When it comes to winning, a team’s performance is influenced by who the opposition is and where the game is played. The Twins wore a happy face as they built baseball’s best interleague record this season, winning 14 of 18 versus National League teams. In the Central Division, the Twins are 27-17. But against East Division teams they are 7-12 and 5-9 versus the West Division clubs.
The Twins have played 50 of their 95 games at home. They’re 32-18 at home and 21-24 on the road.
Give the Twins an “H” for cleaning up on the inferior National League, defeating their Central Division rivals, winning at home and being on a roll in recent weeks winning 19 of their last 25 games. But after the all-star break and through August the Twins play seven series on the road and six at home, with the competition including two series with the Yankees, and one each with division leaders Chicago and Los Angeles.
That period will determine whether the Twins stay in contention. If not, pull on a cap with a big “S” on it.
We thought before the season the Twins were a second or third tier club because of the unsettled number of everyday players and the inexperienced starting pitching. We have that big “S” cap in the closet and hope it stays there. Right now we’re wearing one with an “H” on it.