Twins’ Homers

Now that Jorge Polanco and Jonathan Schoop have each reached the 20 home run mark, giving the Twins eight players with that figure – a new Major League record – my Minnesota negativism has me worried about something just as important: although the Twins have broken the Major League record for home runs in one season, set by the Yankees last year, I fear that this year’s Yankees will overtake the Twins and own the record by year-end. The Yankees set a record in August for home runs in a month, and they are continuing at about that pace. I don’t know if the Twins are much more than a dozen ahead at this point; and when the Yankees hit five in a game, as they did yesterday, that lead can disappear pretty quickly. The Twins’ only edge may be the inferior pitching they will be facing the rest of the year.
I am so caught up in the home run game that I almost don’t care if they lose, so long as they hit at least two homers. If Cleveland makes a run for the division lead I may feel differently, but the Indians are so crippled by injuries – losing Ramirez and Naquin just last week – that it will take a monumental collapse for the Twins not to stay ahead. Of course, a monumental collapse is still possible.
A general thought on the Twins’ postseason chances. Their starting pitching is so unreliable it is inconceivable they could win more than one game in any playoff series. Their winning formula is to hit home runs early to give their pitcher a comfortable lead, letting him pitch with some confidence. Then their bullpen, a relative strength, holds off the opposing team. In the playoffs, however, you can’t count on the other team’s ace pitcher giving up a lot of early home runs. I, like everyone else in Minnesota, will be satisfied just to see them win their division.