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League's best record, home-field advantage within Twins reach
By Joe Christensen
September 13, 2010
The Twins' main mission this week is finishing the White Sox, and if they can avoid a sweep at U.S. Cellular Field, the Twins can start putting the champagne on ice.
But there's another important goal that is suddenly well within their reach -- finishing with the American League's best record, which would ensure home-field advantage for the first two rounds of the postseason.
Psychologically, this would be huge, especially if the Twins faced the Yankees. Their struggles at Yankee Stadium -- old and new -- have been well-chronicled, though Jason Kubel's May 16 grand slam off Mariano Rivera is a highlight worth replaying if this matchup takes shape again.
But beyond the AL Central standings, these are worth following, too:
AL'S BEST RECORD
Yankees -- 87-56 0 GB
Rays -- 86-56 0.5 GB
Twins -- 85-58 2 GB
Rangers -- 80-63 7 GB
* Note -- The Yankees and Rays both hold tiebreakers over the Twins. It's based on the season series, which the Twins lost to New York (4-2) and to Tampa Bay (5-3).
The Yankees and Rays play seven times over the next two weeks (starting tonight with CC Sabathia vs. David Price) and neither wants to settle for the wild card. The wild card winner likely will play Games 1 and 2 of the Division Series at Target Field, where the Twins have built the AL's best home record, at 48-23. Here are the remaining schedules:
Yankees: @ Rays (3), @ Orioles (3), Rays (4), Red Sox (3), @ Blue Jays (3), @ Red Sox (3).
Rays: Yankees (3), Angels (3), @ Yankees (4), Mariners (3), Orioles (3), @ Royals (4).
Twins: @ White Sox (3), A's (3), Indians (3), @ Tigers (3), @ Royals (3), Blue Jays (4).
Rangers: Tigers (2), @ Mariners (3), @ Angels (3), @ A's (4), Mariners (3), Angels (4).
The schedule is particularly tough for the Yankees, with no letup. Even Buck Showalter's Orioles came inches from a sweep last week at Yankee Stadium. What's at stake? Three of the past five teams to finish with the AL's best record have won the World Series. A look back:
So securing home-field advantage wouldn't guarantee the Twins anything, but it's certainly a pursuit worth following over the season's final three weeks.
League's best record, home-field advantage within Twins reach
By Joe Christensen
September 13, 2010
The Twins' main mission this week is finishing the White Sox, and if they can avoid a sweep at U.S. Cellular Field, the Twins can start putting the champagne on ice.
But there's another important goal that is suddenly well within their reach -- finishing with the American League's best record, which would ensure home-field advantage for the first two rounds of the postseason.
Psychologically, this would be huge, especially if the Twins faced the Yankees. Their struggles at Yankee Stadium -- old and new -- have been well-chronicled, though Jason Kubel's May 16 grand slam off Mariano Rivera is a highlight worth replaying if this matchup takes shape again.
But beyond the AL Central standings, these are worth following, too:
AL'S BEST RECORD
Yankees -- 87-56 0 GB
Rays -- 86-56 0.5 GB
Twins -- 85-58 2 GB
Rangers -- 80-63 7 GB
* Note -- The Yankees and Rays both hold tiebreakers over the Twins. It's based on the season series, which the Twins lost to New York (4-2) and to Tampa Bay (5-3).
The Yankees and Rays play seven times over the next two weeks (starting tonight with CC Sabathia vs. David Price) and neither wants to settle for the wild card. The wild card winner likely will play Games 1 and 2 of the Division Series at Target Field, where the Twins have built the AL's best home record, at 48-23. Here are the remaining schedules:
Yankees: @ Rays (3), @ Orioles (3), Rays (4), Red Sox (3), @ Blue Jays (3), @ Red Sox (3).
Rays: Yankees (3), Angels (3), @ Yankees (4), Mariners (3), Orioles (3), @ Royals (4).
Twins: @ White Sox (3), A's (3), Indians (3), @ Tigers (3), @ Royals (3), Blue Jays (4).
Rangers: Tigers (2), @ Mariners (3), @ Angels (3), @ A's (4), Mariners (3), Angels (4).
The schedule is particularly tough for the Yankees, with no letup. Even Buck Showalter's Orioles came inches from a sweep last week at Yankee Stadium. What's at stake? Three of the past five teams to finish with the AL's best record have won the World Series. A look back:
- 2009 -- The Yankees went 103-59 and won the World Series.
- 2008 -- The Angels went 100-62 and lost to Boston in the first round. The Rays had home-field advantage in the ALCS and went to the World Series.
- 2007 -- The Red Sox and Indians both finished 96-56, but the Red Sox had the tiebreaker for home-field in the ALCS and went on to win the World Series.
- 2006 -- The Yankees went 97-65 but lost to the Tigers in the first round.
- 2005 -- The White Sox went 99-63 and won the World Series.
So securing home-field advantage wouldn't guarantee the Twins anything, but it's certainly a pursuit worth following over the season's final three weeks.
