Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees Post-Season Series wrap up

So I'm no longer crying or yelling "what are you doing!?!" and am ready to re-cap the Minnesota Twins short postseason. In a 3 game series with the New York Yankees, the Minnesota Twins went from hero (winning the AL Central) to "zero" (notice I use quotes because even if my boys never won another game the Minnesota Twins will always be my favorite baseball team). Because watching the games wasn't hard enough, here is a brief re-cap of all 3 games.

Game One: Twins vs. Yankees in New York

Less than 24-hours after the insane win against the Detroit Tigers to clench the AL Central League title, the Minnesota Twins roster flew to New York to take on the Yankees. The first thing that I want to point out is that the Yankees had not played in 3 days, my Twinkies were tired... they were not. The game started out ok with both teams making their first runs in the 3rd inning and holding strong at 3-3, that's when things went down hill. In the 4th, 5th and 7th innings the Yankees scored unanswered runs, ending the game after the top of the 9th with a 2-7 score. Minnesota Twins fans were hopeful though that the loss was just nerves and the next game would be better. False

Game Two: Twins vs. Yankees in New York

After a day of rest, Twins Fans everywhere we excited to see their boys come out strong, and for the first 5 innings it felt ok... we weren't scoring, but we weren't letting them score either. Then in the 6th both teams brought players to home plate. In the 8th the Twins had 2 runs that went unanswered, Twinkies fans held their collective breath and dared to dream that we would beat the Yankees in Yankee Stadium...note I said DARED, we did not take down the baseball version of Goliath. Game Two ended 4-3 them.

Game Three: Twins vs. Yankees at the HHH Metrodome, can you feel the excitement?!

In game three the Twins returned home to one of the most excited home field crowds you could hope for, but it just didn't prove to be enough. After 9 innings of gasping, screaming and yelling the New York Yankees won the Twins/Yankees 2009 postseason series and ended the Minnesota Twins 2009 baseball season. Not before, hometown hero Joe Mauer was placed on the MVP list and fans got one last chance to say goodbye to the Dome.

You Win Some, You Lose Some... The MN Twins take the Detroit Tigers to clench the AL Central Title and then lose the Yankees in Game One

It has been a HUGE week for the Minnesota Twins (and by week I mean two days). For any of you out there that simply aren't Twins fans and live without a TV, Radio, Newspaper or Internet... THE MINNESOTA TWINS WON THE AL CENTRAL DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP!

In a nail biter that went into extra innings (12 innings to be precise) the Minnesota Twins won game 163 and took the AL Central Championship. The win really came down to strong pitching (something most Twins fans didn't think they would ever see) and a couple of critical at-bats. Probably the most dramatic and crucial play was Carlos Gomez's winning run from second base ending with a face first slide into home to clench the 6-5 win for my boys!

And now for the sad and disappointing... After a "lose your voice because you were screaming so loud that we won" game on Tuesday, the Minnesota Twins ventured to New York to take on the Yankees. Lets leave it at it WAS NOT pretty. The end score was 2-7, and we played like it... I can't really fault my Twins playing off of NO ENERGY after going 12 innings the night before and then traveling to New York. Scoring both of their runs in the 3rd inning and then not being able to answer back after that really just goes to show that my boys were tired and that they need a break if we are going to have a prayer. That break is coming tonight with the next game Friday in New York at 5:00, the game will be televised on TBS.

Preview the Minnesota Twins come to the Metrodome on Sunday to play game 3... Twins Tickets are getting close to sold out, I found some seats left online but they will go fast too! Lets Go TWINKIES!!

Minnesota Twins get swept by New York Yankees

I don’t think I will be posting mid game anymore (see my previous mid-game Monday night entry). I thought maybe it would be lucky, but I was wrong. The Minnesota Twins were swept by the New York Yankees –swept! There is definitely a Yankee Stadium curse. In fact the Twins are 3-19 at Yankee Stadium since 2002 – ouch. And they weren’t just regular run of the mill losses (don’t question me if there is such a thing), these were fluke losses where guys just didn’t play like they usually play. Pitchers sucked on the mound, batters sucked at the plate, fielders sucked on the grass. It just plain sucked.

Ok, enough grumbling. Ron Gardenhire has promised a “come to Jesus meeting” with the Twins players before they start the Cleveland Indian series so let’s hope that can inspire them to turn it around before we get too far behind the White Sox. The White Sox will be at the Dome next week. It will be crunch time for sure. Ugh.

Minnesota Twins Yankees Game

Is anyone out there watching the Twins Yankees game? Hooah! We are sitting here in the office glued to the TV. After what's his face Yankee hit the two run homer we thought it was over, but maybe not....oh wait, the Yankees are scoring again . . . what a terrible roller coaster game.

Twins Yankees Series

The Minnesota Twins vs New York Yankees series is always one of my favorites, even if the Twins don’t always come out on top, but hey they split the series so bravo!

The Twins lost on Friday night 5-6 and Saturday night 6-7, but managed to win Sunday afternoon 5-1 and Monday night 6-5. The Saturday night game went 12 innings and was the longest game of the season lasting 4 hours and 35 minutes. The coolest thing? The Metrodome actually looked pretty full from start to finish. The announced game attendance was 36,441 – that has to be one of the highest of the season as well. It was probably one of my favorite games of the season and had the Twins pulled off a win, it would be my favorite. I love a good overtime battle (that’s why I love the NHL playoffs as well). The Twins played hard and pulled all the punches including putting in every pitcher we could. I have to say there were a lot of groans when Juan Rincon took the mound (Juan needs to find a different bullpen, I am sick and tire of him dragging down the Minnesota Twins). Mauer still hasn’t hit a homer and apparently the pressure is getting to him because the Yankees stole four bases on Saturday night, it was the first time that had happened in Mauer’s career.

Who would have thought? The Minnesota Twins are still in the hunt for first place in the AL Central – woohoo!

Will Twins get Phil Hughes?

If Twins pitcher Johan Santana goes, the Minnesota Twins will most likely receive Phil Hughes in a trade from the New York Yankees. Hughes is a 21-year-old right-hander who would make a fantastic addition to any pitching staff in the majors. He was 5-3 with a 4.46 ERA last season with the Yankees. The "ace" of the Twins pitching staff come opening day is still very much in the air! Hughes even has his own web site - this youngster reminds me a bit of our own Pat Neshek...

Knoblauch on Fame Ballot

I guess George Mitchell's report on performance enhancing drugs in major league baseball is not all that big of a deal. The news of the report has vanished out of the media and I see that one of the offenders even made it on to the Hall of Fame ballot…Chuck Knoblauch. This is Knobbers first time on the ballot and it will be interesting to see if the voters take into consideration the steroid use report or even the fact that Chuck Knoblauch has been a no-threat player for the past 10 years. Sure in the mid 90’s Chuck Knoblauch was hall of fame material, but the Chuck Knoblauch of late may not be.

Rondell White makes the naughty list

I haven’t talked about George Mitchell's report on performance enhancing drugs in major league baseball, but it seems like everyone else is. Every baseball blog in America is fired up about this report and what it says about their favorite team.

For the Twins, Rondell White made the steroid use list and his $3,500 cancelled check was even published in the report. White is scheduled to retire this winter so it’s not that big of a deal and frankly he didn’t have a record breaking season or anything so he probably got ripped off anyway. Four other former Minnesota Twins players, including all-star second baseman Chuck Knoblauch, were linked to steroid use in the report. Knobbers allegedly bought steroids in 2001 while with the New York Yankees…I always knew he was a bad apple. I can say one thing for certain about this report, it is keeping the MLB front page news during the off-season – do you suppose they believe in the any press is good press philosophy?

Twins Early Season Home Stand

The Minnesota Twins took a few knocks on knees from the New York Yankess. Losing the first game 2-8 and the second game 1-10. It was nice to see the Twins pull a win out last night conquering the Yankees 5-1.

Next up on this week long home stand, is the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The Twins should be able to win 3 of the 4 games for sure as long they don’t get caught with a Yankee hangover. My boy Justin Morneau says he is up for the Devil Rays series. He said, "They are dangerous. They have a lot of good young hitters and good young pitchers. If we don't come in ready to play and focused on this series, they can definitely beat you."

The task at hand in Game 1 of the series is to face left-hander Casey Fossum, who hasn't been seen very often by most of the Twins lineup. Fossum has a good breaking ball pitch and a few others that could sting the Twins. I know Torii Hunter can hit a few of those breaking balls let’s just hope they can make it over the fence.

Game 1 of the series is tonight and the pitching match-up looks like this:

MIN: RHP Carlos Silva (0-1, 1.80 ERA)
The concern regarding Silva in his first start was if the pitcher could get his sinker to do just that -- sink. But the big right-hander proved that he could shut down a strong White Sox lineup. In cold conditions, Silva held Chicago to just one run over five innings as he allowed five hits. Still, there will be lots of eyes watching Silva to see if that same motion can stay in his next outing against the Devil Rays. Silva is 1-1 with a 2.84 ERA in three career games against Tampa Bay.

TB: LHP Casey Fossum (0-1, 17.18)
Fossum experienced a rough outing in his first start of the season Saturday night against the Blue Jays, surrendering seven runs on eight hits, a walk and a hit batter in 3 2/3 innings. The big blow was a grand slam by Frank Thomas. Fossum has an 0-0 record with a 4.91 ERA in three career appearances against the Twins. He is 0-0 with a 2.84 ERA in one start at the Metrodome.

Game 2 is on Friday with Devil Rays (LHP Scott Kazmir, 0-1, 6.75) at Twins (LHP Johan Santana, 2-0, 2.77), 7:10 p.m.

Game 3 is on Saturday with Devil Rays (RHP Edwin Jackson, 0-1, 6.35) at Twins (RHP Sidney Ponson, 0-1, 12.71), 6:10 p.m.

Game 4 is on Sunday with Devil Rays (RHP Jae Seo, 0-1, 9.64) at Twins (RHP Boof Bonser, 0-1, 6.97), 1:10 p.m.

There are still great Twins Tickets out there so don’t just stay home this weekend, get out and see a good ball game.

Twin vs. Yankees

With the Chicago White Sox in the rear view mirror, the Minnesota Twins will set their sights on beating the New York Yankees at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. The Twins managed to split a short two game series with the White Sox last weekend. I saw the Sunday game and the Twins looked great. Pitcher Johan Santana was totally on his game and the bats swung just enough times to get the Twins another victory. My boy Justin looked great as ever and the defense pulled in some tough hits to make them look like easy outs.

Let’s hope I can use the same “another victory” term in the next few days as the Twins face the Yankees. The Twins are 17-30 against the Yankees over the past six seasons, but the Yankees will be missing one of their stars for the entire three-game series. Left fielder Hideki Matsui will be sitting the series out after he was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with a strained left hamstring. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said that you never want to see a player get hurt, but he admitted that missing out on Matsui for the series wasn't exactly bad news for him.

Still, Gardenhire said that the task of trying to beat the famed club won't be made any easier in Matsui's absence. With a lineup that includes plenty of power in Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi as well as consistent hitting in Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano, the Yankees have their fair share of talent to throw the Twins way. Let’s go Twins and let’s try to shut out those Yankees and prove that the Minnesota Twins ballclub can stack up against quality competition.