Don’t you love September baseball?
The crisp, fresh air, the crack of the bat, the cheer of the crowd, the chase for October. It’s what America’s pastime is all about.
The fantastic thing about this September? The Twins are right in the thick of the AL playoff chase, and are helping causes on a day-to-day basis.
Granted, those causes may not be their own, but game by game, inning by inning, pitch by pitch, Minnesota is giving the more fortunate a chance to succeed in the second season.
For those of you Twins fans that may have forgotten, the second season is defined as the season after the regular season, also known as playoffs. For a definition of playoffs, click here.
Just look at how happy Minnesota made Oakland Sunday.
How about Scott Diamond last night? A model example of what this 2013 Minnesota Twins team is all about.
What a giver. That fourth inning last night brings a tear to the eye.
That same inning gave Detroit a spot in the aforementioned second season, and there may be more tonight, with a Cleveland loss or Tiger win giving Detroit the AL Central title.
Meanwhile, the next lucky devils to face the Twins, the Cleveland Indians, were busy making sure they stayed in the Wild Card lead, with a walk-off homer from old grey beard himself.
That win by Cleveland kept them one game clear of Texas and tied with Tampa Bay in an AL Wild Card chase that will see two teams get into the 2013 postseason, with the Indians coming to Target Field tomorrow.
Oakland for a division title Sunday, a playoff spot for Detroit last night, a possible AL Central title tonight, and a Cleveland team that, should they make the playoffs, will clinch in one of the four games they play Minnesota to end the regular season.
What a treat.
The Twins have been in a giving mood lately, to the tune of giving opponents 15 of their last 20 games, allowing six-plus runs 11 of those 20 games.
Heck, let’s be honest, it’s not just lately the Twins have decided they’d rather give than receive wins and runs. They’re 66-91, and have been outscored by 158 runs this season, the second most giving team in baseball aside from Houston.
So why stop now Twins? Keep up the Minnesota nice that has gotten you here and make history by giving three teams a playoff spot within a week.
Help Detroit tonight, help Cleveland tomorrow, be the quiet, unselfish bunch that you are.
Giving: It’s what September baseball at Target Field is all about.
