I love this franchise and the way they play the game. I wish the O's could model their future after what the Twins have been doing for about 22 years now.
Go Twins in the one game playoff with the Tigers!
__________________ Craig
"If you never celebrate victory, everything starts to look like defeat."
-- CA Steffen
It's even more amazing when you consider that the Twins did it with Justin Morneau not available after 9/12 due to the stress fracture in his back.
The rest of the team could have packed it in at that time as the Twins were 70-72, but they went 16-4 over the last 20 games to force the one-game playoff.
JR
__________________ "You're either rebuilding for something special, or you're on the verge of something special. To be in between is foolish."-Billy Beane
Its always good to see a team who plays the game the RIGHT way win. Congrats to the Twins. After an Amazing game, they're off to defeat the evil empire.
__________________ Craig
"If you never celebrate victory, everything starts to look like defeat."
-- CA Steffen
I had no rooting interest in the game, but........... Too bad the plate umpire had a TC on his hat.
First and Third one out...called strike three on Polanco on a pitch six inches inside. The announcers made no comment even though pitch trax showed this clearly. I don't always believe in pitch trax, but the live pitch wasn't close either. Polanco is one of the toughest to strike out. He knows the strike zone.
Inge was hit by the pitch with the bases loaded in extra innings. Ump said NO.
This game helped the Yankees more than anyone.
__________________ Someday an official scorer will charge a pitcher with a fielding error on a slow bouncer to the mound and I will be stunned.
I'm not sure the Twins schtick would succeed in the AL East. Nicky Punto? I'm not saying that they are a terrible organization or anything, but I think the bar to succeed in that division is considerably lower than it is in the AL East (not that I'm making excuses for the trainwreck that has been Angelos's Orioles).
I'm not sure the Twins schtick would succeed in the AL East. Nicky Punto? I'm not saying that they are a terrible organization or anything, but I think the bar to succeed in that division is considerably lower than it is in the AL East (not that I'm making excuses for the trainwreck that has been Angelos's Orioles).
If you combine the Twins system for developing players who know how to play the game the right way and the Twins ability to play strategic and tactical baseball at the MLB level with the Orioles budget, I think you'd have a winning combination in any division.
__________________ Craig
"If you never celebrate victory, everything starts to look like defeat."
-- CA Steffen
Originally Posted by nothingman I'm not sure the Twins schtick would succeed in the AL East. Nicky Punto? I'm not saying that they are a terrible organization or anything, but I think the bar to succeed in that division is considerably lower than it is in the AL East (not that I'm making excuses for the trainwreck that has been Angelos's Orioles).
Well, no other division in baseball has the Yankee$$$ and Red Sox to contend with. That alone makes the AL East the toughest division in the game. And, no, 87 W's isn't going to cut it in that division like it does in the AL Central.
Alas, you are right. In 2009 the Twins actually had the worst record against the AL East of any team in the entire league -- and that includes Baltimore. I love the Twins, though. They're my second team. Hope to see 'em in Mpls someday.
Ranjit
__________________ "Let's go O's and Natty Bo's, hon!"
I'm just glad they won't be playing in that atrocity known as the Heftydome anymore
I really am still at a loss to understand why the fine people of Minnesota didn't shell out the money for a retractable roof. Not having a retractable roof in cold, snowy, rainy Minneapolis in April and October seems like crazy talk to me. Any idea on what I'm missing, other than the fee? I mean, if you are going to spend $300 million, why not just do it right and spend an extra $50 million (note: I have no idea what the actual figures are...).
The additional cost of a retractable dome was estimated to be at least $100M (on a base cost of about $360M for stadium construction, total cost about $544M with site acquisition and infrastructure included), and the city and state were not willing to go that far. It was a major struggle just to get approval for an open-air stadium (as well as the new stadia for the Vikings and U of M).
__________________ Let me explain. No, there is no time. Let me sum up.
