When the Twins made the playoffs earlier this week champagne and emotions flowed in the clubhouse.  A young team that had played under .500 baseball earlier in the season achieved a remarkable turn around to claim one of eight playoff spots in major league baseball.   

The Twins are a team with many performers that don’t have playoff experience.  Included are pitchers Matt Garza and Boof Bonser, catcher Joe Mauer, first baseman Justin Morneau, shortstop Jason Bartlett, third baseman Nick Punto and outfielder Jason Kubel.  Players are young, too, such as Garza, 22, Mauer, 23, and Bonser, 24. 

Sometimes a young and inexperienced group can lose its focus and edge after earning a playoff opportunity.  Consciously or unconsciously the mindset is this: It’s good enough to make the playoffs, particularly when no one expected the team to advance.  

A visitor asked Twins manager Ron Gardenhire if he thought his Twins might be such a team. “They are going to go out and give you everything they have (in the playoffs),” he answered.  “That’s what they have done all year.  It won’t change in the playoffs.  They are going to play as hard as they can.”   

If the Twins fail in the playoffs it won’t be because the players “are afraid” or don’t know how to compete, Gardenhire said. “We have been through a lot of tough baseball games,” he said.  “Every game has been a playoff game for it seems like a month when you are trying to catch up (in the AL Central race to finish first).  If it doesn’t work out for us, if we were to get beat … it’s just the other team is a little better than us…. They (the Twins players) are so excited.  They know we can win. They have proved we can win so we will see what happens.”

The complete pitching rotation for the five game playoff series is to be determined.  Johan Santana will pitch game one and if there is a game five he will draw that assignment, too.  For certain the Twins will be characterized by playoff inexperience since eight pitchers are making their first playoff appearances.  Possible starters could include the previously mentioned young rookies, Bonser and Garza.

Pitching coach Rick Anderson expressed appreciation for having Santana, a leading Cy Young candidate with a record of 19-7 and a 2.77 ERA.

“It’s nice to probably have the best pitcher in the American league leading you off,” he said. “Let the kids who will follow him sit and watch a game and get that nervousness out before they have to run out there.” 

Anderson counsels more with this pitching staff because of its inexperience than others he has had.  His mantra: “Always stay positive.”  He tries to find the silver lining even in a poor performance.  He will tell a pitcher, “When you did this it was outstanding and that’s what we’re going to work on.” 

Anderson is determined to build confidence in his staff.  “Never let them drag their heads,” he said. “Try to keep them upbeat.”   

The Twins bullpen, arguably the best in baseball, and a rebuilt starting staff have provided pleasant surprises for Anderson and others. “Oh, my! This is probably the most rewarding (experience as the Twins pitching coach).  This is (my) fourth time to the playoffs.  All the other times we had some veterans to run out there. …But this one here you are running these kids out there and they are answering the bell. It’s a wonderful thing to see how these kids respond to it.” 

Anderson is hoping for similar results in the playoffs to the success of the regular season with his staff (second best staff ERA in the American League). “When you get to the playoffs (you) need to keep it loose and easy, and don’t let them get too uptight and start thinking about it,” he said.  “Just go out and keep doing what you have been doing.”

Michigan, having won more college football games through the years than any other school, might have the most appropriate fight song, “The Victors.”  The Wolverines hold a commanding 67-24-3 record in their series of games with the Gophers.  However, the last three games between Minnesota and Michigan have been decided by a total of nine points including last season’s surprise 23-20 win by the Gophers in Ann Arbor. 

The college football world will be stunned if coach Glen Mason and the Gophers win Saturday night against the Wolverines in the Metrodome.   No. 6 Michigan is a refocused team from last season when the Wolverines were 7-5 and are led by new offensive and defensive coordinators.  Coach Lloyd Carr said the 7-5 record didn’t sit well with his players and now they have responded with a 4-0 start to the season including a domination of Notre Dame in South Bend, defeating an Irish team (47-21) that had national title dreams. 

With arguably the nation’s hottest receiver in Mario Willingham (twice Big Ten Conference Offensive Player of the Week this season) and many other talented players, the Wolverines could be on cruise control by halftime against the Gophers.  It will be interesting to see how Willingham performs against the Gophers defensive backs.  Then, too, the Minnesota defensive line will be challenged to mount a pass rush and stop probably the Big Ten’s best running back, Michael Hart. 

The Michigan defense?  It’s allowing less than 20 rushing yards per game.  Yes, Minnesota is known for its running attack.  No, 20 is not a typo.