Remarkable Twins keep the heat on

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 9/14/2006

Watching the Minnesota Twins in 2006 has been a treat — it’s hard to remember a season quite like this one. In 1987 and 1991 the Twins were World Series champions, but those teams had Kirby Puckett. One of the single greatest players to ever play the game, he led the way with his bat, glove and heart and put those teams on his back.

 

In 1987, the names Frank Viola and Bert Blyleven anchored the starting pitching staff. In 1991 it was Scott Erickson and Jack Morris, and of course both teams were managed superbly by Tom Kelly.

 

Both of those teams were 4-0 at the Metrodome in the World Series in seven-game series wins against St. Louis and Atlanta in ’87 and ’91. This year’s team still has some work to do with 20 games left and some tough games to play.

 

The Twins are 83-59 in second place in the rugged American League Central. After taking three of four games from the first-place Detroit Tigers, including three in a row over the weekend, it’s beginning to look like 1987 and ’91 all over again.

 

All year, the Twins organization has honored the memory of Puckett with his number 34 on the uniforms and with 34 on the third- and first-base sides of the infield. During the seventh-inning stretch, a powerful video music salute is played on the giant screens to remind everyone of the tragic loss last March when Puckett suddenly died in Arizona.

 

This year’s team has heart, and boy do they have a will to win. In many ways they have done it this year with mirrors when you consider all the injuries and changes this team has made. But they just keep winning; they are now finished with Detroit for the season after playing them 19 games.

 

Detroit finished 11-8 against the Twins, and that margin is what separates the two teams in the division: The Tigers lead the Twins by two games. The Twins now lead the Chicago White Sox by a game and a half in the Wild Card race.

 

Six teams in Major League Baseball have won 80 or more games: the runaway New York Mets with 88, Detroit with 86, the Yankees with 85, both Oakland and Chicago with 82 each, and the Twins with 83. It’s a fight to the finish.

 

I’m convinced one of these six teams will win the World Series. Manager Ron Gardenhire has been like a magician and could be the American League Manager of the Year. He has pushed all the right buttons.

 

This team has overcome many injuries, and the strength of the Twins farm system under General Manager Terry Ryan has been the backbone for helping fill the voids. Rookie sensation All-Star Francisco Liriano, 12-3 with an ERA of 2.19 and still the best in baseball, has missed the last three weeks. Brad Radke, 12-9 and the veteran of the staff with a bum right shoulder, has missed the last two weeks. The Twins are hopeful of getting one or both of them back down the stretch.

 

Catcher Joe Mauer has had a tremendous year, leading the majors in hitting with a current .350 batting average. First baseman Justin Morneau has been an MVP candidate, hitting .320 with 33 homeruns and 118 RBIs. Johan Santana is 18-5 and closing in on another Cy Young award; he leads the majors in wins (18), strikeouts (219), and the lowest ERA in the American League at 2.75. He has been sensational.

 

The Twins play the American League West-leading Oakland A’s in a huge three-game series starting Monday, September 11, at the Dome. The Twins are 48-23 at home — that’s the best home record in baseball. Since May 22, the Twins have been the best team in baseball with a 64-34 record. The great race in the AL Central with Detroit, Minnesota and Chicago is the closest three-team race since 1977.

 

That year, the New York Yankees (100-62), Baltimore (97-64), and Boston (97-64) dueled it out. It has happened twice before where three teams in the same division won 90 or more games. In 2002 in the AL West, Oakland (103), Anaheim (99), and Seattle (93) won 90 or more games. In the NL West, it was Arizona (98), San Francisco (95), and Los Angeles (92).

 

What teams with the best records have missed the playoffs in recent years? Last year, remember, Cleveland was 93-69. In 2003, Seattle was 93-69. In 2002, both Boston and Seattle were 93-69. All missed the playoffs.

 

So buckle up, Twins fans. Three teams separated by three and a half games — Detroit, the Twins, and Chicago — are left fighting for two playoff spots with 20 games left. One will not make it.

 

 The Twins play the last three games of the regular season at the Dome against the defending World Champion White Sox. The Twins are 9-7 and head-to-head with the White Sox.   

 

 Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio, 89.9 FM, at 8:20 am, and Monday evenings 6-7 pm. He welcomes reader responses to lfitzgerald@spokesman-recorder.com, or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com.