Twins Fans Need to Take a Breath. July Isn’t the Time to Declare the Season Over

[tlkriens]

Travis Kriens/KORN News Radio Sports Director

https://kornradio.com/sports/twins-fans-need-to-take-a-breath-july-isnt-the-time-to-declare-the-season-over/

The reactions over the last few days would make you think the Minnesota Twins were playing Game 162 instead of Game 110.

Every pitch against Kansas City seemed to carry the weight of October. Every loss was treated like the season was slipping away. Every trade rumor became evidence that the organization either had to buy everything or sell everyone.

Take a breath. There are still 52 games remaining. That’s not a handful of games. That’s nearly one-third of the season.

Yes, the trade deadline is Monday. Yes, the Twins are in the middle of an important stretch. But one game, or even one series, is not going to define whether Minnesota reaches the postseason.

The Royals series was the perfect example.

The Twins won two of three, but they didn’t exactly play great baseball. They were shut down by former Twin Randy Dobnak one night. They were nearly no-hit until the seventh inning Thursday before Kody Clemens hit a walk-off grand slam with two outs in the ninth to complete an improbable 4-3 victory.

Was it exciting? Absolutely. Would a loss have ended the season? Not even close. That’s where the conversation has gotten out of balance.

People want every game to be a referendum on whether the Twins should buy or sell. That’s simply not how a 162-game season works.

Consider where Minnesota has been. On June 30, the Twins were three games out of an American League Wild Card spot. One month later, on July 30, they’re just one game back.

A full month of baseball. Thirty days. And they’ve only gained two games. This after winning 10 of their past 13 series.

That’s the nature of a season when nobody is running away from the race.

The Twins haven’t gone on a 10-game winning streak. They haven’t suffered a 10-game collapse, either. They’ve hovered around .500 because that’s who they’ve been. Every time they start to build momentum, they cool off. Every time it looks like they’re fading, they respond. That makes every individual loss feel bigger than it really is. National media haven’t helped.

ESPN framed Minnesota as a team walking a tightrope, suggesting a rough few days could make buying at the deadline look foolish. That’s the national perspective, but it overlooks the reality of the American League standings. The Twins are still one game behind Cleveland for the final Wild Card spot.

One. Not six. Not eight. Not 10. One.

That’s why general manager Jeremy Zoll said earlier this week the Twins intended to buy. Hours later, Minnesota backed that up by acquiring veteran left-handed reliever A.J. Minter from the Mets to strengthen a top 10 bullpen based on ERA over the past month. All of a sudden, the Twins weakness has become a strength.

Is Minter the missing piece? Probably not. Is he a sensible addition for a club trying to improve without sacrificing its future? Absolutely. It’s also a reminder that buying doesn’t have to mean emptying the farm system for a blockbuster.

The Twins can add where they need help while remaining disciplined. They can still explore  trades involving Ryan Jeffers or Trevor Larnach if those deals make the major league club better today and tomorrow. Those conversations don’t automatically signal a sell-off. That’s the nuance that often disappears this time of year.

Now comes a nine-game road trip beginning in Seattle before stops in Kansas City and Milwaukee.

Could the Twins play poorly? Of course. Could they go 6-3? Just as easily.

And if they lose Friday in Seattle? Guess what? It counts exactly the same as every other loss this season.

The opponent’s record doesn’t make the defeat worth two games. Losing to a last-place team like Kansas City doesn’t suddenly end your playoff hopes. That’s why it’s dangerous to assign season-defining importance to every game played in late July.

The standings don’t support it. The calendar doesn’t support it. The schedule certainly doesn’t support it. There are still 52 opportunities left to change the story.

Baseball seasons are marathons that often feel like sprints in the social media era. Every game becomes an emergency. Every series becomes a crossroads. Every trade rumor becomes a crisis. Sometimes the smartest response is also the simplest.

Stay calm. The Twins are still in the playoff race. And that’s all that really matters right now.