For the first time all season (yes, all season) the Twins are two games above .500. That sounds like I’m talking about a losing team that recently got on a little hot streak, but really the Twins have been a team that have hovered anywhere between three games under and one game over .500 for three months. Nonetheless, the club is just three games back of the 1st place Detroit Tigers and there couldn’t be a better time for the Twins to play good baseball.
The Twins turned their road woes around in the month of June going 10-6 away from home since June 8 and finishing the recent road trip to Milwaukee, St. Louis and Kansas City with a 6-3 record. Just like the bast four seasons a combination of a hot June and interleague play seem to be turning the season around for the Twins.
Today the Twins get a much deserved day off as they prepare for a big home series against the Detroit Tigers. This is undoubtedly the biggest series of the season thus far for the Twins and a potential sweep could send a strong message to who is the best team in the AL Central.
Minnesota has nine more games until the All-Star break, all at home, so now is time for our Twins to make a move.
* Speaking of the All-Star game, fans have until 10:59 pm central time tonight to cast their ballots online for the Midsummer Classic in St. Louis. Joe Mauer looks to be set to start his 2nd consecutive ASG and Justin Morneau will need a big push to pass Mark Teixeira and Kevin Youkilis.
This time of year losses like last night hurt even worse. It’s like not only did you get stabbed in the back, but the knife was twisted.
Sorry for that, probably the most graphic thing ever written on this blog. I apologize for this blog becoming my personal diary of frustrations lately. But any Twins fan could use a place to vent these past few weeks. After last night’s loss the Twins fall to 5-8 on this road trip and are miraculously only 1 game back of the Chicago White Sox.
So last night I didn’t get tuned into the game until the 9th inning. I turn on my tv just in time to see Brendan Harris bust his but down to 1st base and slide head first into the base just beating out the throw for the 3rd out which allows the go-ahead run to score. Twins lead 4-3.
Nathan comes in and I’m thinking no way this goes wrong again. Even before things get worse I’m watching Nathan thinking, “Man he looks more rattled than usual. He’s breathing deeper, sweating more.” I say to myself, “Self, we need to get Nathan this win. He’s lost some of his confidence and we need this win because we need Joe down the stretch!” Although Nathan cleary didn’t have his best stuff, I thought he had enough to get out of the jam. Then comes the Blue Jays single and the error by Jason Pridie which allows the tying run to score. Nathan blows his 3rd save of the roadtrip and the Twins lose in extra innings.
I don’t really want to talk anymore about last night’s game. Like I said, we’re lucky to be where we are right now and apparently the Twins clubhouse isn’t worried. Let’s hope for a win tonight and get those guys home ASAP.
The Twins complete a very succesful nine game homestand with a 7-2 record including two victories from the reeling Yankees. I left work for a couple hours and walked down to the Metrodome to watch Francisco Liriano pitch yesterday. The lefty struggled a bit to get efficient outs and very quickly worked his pitch count over 100 in the 5th inning. Despite it not being his cleanest outing since being recalled from AAA it’s amazing to watch the transformation of Liriano.
Yeah yeah, experts say he’s lost 3 mph off his fastball and his slider doesn’t bite as hard as 2006, but this kid is a better pitcher; a smarter pitcher. In 2006 as a rookie phenom, Liriano relied soley on his “nasty stuff.” Today he still has amazing stuff, but he annoys how to battle against batters, fight through not having his best control, and keep his emotions under control. It’s hard to say you’re glad Liriano got hurt and missed a year and a half (I certainly wish we could have had him) but I think he’s a better pitcher because of it. Let’s hope he’ll be getting victories for the Twins for years! If we get into the playoffs, we’ll need him to be our ace!
So now the Twins begin their mega 14-game road trip. This will truly be the test of the year. If we can return home from this still within striking distance of 1st place in the Central we will have a good shot at the playoffs. The hardest part of the trip starts right away with a 4-game series against Torii Hunter and the 1st place LA Angels. Then hopefully we will grab some wins with a 3-game series in Seattle and a 4-game series in Oakland. As the calendar turns to September and new callups will be brought up for reinforcements the Twins head north of the border for a 3-game set against the Toronto Blue Jays before heading home on Friday, September 5th.
BOLD Prediction: a 8-6 road trip returning home tied for 1st place with the White Sox.
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