The Twins need to “kick in the door” against the Yankees starting tonight in their American League Division Series. And what “door” is that?
The door to that exclusive club where the smug Yankees reside, having won seven of the past nine playoff games between the two teams. The Yankees also hold a combined 11-2 advantage over the Twins in regular season games the last two seasons.
The Twins probably will tell you they belong with baseball’s big boys, but they have to show us in this series that they’re door busters. Despite a regular season record of 94-68 and a Central Division title, the doubts remain.
Two of the four teams in the AL playoffs come from the East Division. Both the division champion Rays (96-66) and Yankees (95-67) slightly bested the Twins’ record, but what’s controversial is how the Twins performed in their own Central Division versus the East. Playing against not so impressive Central opponents the Twins were 47-25 but in the East they were 15-21.
The Rays were 42-20 in the East, a division acknowledged as baseball’s best. The Yankees were 38-34 in the division.
Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, likely to be chosen American League manager of the year, is 6-18 lifetime in playoff games directing the Twins. In the past he didn’t have the talent to win his way to the World Series. Does he now?
In the Twins’ favor is that neither the Yankees nor Rays are classic post-season powerhouses. The Yankees, just like the Twins, have questionable starting pitching depth. The Twins are deeper in the bullpen, although even at age 40 New York’s Mariano Rivera is a closer to envy.
In addition to pitching, fielding is critical to determining a winner. Gardenhire said on his KSTP Radio show Sunday he planned to fill his final roster spots with players that give him defense and speed.
He also acknowledged it’s “no fun” to win the division and go home. The World Series is the goal. “If we don’t get there, we didn’t get it done,” he said.
In their five game series with the Yankees, the Twins will need to show whether they’re ready for baseball’s biggest “room” later this month. If they have the right stuff, better plan on winning tonight’s game and Thursday’s, both at Target Field in front of those baseball crazy Homer Hanky fans. Without a 2-0 series lead going to Yankee Stadium on Saturday, the Twins kick on the door might look more like a glancing blow.