MAKE GLOVE NOT W.A.R.—Twins and Yankees On Post Season Collision Course.
A month ago, you guys thought it was pure Pulltab Sports clickbait that I picked the Yankees and Twins to meet in the first round of the playoffs.
Was it? I’ll never tell. But don’t look now - 11.7 percent into the regular season, “if the playoffs started today,” they wouldn’t meet in the first round of the playoffs because they’re both division leaders!
The years of Alex Colomé bombing in the ninth are long gone. The Twins have won seven straight one-run games. Target Field is suddenly a difficult place to play for opponents - the Twins have won nine straight at home. Now if the fans will just take notice that the weather has turned and start showing up to some games.
How did we get here?
Star Power
As Byron Buxton goes, so go the Minnesota Twins. And as we’ve seen the last couple years, when Buxton doesn’t go, the Twins’ season goes into the dumpster fire that is Minnesota sports.
Buxton has dealt with two what are believed to be minor injuries this season. Buxton missed Sunday’s series sweep of the A’s with a “low level” hip strain - but when healthy has by and large been the MVP candidate we all know he can be. What kind of precedent has this man set that he’s missed 10 of 29 games, and we are rejoicing?!?
“Buck” is leading the majors with nine home runs. He’s batting. 278 - and we know he can go higher, having batted over .300 last year. Even the New York Times took notice this past weekend.
Buxton has done everything. A hundred thousand people will tell you they were there for this towering walkoff home run against former Twin Liam Hendricks.
Carlos Correa is also out of the lineup with a finger injury. Correa is he’s lucky it’s not broken, but after a slow start he’s come around, and more importantly seems to be loving Minnesota.
Starting Pitching
Thad Levine fleeced the Tampa Bay Rays. We didn’t necessarily know it at the time. But he got Twins’ blossoming 25-year-old ace Joe Ryan from Tampa Bay for two months of Nelson Cruz. We all assumed “Nellie” was going to sign back with the Twins, but the fact he didn’t makes this trade no less impressive.
Ryan was a former first-round pick who recently competed for the Olympic Team. He impressed enough in five starts late last season. But how about the kid now? He’s 3-1 in five starts with a 1.63 ERA. He’s struck out more than a batter per inning. Ryan is averaging almost six innings per start, in a season with shortened spring training, and a manager who treats every starter with kid gloves.
Ryan is the top of the rotation starter this team hasn’t had in a long time. And he’s not a free agent until 2028. And he makes a little over $700,000 this year!
I joked before the season that the Twins had six middle-of-the road starting pitchers. But even behind Ryan, they’ve been more than fine. And they need all six, with Dylan Bundy and Bailey Ober on the injured list.
The relievers have been no slouch either – it’s amazing what can happen when your starters last more than two innings. Caleb Thielbar has been…not good…but the rest of the ‘pen has done its job. How about veteran righty Joe Smith? No runs in 12 appearances. The rookie stud Jhoan Duran has struck out 24 in 14 ⅔ innings and has walked only three.
Duran has a pair of saves - Emilio Pagan has four, including a dicey closeout on Sunday against Oakland. Pagan is coming off two erratic years in San Diego, at some point this season you have to think Duran becomes “the guy” full time.
Depth
Injuries and Covid have taken their toll on the Twins early this season, but it could be so much worse. Can you imagine this team the last few years continuing to win games with the likes of Buxton, Correa, Luis Arraez and Miguel Sanó (thank you for your service, Miguel) on the sideline?
What was your favorite Miguel Sanó as a Twin moment?
Trevor Larnach (on 10-day IL) hit .223 in half a season as a rookie in 2021. He’s almost .100 points higher in 20 games this year. We knew that Gary Sanchez wouldn’t catch every day. But Ryan Jeffers has put up similar stats (albeit not great ones), and is better behind the plate. Correa’s injury is unfortunate, but it’s given top prospect Royce Lewis a chance to come up and contribute. Do-it-all man Gillberto Celestino is hitting .324 in a part-time role.
This team didn’t have major league talent ready to fill in for much of the last decade. They do now.
What’s Next
I’m not entirely ready to crown this team a World Series contender. But honestly, who in the American League scares you, at least with the way the Twins are playing now?
Offense is down everywhere. It’s a hard game to watch. The Twins only have two regulars hitting over .240. But have you looked around the league?
Three at home against the Astros will be a good test this week. Then three at home against Cleveland, and on the road in Oakland and Kansas City.
Ryan Stanzel is a PR pro and freelance content creator based in the East Metro. Follow him on Twitter or e-mail him here.
