox.

 

The numbers you've posted are interesting, but for this discussion who we did against divisions writ large is unimportant. How we did against playoff teams is, and the Yankees and Rays did a number on us while we got a series win against the 'Stros.

 

I think there's a good analog to my college team, Villanova. The Big East is good competition, but it's not the Big 10 or the ACC. And 2016 and 2018 excepted, it shows in the tournament.

The Twins were 5-2 against Tampa.