insagt1

Twins got no help from Cleveland or Detroit, but thats fine. Most of us want them to clinch on their terms....with a win. Which needs to come tonite and be done with it.

Twins absolutely need Lewis. He has been an offensive savior 2nd half . Gotta have his bat. If it means he sits till playoffs that's fine. Thats when they need him most. Same with CC. Larnach...another chance for him. He's had a lot of chances and so far he really hasn't taken full advantage. Hope this time something kicks in.

Guards are down to their 'last strike'. They will be facing a very tired Orioles team with a gassed bullpen...after two real tough series against TB and Houston. Their pen finally just wore out today as Houston tied it in the 8th and won it easily in the 9th. Jax has not been very good in recent weeks. Twins giving him every chance to get it together before the playoffs. He's got talent, but right now he is pretty shaky. Gotta say though that lately a lot of top closers are getting beaten. Its a long season. particularly for pitchers.

Jax simply forces Twins fans to take medication when he pitches.

That was an awful strike 3 call on Larnach. At any angle, he didn't go around. Happily Polo bailed them out but how could ump call that a swing? Jax being called on in a pressure situation. We'll see

Does Buxton factor in to any of this? Lots of 'talk' about him coming back but no action. Do the Twins realistically know Buck is done for the season but want to keep a few embers burning? Lets say they clinch in the next 2 days, which is very possible, will they then let him play a few games to rest some of the 'regulars'? Anyone have some current stuff on this?

I don't think Twins have any real shot at catching Houston, and has been stated, maybe they really shouldn't. A best of 3 at home, with our two top starters ready to go should be more favorable than a 5 game series where there is a lot more moving parts. And remember Twins haven't won a playoff game in 18 tries. Perhaps the O's can help out in the following 3 against the Astros, but I'm not counting on it. Based on the party they threw yesterday, I wonder if they have sobered up enough to compete tonite as it is!! I'd like the Twins to play solid baseball over these last 12 games. Don't fall into any bad habits. Play to win and go into post season on top of their game.

Yesterday was a little hiccup, but taking 3 of 4 is fine. Nice game today. Twins should be clinching hopefully by the end of the week. Good to see both Julien and Wallner snapping out of their slumps. Must admit, while keeping an eye on the score, I was watching the Bills recover nicely from their disastrous game Monday night; and was watching the Orioles spectacular comeback win over TB..one of the most exciting games I've watched all season. It was a good day.

Easy one tonite. 8 game lead. They would have to basically stop playing to blow this now. things can happen fast (like the O's were 4 up on TB 3 days ago and now its 1..as O's go into choke mode) but Cleveland has kind of mailed it in. Twins need to get/stay healthy and remember that first series is best of 3.

OK--I'll play😊 If Pagan gives up the HR in the 6th, Twins have 4 more innings to get it back, not one against their tough bullpen. Pressure mounts as the game advances. When you give up a 9th inning HR in a tie game, you just intensified the pressure needed to get back in it. So you can't assume a HR in the 6th would be the only run the rest of the game. Baseball rarely works that way. Sometimes it does (Cards hit a solo shot in the 4th yesterday and ended up winning 1-0..a total embarrassment to the Orioles) but thats baseball. Would the Twins hitters (and TB pitchers) approached the game differently if it were 5-4 in the 6th? Possibly. Would we have been 'treated' to that ugly move of pinch hitting Vazquez in the 9th? Fact is, Jax, who has been very inconsistent lately gave up the big hit at the worst time, leaving Twins with just one more inning to tie it up (not 4 as you suggested) On this day, he ''earned" the 'L' and I hope Twins stop using him in those pressure situations we complained about Pagan earlier this year. Teams that want to win in post season don't take their foot off the gas in the final 2-3 weeks. Its a fools game to 'coast' into a short post season series. While Twins played TB 'tough' in the series, they still lost 2 of 3. You have to be able to win these games to be successful, not just 'play tough'. I hope Twins finish the season with lots of wins and not just coast because their nearest competitor is really bad. I was disappointed in the game and the manager's decisions. But I'm a fan who wants to win. Period. Nothing else matters right now. I understand every fan is wired differently so I don't expect everyone to agree with me. And thats fine too. (Plus I'm still feeling salty about the Bills-Jets disaster Monday)

Jax gave up no ER's for one month ...between May 22 and June 23. His ERA is 4.20. He has allowed 13 ER's in his last 15 outings. Mariano Rivera he is not. He HAD real good stuff at one time, but now he has terrible location and that kinda nullifies his 'stuff'.

we can no longer look at it that way. Its not how many you give up, but when. Its all about the 'W' because the 'stats' in post season don't get it done. I will pile on Jax because he threw a meatball at the worst possible time plus he has not been our guy 2nd half. I think Duran could have gotten the job done in the 9th...might not have mattered..but if he is 'the' closer, he has to pitch, not 'be unavailable'. Bottom line, their guys shut us down when it counted and in mid September thats really all that matters, if you want to be a post season success. Today Jax was the goat. 3rd deck HR in the 9th...can't happen in a 4-4 game.

So--O's have to sack up and beat the Cards. Giants need to topple the Guardians. No prisoners. And Twins better start looking seriously at their pen. Hard to believe that Pagan is going to be one of the decent ones. Jax absolutely needs to go to mop-up, if that.

back in the day when pitchers weren't treated like china dolls, Duran would have been in there. Jax cannot be trusted at all. How many more of these games will it take? Tough loss and Twins sure had their chances. But Jax is NOT late inning material. Darn darn darn

damn you Jax...a veritable meatball. he has definitely replaced Pagan as the pitcher you love to hate. One out to get and he blows it. (O's throwing things at their TV's and devices) Just so disappointing

so nice to see Kepler so excited again. Twins needed a real clutch hit after missing so many opportunities today. Now its up to the bullpen to hold the fort. (scoreboard watchers throw their popcorn in the air!!)

players will smugly tell you that they aren't scoreboard watching....I will tell you the Orioles are scoreboard watching today and I suspect Cleveland is too. They aren't kidding anymore. Come on Twins...get this one back with some clutch hits...and make contact!

too many damn strikeouts.

Kuechel--PLEASE no more runs. Give us a legit shot at getting back in this

is anyone real unimpressed with Kuechel? I wonder if he has post season value or not?

unfortunately Twins hitters do what they often do best...k! And quickly. Gotta chip away fast before Keuchel gives up 3 more and the game is pretty much over.

so far so bad. Keuchel giving up some real hard hit balls. Down 3-0 already doesn't bode well...as O;s and Guardians are watching intently and not liking what they see. And we agree.

absolutely huge win! The kind of win you expect in post season. And the pen getting it done, clean and efficient against a real good team. Castro's game winner was a 'Vlad Sr. Special'. Vlad was known to hit HR's on pitches in the dirt. Its important to know Twins can beat the real good teams, if they want to also be a real good team. Another one this afternoon would be awesome. As the games peel off the schedule: O's lost to St.Louis so with TB losing too, they keep their 3 game lead with the big showdown 1 game away. Guardians beat the Giants, so Twins lead remains 7.5 ....but more importantly another game off the calendar as the good guys get closer and closer to the Central title. Only 17 games remain. Would be difficult to blow that big of a lead with so few games left. (Twins lead by 8 in the loss column) Of note too: It is mid September and still every team in the AL East is over .500. Quite unusual. On the 'crap-o-meter' KC has lost 101 so far; Oakland 99, and Rockies 92. Longshots to still lose 100 would be Chisox (89). To win 100--Atlanta for sure (95); O's maybe (91); TB maybe (89); Dodgers possibly (88)

so, they didn't win. I'm unhappy. Everyone check where their cats and dogs are! Still recovering from the mess that was the Buffalo Bills last night. some teams just know how to make losses hurt more than others. ok Twins...new day, new game. Get the win

To be realistic...we all have the Twins winning round one and moving on to round two. Twins haven't even won a post season GAME in......the number of games is too ugly to mention. Lets win a game...then we can dream on!