Brilliance, courtesy of MCA
From July 2008 on FTLOSBW:
July 25, 2008
Minnesota Twins : NY Yankees :: Washington Generals : Harlem Globetrotters
Part I (the facts):In the wake of the latest (and last, but does anyone really think things will magically change across the street?) all-too-predictable Twins meltdown in Yankee Stadium, I've decided the Twins' utter impotency against the Yankees needs to be brought to the fore and vociferously bitched about. I am a very patient, low expectation, proud of my little engine that could Twins fan. Honestly. So, please excuse the theatrics, and cover your children's eyes. I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore!
I will not fucking stand by and watch us get shelled time and time and time and time again by this fading, aging has been dynasty any more without speaking up. It's one thing to struggle a bit against the king of the hill. This is quite another, and frankly, in case you hadn't noticed, it's got me infuriated. I simply can't take any more shoulder shrugging at this incomprehensible futility.
So, to prove that this isn't all in my head, I've crunched some numbers. These are all contained within the otherwise highly successful Gardenhire era, from 2002 to the present. 4 playoff appearances, 5.5 winning seasons in 6.5, one ALCS appearance. So, bear in mind we're not talking about a bad stretch generally in which our totally fucked mentality against the Yankees doesn't stand out from generally poor play or something. Other than the fact that we haven't won a World Series in this current run, these are basically glory years for a small market franchise like ours.
Here's where we're at, then, in the Gardy era, when it comes to the Bombers:1. The Twins have THE WORST RECORD IN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE AGAINST THE YANKEES.2. IT IS NOT EVEN CLOSE.3. 9-14 at the Dome, 3-19 (THREE AND NINETEEN!!!) on the road. That's 12-33 overall, a .266 winning percentage. Just for fun, if we played a full season as pathetically as we play the Yankees, we would finish 43-119, with an impressive 11-70 record on the road. Not once have we taken a season series over the Yankees in the period in question. (Notably, in TK's last season, we did, finishing 4-2 and winning a series in Yankee Stadium. Somehow this occurred even before the glorious birth of the full-time majors career of Johan Christ Santana.)4. Over the same period, the Yankees have played .600 baseball (647-425, .6035). Against teams other than the Twins, they're 614-413, or .5978.5. Thus, if the Twins played as well as just your average .500 team, they should expect about a .400 winning percentage against the Yankees. This would lead to an 18-27 record. So, basically, we've dropped a game a season to the Yankees when compared to the mythical .500 team. That doesn't sound like much, but considering the fact that with the unbalanced schedule we've actually only played the Yankees less than 6.5 games a year over that span, it's completely astounding. Every season, we basically have to face the Yankees less than any other team in the league, and yet we still spot everyone at least one game in the standings based on our performance against the Yankees. That is appalling.6. Of course, the Twins are not your average .500 team. During the Gardy era, the Twins are significantly better than .500. They sport a .5494 winning percentage over that period (589-483), and .5618 against all teams other than the Yankees. A roughly analogously successful team generally during this period might be, say, Oakland (599-474, .5582). How have they fared against the mighty Yankees and their unfathomably powerful mystique, you might ask? 25-32, .438. 7. The Kansas City Royals, most likely the worst team in the American League overall since 2002, are 14-36 (.280) against the Yankees in that span. The Tigers, who prior to 2005 could claim that mantle of worst team in the AL, are 17-31 (.354). The [Devil] Rays, who other than this season have generally been atrocious forever? 43-80, or .350. The WORST teams in the league are significantly better against the Yankees than the Twins are.
Part II, entitled "In What World Is This Possible?" to come, in which theories for this atrocity are explored, and we can brainstorm on what needs to be done. I do mind, the Dude minds. This will not stand.
Labels: Minnesota Twins, Yankees
6 Comments:
MCA - HOF material. I remember it now.
July 9, 2009 at 12:49 PM
It's groundhog day. Save this piece for next year as well.
July 9, 2009 at 1:10 PM
BG, thanks for re-posting this. Parts II (Why?) and III (What to do) are still open for discussion.
I just want to read somewhere that after a game like Tuesday night's Gardenhire took an armful of bats, threw them into the showers and started ranting and raving about lollygagging. Why isn't someone associated with the team pissed off about this total ineptitude? Maybe they are, but I'd like to know about it. Half of my frustration is from the impression that no one's actually doing anything out of the ordinary to try to rectify this.
By the way, wtf is up with Morneau skipping the Home Run Derby? Read about it on the elevator but haven't looked into his reasoning. Is there a legit reason other than fear of the mythical "ruining his swing for the second half?"
July 9, 2009 at 3:14 PM
What kills me is that our incompetence against them cost us the division last year, and may do it again this year. If we had even won 2 out of 7 games, we would have won the division (I know, you can't make these sorts of arguments and expect people to buy it, but I'm going to anyway). This year, with only 2 wins out of 7 games, we'd be a game out of first place instead of 4+. BRUTAL.
July 9, 2009 at 3:23 PM
Brillant indeed MCA, it is sad that we have to keep revisiting this subject.. have I mentioned lately that I hate the Yankees?
It would be one thing to have this ineptitude at Yankee Stadium (at least the old Yankee Stadium) that place was a dauntng place to go into...but to not be able to do it at home??? no excuses- Gardy needs to pull the wig off the pig- and make these guys realize the yankees can be beat.
I heard that M pulled out due to worries about fatgiue (less about him not wanting to screw up his swing)... I know, I know, but that is what I read.
July 9, 2009 at 4:26 PM
Jaysus fucking Christmas, we lost again? 0-7.
If those guys don't come out tomorrow and look like they want to beat the holy fuck out of the ChiSox this weekend, I will be seriously pissed. Ozzie and co. need to be put in their place, stat. One of the columnists here said on Monday that they're the obvious choice to win the division at this point. Mind you, this was prior to us choking away two games in the standings to them at home against New York, but my reaction was "Fuck you, are you fucking kidding me?" That team's got maybe 2 guys who'll finish with BA's over .300, and the back of the rotation's alternatively hanging on by a thread or a total mess. They're just as likely to go into a 4-13 tailspin as they are to get out ahead of the division. We'd goddamned better not help them do the latter. If we don't take this series, we're in big, big trouble.
Who's pitching tomorrow? If I were Gardy, I would tell him to plunk AJ the first time he comes up. Get this team's juices flowing.
And maybe that's my answer, ultimately, on the Yankees thing, too. First time we face them next year, I'm telling Baker to drill ARod. Get in that team's grill and see if they don't blink a little. Plus you get to show some spark instead of just cowering in fear. I don't know quite why, but I feel like this is a wild card that might shake things up. Like hitting a reset button - incite a little pandemonium to loosen the status quo from its moorings.
July 9, 2009 at 5:25 PM
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