Yankees, Twins renew one-sided rivalry in wild-card game
NEW YORK (AP) — Twins star Joe Mauer remembers well all those October losses to the Yankees. So too, surely, do Minnesota’s fans.
Around the rest of the Twins clubhouse, though, it may as well be ancient history.
Back in the playoffs for the first time in seven years, Mauer and upstart Minnesota will face New York in the AL wild-card game Tuesday night hoping to turn around what has been a one-sided post-season rivalry.
New York eliminated the small-market Twins in the Division Series four times from 2003-10, repeatedly dashing the World Series aspirations of a largely homegrown lineup.
“Somebody asked me earlier, ‘Does it feel like seven years?”’ Mauer said. “I said, ‘Yes, and all of that.”’
Mauer is the only holdover from that era. Minnesota now has a new batch of budding young stars, and it’s a group that’s already wrecked some history.
Powered by Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton, these Twins became the first team ever to go from 100 losses one year to the playoffs the next.
“I’m really excited for this group to experience this,” Mauer said. “There’s a lot of guys in our clubhouse that this is their first goround. I was just real happy. It’s been a special year to see these guys kind of grow.”
This time, Minnesota won’t be running into playoff-proven Yankee greats like Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera.
Like the Twins, New York has been fueled by its burgeoning big leaguers. AL MVP hopeful Aaron Judge headlines the crew, which also includes Tuesday’s starter Luis Severino and catcher Gary Sanchez.
Only Brett Gardner, Greg Bird, Didi Gregorius and Chase Headley started for New York in their previous wild-card appearance, a 3-0 loss to Dallas Keuchel and the Astros in 2015.
“The faces have changed so much,” said Yankees manager Joe Girardi, who managed New York past Minnesota in the 2009 and ‘10 ALDS.
The 6-foot-7 Judge set a rookie record with 52 homers this year and has become the new face of the franchise. He even has his own cheering section at Yankee Stadium — The Judge’s Chambers in right field, which will host a group of Bronx school kids Tuesday.
Limiting Judge may be the most pivotal task for Twins starter Ervin Santana.
DECIDING ON SANO
As of Monday afternoon, Twins manager Paul Molitor hadn’t decided on Sano’s status for the game, although he was optimistic Sano would play. The slugger has been recovering from a stress reaction in his left shin.
Sano missed 38 games before returning Friday, and then he was pinch hit for Sunday after feeling some discomfort in the leg. He’ll at least be available off the bench.
GUESSING GAME
Severino, 23, will start after going 14-6 with a 2.98 ERA in a breakout regular season. He averaged 97.6 mph on his fastball and paired it with a powerful slider and improved changeup.
MORE FUN WITH FUNDAMENTALS
So how did Minnesota go from 59-103 in 2016 to the playoffs this year? A big key was a renewed focus on fundamentals.
In spring training, the Twins packed players into classrooms to talk baserunning and defence. Minnesota finished 10th in the majors with 17 defensive runs saved after finishing 28th at minus-49 runs in 2016. The Twins also led the majors with 28 bunts.
WHAT A RELIEF
The Yankees have a trio of all-stars at the back of their bullpen in Aroldis Chapman, Dellin Betances and David Robertson, plus two of baseball’s best middle relievers in Chad Green and Tommy Kahnle.