1/9/2024 0 Comments Turn off sound for tomighty![]() “Instead of getting down on ourselves,’’ center fielder Byron Buxton says, “we turned it into anger. The players took it from there, and gathered for a 10-minute meeting, led by veterans Joe Mauer, Matt Belisle and Dozier. 1, the day after Kintzler was traded, and wrote on the white board: He walked into the visiting clubhouse at Petco Park on Aug. Twins manager Paul Molitor, whose contract expires at the year’s end, was just as upset as the players. Sure, they had lost 12 of their past 17 games, had dropped to five games back in the American League wild-card race, but there were still 59 games left in the season. They sent All-Star closer Brandon Kintzler, who had 28 saves, to the Washington Nationals, just two days after trading veteran starter Jaime Garcia to the Yankees. Instead of trying to bolster their team at the trade deadline like every other contender, they actually dumped players. Why, even their own front office doubted their validity. They likely won’t have a single player finish in the top 10 of the MVP race, and had only three pitchers win more than seven games. They outscored the opposition by only 27 runs all season. They’re the first team to lose 100 games - 103, more accurately - and reach the postseason the following year. The Twins have already defied the greatest of odds. “We’ve been playing with a chip on our shoulder, and it’s been working. “That’s what we’re shooting for,’’ Twins second baseman Brian Dozier says. Yet, this is all about money, ratings, and marketing opportunities. The clubhouse is filled with guys you want to emulate. The marketing folks will tell you their affinity for the Yankees is nothing personal. But they’d be smart not to take us lightly, either.’’ They’re a damn good team, and nearly won the AL East, so it’s not someone we take lightly. “I know they’re a good team, and we got swept here 10 days ago, but that was 10 days ago. It was like they were already giving the game to the Yankees. I was watching SportsCenter (Monday) morning, and it was ridiculous. “We’re kind of the red-headed stepchild,’’ Twins catcher Chris Gimenez tells USA TODAY Sports, “of everything that goes against playoff baseball. If the Twins win and advance to play the Cleveland Indians, that screaming sound you’ll hear will be from the folks on Park Avenue and in the TV studios. ![]() ET Tuesday (ESPN) in a winner-take-all American League wild-card game at Yankee Stadium. The team that Major League Baseball and its former ownership couldn’t kill off is on Broadway, facing the powerful New York Yankees at 8 p.m. Well, here are the Minnesota Twins, still standing, and looming as baseball’s greatest nightmare, threatening to devastate the TV ratings and marketing campaign. Photo: AP Photo/Jim MoneĪnd the baseball world watched in merriment as they became irrelevant, even giving up on themselves at this year’s trade deadline. Rosario had three home runs as the Twins won 20-7. Minnesota Twins' Joe Mauer, right, congratulates Eddie Rosario after his second home runs against the Seattle Mariners, during the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 13, 2017, in Minneapolis.
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