Minnesota’s Ideal Path Through the AL Playoffs

Better, but less likely....get hot in the 5-game to knock off the Yankees...and the Astros somehow get upset on the other side. (Or if you like, get hot/lucky against the Astros in the ALDS, and the Yankees are upset on the other side.) Meanwhile, the Dodgers lose the NL pennant...to someone other than an experienced and hot Cubs club...and probably someone other than the Nations, as well.

No team is simply going to walk through all three of Houston, the Yankees, and the Dodgers. In a theoretical world where all the ‘best of the rest’ (either league) had to face that gauntlet, I’d give the Twins and the Nationals the best chance...but, no.

Obviously, this is all speculation. But I will say that any Yankee "jinx", IMO, is over. Different seasons and different players involved. This team doesn't seem to have any fear or doubts about themselves.

It's a long season, and things change for all teams, but if I'm not mistaken, didn't the Twins win the season series against Houston?

I don't knkw if there is an "ideal" situation. You still have to face a very good team and win. But if I could write the story, the Twins would play Houston first and win. They would then face the Evil Empire from N.Y. and beat up their starting staff and make the WS, exercising any remaining ghosts of the past.

Nothing would please me more than sticking it to the Yankees in _any_ playoff series.

I want Houston first round, and that’s what I think we’ll get.

I want the short series to be against Houston, as mentioned. I want to have to win as few games against that pitching staff as possible.

I’m not interested in the easiest route to the second round. The Twins’ best chance at winning the World Series, IMO, is taking the Astros out early. Talk about setting a tone. The clubhouse confidence level would be through the roof.

How would the Yankees (or Wild Card) feel about facing a team that just homered their way past Verlander, Cole, and Grienke? The Twins are built even better for that slow pitch softball yard in New York than the Yankees....and they’re running out the rotting zombie corpses of Tanaka and Happ after German? I’d feel pretty darn good at that point.

They're going to need to score a ton to win a playoff series.

The best route is getting the WC in the ALDS then NY in the ALCS. I like the Twins offense matching up against the Yankee's starting pitching. Since that won't happen, I hope Houston gets the WC and gets knocked off while MN gets NY in the ALDS. 

Houston is a nightmare matchup for the Twins. 

If I'm Houston or New York I wouldn't feel all that great going against the Indians. I think Cleveland would be tough in a 5 game series.

Twins vs Indians in the 2019 ALCS!

I just think it's kinda cool that the three teams leading their NL Divisions are all past World Series opponents for the Twins: Dodgers ('65), Cardinals ('87), and Braves ('91.) A rematch against any of them would be fun and bring out the nostalgia. 

Twins need to win today against the Red Sox. Talking about playoff match ups now; might as well speculate about next year's schedule.

Right now, I only care about the Twins making the playoffs.

Once the Twins make the playoffs, everything else will take care of itself.

Championship caliber teams don't worry about the opposition. Bring 'em on.

At their best this season, I've seen some of that swagger from the Bomba Squad. 

This last month should tell us all we need to know.

Yanks in the opening round, kick their butts to get that off our back. Then, an epic ALCS against Houston.We don't have the pitching to beat them, but then again, Adrianza would never homer off Verlander to win a 1-0 game. So, basically, beat the Yankees and hope for some magic. 

I told Matt Braun in our podcast I would much rather face the Yankees over the Astros and he wasn't having it. The New York curse still lingers I suppose. The only way to break the curse is to beat the Yankees this year.

Slightly off-topic, but I want to comment on having 2 wild card teams. I think MLB added the second team to give another team a chance to make the postseason. (BTW postseason is the correct term, not playoffs.) But I think the best thing is that having two wild card teams puts a premium on winning a division. With one wild card team that team has essentially the same postseason as the division champions. The single postseason game that involves two wild card teams means that advancing is much more uncertain, and whoever advances has used its number one starter and possibly weakened its bullpen going into a series against a team with its number one starter and fresh bullpen. And the next game is a number three starter for the wild card team against the number two starter for the opposition. That's why it's very important these days to win your division if possible.

Any chance we can face the Orioles and Royals? The Tigers play us to hard. The question is - how many expect us to beat the big guys?

Ideal path: Rain out after every game so they never play two in a row so the better bullpen boys can pitch every game.

Of course, they would have to play until like Thanksgiving, but hey. Whatever works.

I just think it's kinda cool that the three teams leading their NL Divisions are all past World Series opponents for the Twins: Dodgers ('65), Cardinals ('87), and Braves ('91.) A rematch against any of them would be fun and bring out the nostalgia. 

Would definitely need to watch the replays of those games to get the vibe right! Go Twins!

I'll note that Severino is coming back soon.

No guarantee that he will be where he was last year. I'd take my chances.

Ideal path:

Twins play the Yankees with New York having the home field advantage and sweep them.

(Whatever happens after that, I'll be happy.)

After next 9 games we will know much more about where we will fall into playoff picture.  I think we will win division, unless Cleveland can take 5 of remaining 6 or all 6, against us.  I think we will be road team, but looking at our record that may be a good thing.  

It really does not matter who we play, most likely if we want to get the ship we will need to beat both Houston and New York.  We can beat either, and both have dealt with injuries all year on and off.  New York has major pitching problems, but our pitchers did nothing to stop their lineup either.  

Should be a fun October.