For Minnesota, the magic number for clinching the American League Central title (8) is smaller than the Twins’ lead in the division (9).
Since the All-Star break no one has been better than the Twins this year—and over the past 50 years there are only two teams that have been this good.
At 88-58, they are but one half-game from the best record in all of baseball and home-field advantage through the American League Championship Series.
The Twins are near the top of the team leader boards for defense, offense and pitching.
Their .278 batting average is tied with the Rangers for tops in the league.
They have the second-best fielding percentage of .988, behind the Yankees’ .989.
Their team ERA is 3.77, second only to the Oakland A’s at 3.59.
Include the inaugural season of Target Field, and all of this points to a potential third World Series championship for the Minnesota Nine.
Yet something just doesn’t feel right.
Here’s my look at five things that just “feel” wrong, and an attempt to change that—in my own mind, at least.