Minneapolis

The New York Yankees had a rough September, posting a 14-16 record for the month, and finalized it by losing the AL East to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Regardless, getting closer to the goal of repeating entails making the postseason and that first step has been accomplished.

The Minnesota Twins' offense has comprised a lot of moving parts in the month of September.

Minor injuries to catcher Joe Mauer, shortstop J.J. Hardy, designated hitter Jim Thome, and outfielder Jason Kubel have left the team's lineup in limbo since the team clinched the AL Central division crown last week.

There is a saying that bad news doesn't get better with time. However, announcing plans to cut payroll while your team is in the middle of a division race can't be a good idea.

That's exactly what Tampa Bay Rays owner Stu Sternberg did when he announced that even if the Rays win the World Series payroll will be cut in 2011. The current estimate is that the Rays will cut this year's $72 million payroll by $15-20 million.

Coming into this week's series against the Chicago White Sox, it was a do-or-die situation for the Sox. They needed to take at least two from the Twins to stay afloat in the American League Central pennant race.

The Twins went ahead and stepped on the head of the White Sox. Race over.

by shlepcar

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I grew up in Minnesota and as a kid attended many Twins games at the old Met in Bloomington from 1977 through 1981.

I remember clearly, and somewhat sadly, being at the game in 1980 in which Twins center fielder Ken Landreaux’s 31-game hitting streak came to an end.

With 82 games in the book, the Twins head into their final two series before the All-Star break.

With a new ballpark and the hometown hero Joe Mauer signed to a long-term contract, everything is rosy in Twins territory—or is it?

Following are the mid-term grades for the Minnesota Nine.

Stats are based on the first 81 games.

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It was a picture-perfect fall day in Minneapolis.

I was back in town to resume my collegiate studies, the sun was shining on my face, and the Twins had charged back into the playoff race, coming up on the slumping Detroit Tigers.

Life was good.

Then "The Text" came.

The Twins were playing an afternoon game that particular day, and rookie phenom Francisco Liriano was pitching against Oakland. He had been battling forearm pain and was making his first start back after a rehab stint in the minors.

Recently, Orlando Hudson of the Minnesota Twins has leveled the claim that Jermaine Dye and Gary Sheffield are not playing for a major league team in 2010 because the owners are racists. I can't get into the heads of each owner to know if Hudson is right or wrong. However, I have found 5 reasons why he might be wrong.

First of all, if you didn't see, I posted my No. 3 Twins prospect for the 2010 season.

Now, on to the post...

The Twins (officially) open Target Field at 3:05 pm today against the Boston Red Sox. Carl Pavano will take the mound against southpaw Jon Lester.

Both pitchers have struggled against the opposition in the past, but it will be interesting to see what kind of momentum Pavano has in his first (real) start at Target Field.

The last time the Minnesota Twins won a series in Anaheim, Rick Reed and Eric Milton were the winning pitchers.

The last time the Minnesota Twins hit nine home runs in their first four games was...never.

After dropping the season opener to the Los Angeles Angels 6-3 last Monday night, the Twins won the last three games of the series, outscoring the Angels 19-6.