| Steve Cernak. 31st August, 2005 - 5:09 pm
 The Minnesota Twins just won their most important series of the year against the Kansas City Royals and a sweep is still possible.
Going into the 2005 season, Minnesota was the trendy pick to win 2005 World Series. Fast forward to today and any team with a 3.60 team ERA--best in the AL--and is anchored by Johan Santana and Joe Nathan will be dangerous come October. Their anemic line-up looks better in a playoff setting because manager Ron Gardenhire knows how to get his club to manufacture runs, but his batters need to take advantage of weaker pitching in September to get to October.
Sitting 11 games back of Chicago in the Central Division, the only way to make those predictions come true is to overtake three teams and 4.5 games for a Wild Card berth. That classified this series against a bad team as a-must-win-and-sweep-if-possible situation.
"I'm not of the mind-set we're out of this thing," Minnesota General Manager Ryan Terry Ryan said to the Star Tribune. "We aren't to a point in the standings where we can't overcome that (deficit). It doesn't matter (that three teams are ahead of us). We've got ample opportunities against most of the teams ahead of us."
Minnesota faces divisional foe and Wild Card contender Cleveland for six of nine games following the three game series at Kansas City. Minnesota also plays Oakland, and depending on the series outcome with Anaheim, Minnesota could very well be jockeying for Wild Card positioning.
Minnesota also has winnable series against a Texas team that struggles on the road, Kansas City again, and Detroit for not one, but two more serious matchups.
Last night Joe Mauer drove in four runs on a triple, single and double falling a homer short of Minnesota first cycle since Kirby Puckett's on August 1, 1986. Mauer, 22, the rare catcher who can hit with power to all fields with average finally got some protection. Mauer and Morneau elicited comparisons to Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris earlier in their young careers, but so far only Mauer has been doing his part.
Gardenhire had Morneau batting clean-up where he was in a 2 for 21 slump. The Royals took advantage by intentionally walking Mauer twice on Monday to get to Morneau. Gardenhire slid Morneau to the seventh spot, where he hit a three-run homer, and batted Jacque Jones clean-up. As a result, Mauer exploded and everyone else had a hit.
"We mixed the lineup to try to protect [Mauer] just a little bit and put somebody behind him they at least have to think about," Gardenhire told MLB.com. "When he gets an opportunity to swing, he does pretty good."
Mauer is more than capable to fill the offensive void left by Torii Hunter's injury if he continues to get protection.
A CT scan was taken on Hunter's fractured left ankle and results showed it is healing well. Team physician John Stubbs will meet with Hunter today to determine a rehabilitation plan. Hunter's rehab could make or break Minnesota's playoffs hopes as the offense needs as much support as it can get.
With Shannon Stewart getting ready to suit up after running into a wall, Mauer and company should have more oppurtunities to drive in runs.
While Minnesota need hitting more than pitching, pay attention to RHP John Baker. In four games and three starts Baker is 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and .214 BAA. Perhaps the most intriguing number is lefties are only hitting .222 against him. With Santana, Brad Radke, Carlos Silva, and now Baker, Minnesota will not be blown out of many games. Now, if the offense continues generating runs, not only will Minnesota be playing come October they might make a few trendy predictions come true. |
