The Twins have the second-easiest remaining schedule in MLB, so this should be a good opportunity to kick on and secure a playoff spot, right?
Wrong.
After coming out of the All-Star Break by going on a 9-2 run including sweeps over the Oakland A’s and Chicago White Sox, the Twins have subsequently lost five in a row, including this weekend’s disastrous sweep to the last-placed Kansas City Royals.
And one of the angriest places you could find on the internet on Sunday evening was in the responses to the Minnesota Twins’ announcement of the 2-1 loss.
A sweep to the lowly Royals, who came into the series with the worst record in baseball, is just about enough for many fans who are looking at a team that may well yet win the division, but look nowhere near being a team that can end the Twins’ 18-game playoff losing streak.
Among the comments on Facebook:
“Thank goodness this is the finale. One can only be embarrassed so often.”
“They shouldn’t even bother being buyers….ridiculous how they are playing, going to take more than 1-2 guys to turn this mess around…plus need a whole new coaching staff.”
“The only thing that comes to mind is ‘pathetic!’ The third worst team in the majors and we gift them a sweep!”
You get the gist.
On Twitter, it was an ominous sign that “Gallo” was trending, with Rocco Baldelli bringing in Joey Gallo to pinch hit for the final out, with one on base and the Twins down one.
Gallo, who now has an abysmal .178 batting average, managed to get the count to 3-1 before getting a strike call looking at a fastball right down the middle.
Another pitch off the right edge, a swing, and he struck out to end the game.
Please let that be the last Joey Gallo at bat we had to witness. I was excited when he signed and he had a great first few weeks but he is totally cooked.
— Twins Central (@TwinsCentral1) July 30, 2023
Fire Rocco. DFA Gallo. This isn't hard. #Twins #MLB
— EJ (@jessejames3ball) July 31, 2023
Rocco expecting anything different from Gallo is delusional #MINvsKC
— Brianna N (@BriannaN19) July 30, 2023
The trade deadline is approaching and the Twins appear to need far more reconstruction than it’s worth trading some highly touted prospects for. We’ll watch this space to see how things shake out from here.
