Other posters addressed this up thread. I still think the word "folding" is misleading, but yeah I was surprised no other team made a strong run--although you could argue the Angels did make a strong run, but ran out of gas.
SEA, BAL, MIN, KC, LAA, TEX, TOR, TB These teams didn't fold. They were all struggling to play .500 at the deadline, and are struggling to play .500 at the finish. Only KC really went in the tank. Not the others.
I'm sorry, but this plays right into the Twins hands with their left handed batting lineup... https://twitter.com/AndrewMarchand/status/913233296720519168 ...actually, no, not sorry
Great comparison. Hard to believe the lead was only 1.5 games lead a week ago. With the magic number now at one, the Twins have retired the first two batters and the Angels are down to their last strike. The crowd is on its feet!
This is fascinating to know, and promising, and very different from the 2009-2010 Yankee team that was taking the foot off the gas late in the season in order to get a #2 seed, so they could play the Twins who were the 3 seed.
Great call by Molitor in the 8th, to pinch run Granite for Mauer when Mauer advanced to second on Polanco's single. The next batter hit a single to left, which Mauer would not have been waved around on, but Granite was waved around and made it home with time to spare. You don't see it work so perfectly very often!
Slept on it. Still am disappointed. 40% of our rotation consists of guys who have no stamina to go six innings and usually need to be pulled between the 3rd or 5th inning, another 20% of our rotation consists of Kyle Gibson, and the other 40% are good pitchers who are not getting wins right now, when wins are all that matter. Gonna be a bumpy ride.
I don't think it's a conspiracy, but I think it's absolutely real. A great example would be Assembly Hall in Indiana when Bob Knight was coaching there. Indiana got every call.
As I think about it, I think Molitor should have ran out for a discussion with the home plate ump when Gee didn't get that call. Show people that you are paying attention and care about what is happening .
I think so, too. However, last night it was egregious and slanted pretty much one way, against the Twins pitchers. At least two easy two-strike pitches over the plate called balls, extending at bats and innings. I don't know, man. I suppose the next game could be even worse and then it will look like we were complaining about nothing in this one.
Yes. I don't think Falvey and Levine can appreciate the mental block these guys have against the Yankees. For a fan, it's infuriating. (To me, anyway) Also, a game ball to the home plate umpire last night, missing strike after strike when Berrios was pitching.
I thought Buxton made a really weak throw, but then I remembered he is still having hand issues. Even if it was his glove hand that was injured, that could affect the catch and throw.