Twins, Yankees will renew lopsided rivalry
Twins star Joe Mauer remembers well all those October losses to the New York 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 postseason 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 go-round. 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.
“Have to be careful with him,” Santana said. “Don’t try to leave any cookies right there.” Atlanta GM resigns:
John Coppolella was forced to resign as Braves general manager after an investigation by Major League Baseball revealed serious rules violations in the international player market.
Gordon Blakeley, a special assistant to the GM who was the team’s international scouting chief, also has resigned. Braves president John
Hart will take over GM duties while the team searches for a full-time replacement.
Hart said the Braves cooperated when they first learned of the investigation “in the past couple weeks.” He wouldn’t reveal details of the rules violations but he did say they did not involve criminal activity.
Hart didn’t know if the Braves would be penalized by MLB. But he acknowledged there was no agreement for lesser penalties in exchange for Coppolella’s resignation.