A Disappointing End

The Minnesota Twins' run in the postseason ended abruptly Saturday night after one of their most impressive regular seasons in recent memory. Despite facing their seemingly unbeatable arch-rivals, the New York Yankees, optimism was still high in Minnesota, and popular opinion was that this would finally be the year the Twins would end up on top if these two teams met in the playoffs, even though though Minnesota had been struggling towards the end of the year.

Regardless, three games later the results are the same as the last three times New York and Minnesota have met- the Yankees are going on, and the Twins are stuck watching the rest of the postseason unfold on their couches. Twins hitters only managed seven runs through three games against the Yankees' stellar pitching staff. Minnesota was outhit at a clip of 33 hits to 21 and outscored by 10 runs in the series. All of the fault can't be places on the Twins' bats, however. No starting pitcher gave up less than four earned runs in any game, with Brian Duensing giving the crowning performance in the finale with five through 3.1 innings. It truly looked like the nerves had gotten to the Twins, with no primer example than the sixth inning in the opening game. Starter Francisco Liriano had cruised through the first five innings before running into a impassable mental roadblock. In what could likely be called the turning point of the series, Liriano gave up four funs on three huge hits to Robinson Cano, Jorge Posada and Curtis Granderson. The Twins hitter didn't exactly do their part to support Liriano. Had the Twins managed to strand less than an amazing 10 left on base, the series could have ended up differently than it did. Nonetheless, the Twins weren't able to take advantage of the opportunities they were given, and the Yankees experienced very little resistance in putting the away the rest of the series.

So where should the blame be placed for the early exit? On the shoulders of the hitters, pitching staff and manager Ron Gardenhire, most likely. The pitchers were average while the hitters, including superstar catcher Joe Mauer and fan favorite Jim Thome, seldom gave the ball-throwers any sort of cushion, with the exception of the first game, where the Twins scored a generous four runs. Mauer and Thome only managed four hits combined in the series, although Thome did score two runs in the opener. The Twins hit two home runs against the Yankees and it was apparent that the power just was not there. The ability to hold onto a lead in the first two games was another vital reason the Twins were unable to pull off the upset. Liriano was given a three-run lead in the first game before suffering his meltdown in the sixth, and Game 2 starter Carl Pavano was given a run off the bat in the second inning. Ron Gardenhire also made a few questionable managerial decisions during the series and, after giving one of his signature performances, was ejected in Game 2 after arguing balls and strikes. No matter how one looks at it, it was a group disappointment, from the coaches to the players.