Twins postgame: Team tries to avoid letdown vs. KC
Posted on September 26th, 2008 – 12:31 AMBy Joe Christensen
The Twins’ veterans were soaking in the incredible comeback victory, the sweep, the return to first place — all of it Thursday night. But they tried keeping the clubhouse focused on what lies ahead this weekend.
The Royals are 11-2 in their past 13 games and they’ll arrive at the Metrodome on Friday as a young team with nothing to lose.
“Tomorrow night’s just as important as tonight was,” Michael Cuddyer said. “We can’t forget what the Royals did for us in 2006, going into Detroit and sweeping [helping the Twins win the division title]. We have to remember that. We have to ride this emotion tonight and settle back down and focus tomorrow.”
The White Sox, meanwhile, are a much different team at home — just like the Twins — and they’ll be playing host to Cleveland.
“That’s a pretty good team over there [in the Chicago clubhouse],” Justin Morneau said. “They haven’t played [158] games just to go away at the end, so we can’t be satisfied.”
The Twins’ magic number to clinch the the division title is 4 — meaning any combination of Twins wins and White Sox losses totaling four, and Chicago will be eliminated.
“We still know we’ve got some work to do,” Joe Nathan said.
(*) X-rays on Kevin Slowey’s right wrist were negative, but Manager Ron Gardenhire said he was concerned. Slowey is very sore and will have an MRI exam today. Slowey was slated to pitch the one-game playoff against Chicago on Tuesday (if necc.), but now his availability for that start — or Round 1 of the playoffs — is in doubt.
(*) You wouldn’t have known the Twins have serious bullpen issues by watching the Chicago series. Their relievers allowed two runs on six hits in 12 1/3 innings. On Thursday, they allowed four hits and no walks in 6 1/3 innings.
(*) Batting race update: Joe Mauer went 3-for-5, raising his AL-best average to .330. Dustin Pedroia is at .325. (Corrected from earlier.)
40 Responses to "Twins postgame: Team tries to avoid letdown vs. KC"
Gee, you mean Cuddyer played, and the Twins won anyway?
Are we finally rid of the mentally-deficient Multiple Personality Disorder one-man freak show and his “Curse of Cuddyer”?
Yeah, sane, I just read that on the other blog.
Please consider this race tied, which it is in the loss column.
I’d expect the palehose to win 2 out of 3 with the depleted Cleveland (there are guys on suspension, right?).
Have to sweep KC. Starting pitching looks okay for the Twins.
Where’s Morneau?
Sorry, romer.
Old people (as I am becoming) repeat themselves.
Joe- Boston was not idle…they won 6-1. But you are right–Mauer is ahead of Pedroia. He is at .325. He went 1-3 against Cleveland.
Batting race update: Joe Mauer went 3-for-5, raising his AL-best average to .330. Boston was idle Thursday, and Dustin Pedroia is at .325.
If by “Boston was idle Thursday,” you mean “Boston played Cleveland Thursday,” then yes.
I don’t know what to expect of the Sox. They are not looking good and Cleveland is playing pretty well. Either way I want to see the Twins keep playing this way because if they do no doubt in my mind they will be in the playoffs.
Oh yeah… they’re talking Twins Magic Numbers again… WE’RE BACK! WE’LL SEE YOU IN OCTOBER!
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Yeah, just yesterday everyone was talking about the Sox’s “magic number.” Now the Twins are on top. Niiiiice.
funnest Twins game ever last night, my voice is destroyed today and the Dome was rockin! big thanks to Mr. Paul Froehle for the tickets!
The Twins got into first place by keeping Cuddyer out of the lineup. Cuddyer has been a curse on the Twins team ever since he returned to the clubhouse. Lets hope Gardenhire keeps the Twins good luck going and does not try mess things up by putting The Curse of the Cuddyer into the lineup against Kansas City. The Twins may already be doomed to failure in trying to win the divison championship because Gardenhire put Cuddyer into the lineup yesturday late in the game and he did nothing to helpt the team win. If Gardenhire puts Cuddyer into the starting lineup, the Twins will lose the championship to the White Sox. The Curse of the Cuddyer is hovering over the Twins fortunes.
Hey tom, or whoever, what’s your problem? Did Cuddles kick your puppie or something?
I hope Bremer cleaned the front of his pants. I know i needed to.
Yep the Twins can’t let up in the KC series. If they don’t sweep, it will be difficult to win the division. Hope Cleveland wants to ruin the Sox. I wouldn’t see anything wrong with DH’in Cuddy in a game
Nice segment on First Take Joe! way to represent!
Pedroia was 1-3 remaining at .325
The big thing here is to NOT EXHALE like the ‘06 Twins did after the late season come back to win the pennant on the last day. Then got swept in the first round of the playoffs with Oakland.
Hopefully the veterans remember the sting of the Oakland series in ‘06 and will not let the exhuberant young guys let down for the Royals series.
We ain’t there yet, gotta keep pushin’ !!
Great job two nights in a row in the pen.
Guerrier, Reyes, Bonser, Crain, Breslow and then Nathan (2 innings) pitched GREAT…..
Hitters got the runs but the bullpen should be credited with holding the fort.
Enough mistakes in the 4th to kill the game. Gomez, Buscher, Slowey, later Casilla…….
Great Comeback and Win!!!!!!!!
It makes me throw up in my mouth to see Pontu the center of attention. He spares me to death.
“The Blocks says: It makes me throw up in my mouth to see Pontu (Punto) the center of attention. He spares (scares) me to death.” Next time you’re vomiting, take the time to look at Punto’s stats; he is actually a very important part of the team. Really.
Consider our Twins tied for the lead. I’d assume that Chicago will win the make up game vs. Detroit on Monday.
The Chicago sweep gets us back in it. Now it’s how we play against KC that matters.
Chicago’s manager hasn’t helped his team. Not really saying the right things to motive them. And providing excuses for failure. Gardy’s not perfect - but at least he supports his team and credits the opponents.
Chicago may be a different team at home but I think they are also a different team after this series. From what I have read in the Chicago papers that clubhouse is falling apart and there is no unity, unlike the Twins. We’ll see what happens.
to all who continue to bash punto…he has had a great year and is an especially terrific defensive player and a tremendous “team” player. his ba is around .285, what is wrong with that? he had a rough year LAST YEAR…get over it!!
I second frankie’s incredulity over people’s continued hatred for LNP. I can’t remember anyone showing Greg Gagne the kind of disdain Punto has endured, and the best he ever hit as a Twin was .272. His worst average as an every day player was .225; compared to Punto’s, yes, awful .210 last year. The point is, they share excellence at their positions, mediocrity at the plate. They both do/did their part to help the Twins win.
Not that I would hate having Orlando Cabrera play shortstop in Minnesota next year in Punto’s stead.
Tonight’s game is HUGE, considering the match ups for tomorrow. A win tonight would put HUGE pressure on the Sox. Tonight is HUGE!
Is Lee pitching for Cleveland Sunday? I have heard yes and no. Gotta hope he does. Greinke got shut down by KC, so Twins do not face him Sunday.
Lee has a “stiff neck” and his availability to pitch Sunday is up in the air, from what I’ve read.
I think Cuddy could pick up some key hits in the last three games, and in the post-season.
It would be nice to have a 4th OF in the post-season. I don’t know if Cuddy can play the field yet, or how close he is. That’s a concern.
If the White Sox had a player like Nick Punto, they would have won at least five more games due to his ability to bunt, move runners over and steal bases. His fielding looks pretty good to me too. A player’s worth is measured by things other than his batting average.
Hubba-hubba-hubba, Nellie. You and Luis Aparicio were the best.
An Chico Carrasquel too
Fair Weather Kevin is back.
I was listening to the Sox station post game call in game show last night and all the fans there thought it was over for the Sox. I didnt get it. They are almost tied. Its not like they are three games down and the magic number for the Twins is one.
well, after reading the blogs all season on this site, if liriano’s first pitch is called a ball, lots of people here will say “that’s it. season is over. fire gardy. punto sucks. etc., etc., etc.”
You guys know, don’t you, that defending LNP in front of some of us is like waving a red flag in front of a bull. He is the biggest liability on the team and next to the word “unclutch” in the dictionary is his picture. But I don’t have the strength to fight it out tonight.
Hard to win a game if you don’t score! Let’s score a couple runs…
I don’t think the game plan the twins batters had is not working…
is working…
Hope the White Sox lose…
Okay, the White Sox are not going to lose and the Twins are going to lose so they will be a half game out. If the twins win the next two games and chicago loses two, then the twins clinch. If Chicago splits its next two games, and the twins win two games, they clinch if the Tigers can beat the White Sox. If the Twins lose the next two games, the best they can hope for is to play in the tiebreaker game…
Wait a second!
I looked at the WSox score wrong! Cleveland is winning 9-4, not chicago.
So if the twins lose tonight, and the WSox lose, then the Twins magic number is 3…
