How Excited Are We Allowed To Be Over The Wild

The Minnesota Wild are preparing for a semifinal matchup with the Chicago Blackhawks beginning on Friday night. It’s a rematch of last year’s semifinal matchup in which the Hawks clinched in overtime of game six. Before Nino Niederreiter netted the series winner against Colorado in round one last season, the last men’s franchise from Minnesota to make it out of their respective first round of playoff action was the 2009 Vikings. We all remember how that ended.

Heartbreak City part two is what I like to call the way the 2009 Vikings’ season ended when they lost in overtime of the NFC Championship game to New Orleans.

Parise is the Wild's leader on and off the ice

 Heartbreak City part one of course is the 1998 Vikings and their overtime loss to Atlanta in the NFC Championship game.

As Minnesota fans endear heartbreak after heartbreak with our favorite teams, I can’t help but ask the question, how excited are we allowed to get over this Wild squad? I’m only 28 and have had my high hopes and expectations crushed enough times to create skepticism, I can only imagine how older lifelong fans feel.

The Wild was 20-20-6 at the All-Star break and seven points out of a playoff spot, sitting ahead of only Edmonton and Arizona. Facing criticism, doubt within their own locker room and a possible coaching change, the team showed resiliency and finished 46-28-8 (Thank you Devan Dubnyk).

So how excited can we get for this resilient team? Well let’s see that by looking at the best Minnesota teams in recent history and see where the 2014-15 Wild stack up.

1998 Vikings: This is the number one reason not to get too excited about the Wild. Team had it all, most prolific offense in NFL history, a defense that ranked sixth in the league, 15-1 and demolishing everyone in their path. Then heartbreak city part one.

2002 Twins: The only reason I mention them is because they made it to the ALCS, but in all honesty, we were ecstatic about this team defeating Oakland in the ALDS. We won game one to give us dreams of playing in the World Series, but when the Angels took the next four, although sad, can you honestly say you were heartbroken?

2003 Wild: Finished the season with 95 points and the six seed. First time the franchise had made the playoffs, so really how high were hopes outside of the excitement of being in the postseason. This team gave Minnesotans a magical run of two series wins over Colorado and Vancouver after trailing both three game to one. They met their match and then some with the white hot J.S. Giguere and the Anaheim Ducks, who swept the Wild. Heartbroken? No, happy for what the magical run.

2004 Timberwolves: Led by league MVP Kevin Garnett, this was by far the best Timberwolves team in franchise history winning 58 games en route to the number one seed in the Western Conference. Had the Wolves lost in the first or second round to Denver and Sacramento, it would’ve been a disappointing season, they didn’t. They did however lose to the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. Hard to consider that heartbreaking considering the Lakers NBA champions in three of the previous four seasons during the Shaq and Kobe era.

2006 Twins: Of the Twins six division championship teams, this was the best. They won 96 games and their roster included the league MVP (Justin Morneau), Cy Young winner (Johan Santana), Batting Champ (Joe Mauer), Gold Glove winner (Torii Hunter), and before his injury a possible Rookie of the Year (Francisco Liriano). The expectations were high with this club, and they were swept out of the ALDS by Oakland. Tough to call it heartbreaking when you get swept. Disappointment is a more accurate word to sum up this playoff run.

2009 Vikings: We possessed the game’s best running back in Adrian Peterson, and brought Brett Favre out of retirement to lead this team to a 12-4 record and number two seed in the playoffs. They crushed Dallas in the Divisional round, then after outgaining the top seeded Saints in yards 475 to 257. The Vikings played like the better for 60 minutes. Due to five turnovers though, the game went into overtime where the Saints kicked a field goal to win it, and break the heart of every Minnesota sports fan. Heartbreak City part two.

2014 Wild: As heartbreaking as it was to watch Patrick Kane score in overtime of game six, the Wild making it to that point was very rewarding. We wanted that team to take the next step, and they did. Chicago was the better team and we pushed them to the brink of playing a winner take all game seven.

So how excited can we be about this year’s Wild? Very I’d say. This team went from the league basement to being a legit pick to make the Western Conference Finals. If we get swept or lose in five games it won’t be heartbreaking. This team though has shown a resiliency that is reminiscent of the Twins teams that won it all in ’87 and ’91.

The Wild has also have had that classic gradual climb that you see out of so many championship caliber teams. Knocked out in five games of the first round by the Hawks two years ago, last year bringing that same team to overtime of game six in the second round. 

A team just happy to make the postseason one  year, to a team that exceeded expectations the next, to a team that expected to be playing at this point in the season this year. This year the gap has closed even more between the Wild and Blackhawks, perhaps the third time is the charm. I say be excited Minnesota fans, and keep your expectations high.

Sample Size Of What The Twins Might Be In 2015

Joe Mauer Looks To Regain His Batting Crown Form

They say you can get an accurate read on well a team is after 30 games. Let’s cut that in half and let the judging begin after 15 on the Minnesota Twins.

First we look at just straight forward results. All the Twins games have been against division foes. The AL Central was considered the toughest division in baseball by many entering the 2015 season.

The Detroit Tigers are the reigning division champs, the Kansas City Royals the reigning AL champs. Clearly the favorites to win the central. The Tigers put a historic whooping on the Twins in the season opening series, sweeping them in three games.

As for the Twins facing the Royals, in two series that have split six games. 3-6 against two of the best teams not just in the division but in all of major league baseball, although not ideal, I think we’ll take it for now.

As for the Indians and White Sox, the Twins went 1-2 at the Chicago White Sox, and 2-1 at home against the Cleveland Indians. 3-3 mark versus teams more on our level, par for the course. We’ll take par.

Now let’s take a look at more of the specifics thus far.

Hitting: The bad news, the Twins are 14^th in the American League in runs scored. The good news, that number is skewed by the fact the Tigers held the Twins to one run in the season opening series. Since the Twins left Detroit, they’ve averaged 3.92 run a game, tenth in the AL. Baby steps folks.

Concerns are aplenty though through the first 15 games when it comes to hitting. Eleventh in the AL in team batting average at just .228, and when they do hit it’s not for power, as the OPS is dead last at .321, hampered by the fact the team has only eight homeruns, the lone AL squad without at least double digit homeruns.

Another cause for concern is the fact the Twins aren’t being selective at the plate, 13^th in walks drawn, and sixth in strikeouts. That might be expected when you have a team as young as the Twins do, Danny Santana and Kennys Vargas lead the team in strikeouts with a combined 31.

What is bothersome to me though is the fact that once Paul Molitor took over it was expected the aggressiveness on the bases would be turned up to eleven. The Twins are currently tied for last in the AL with four stolen bases.

Pitching: The bad news, 13^th in the AL with 4.64 team ERA. The good news, Mike Pelfrey won a game on Wednesday night.  

Up to now Twins starters have pitched 84 innings, eleventh in the AL, and like our young lineup, this veteran rotation struggles with strikeout/walk ratio. Twins starters have issued the fifth most walks and rank last in strikeouts.

They’re not getting K’s out of their rotation or bullpen which also ranks last recording 4.89 per nine innings. 

Our pen’s strength is command, issuing just 2.54 walks per nine (3rd best in AL), but the ERA ranks 14th at 4.30.

Teams have a .287 batting average on balls put in play, which for a team that doesn’t rely on strikeouts like the Twins, is a recipe for disaster.

The preceding numbers aren’t pretty, but perhaps most disappointing is the defensive performance. In 2014 the Twins ranked eighth in fielding percentage, double plays, and errors.

Early on this year they rank 13th, tenth, and have committed the fourth most errors.

So what do Twins fans take from all of this? The season is as young as this roster, some will say too early to pay attention to the numbers. I for one say 15 games is enough to get a read, a small one albeit on a team.

The numbers are concerning, but the team seems to have found their footing, and are 6-9 with an opponent win percentage of .557.

Bear in mind this team lost their number two starter Ervin Santana for 80 games. It’s fair to say his presence could be worth at least another win or two.

Twins must improve in almost all statistical areas, that being said, isn’t it encouraging knowing that they’ve played below themselves and sit at 6-9 while their opponents have a combined .557 win percentage? 

Be optimistic Twins fans, patient, but optimistic.

Best Of The Best: A Look At The Twins Top World Series Performances

The Minnesota Twins past four years felt like college without the fun. Four years of the front office, like parents, boasting about the potential the team/kid possessed. Four years of a stagnant GPA/win total. Four years of increasing tolerance, be it of the alcohol variety, or for losing. School is out, as is our patience.

Opening day always brings renewed optimism though. The Twins have made three World Series appearances, all following a year where they finished at or near the bottom of their division. Those appearances have produced some great individual performances. In an effort to forget about recent struggles, and remember better days, here are the best of those performances:

#10 – Tie: Dan Gladden – 1987 Game 1: 2-4, R, 5 RBI – 1991, Game 7: 3-5, R ’87: With one swing of the bat, Dazzle turned a close game into a blowout.

’91: In the ultimate pitcher’s duel, hit two doubles, one to lead off the 10^th and eventually score the series winning run. Better stats in ’87 game, but ’91 was for all the marbles.

#9 – Mike Pagliarulo – 1991, Game 4: 3-3, 2 RBI

The one performance on the list that didn’t result in a Twins victory. Pags was the only hitter that night to get to John Smoltz. He singled in the game’s first run and with the game tied at one in the seventh, hit a solo home run. Despite his efforts, the Twins lost 3-2.

#8 – Tie: Frank Viola – 1987, Game 1/7

Pick your poison, Frankie pitched slightly better in game one, but game seven everything is on the line.

Game 1: 8 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 5 K
Game 7: 8 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 7 K

#7 – Don Baylor – 1987, Game 6: 2-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB

Facing elimination, Baylor hit a go-ahead RBI single in the first, then a game-tying 2-run home run in the fifth. Igniting a rally en route to an 11-5 win to stay alive.  

#6 – Mudcat Grant – 1965, Game 1: CG, 2 R, 10 H, 2 BB, 5 K

In the first World Series game in Minnesota’s history, Mudcat shined on the hill while going 1-3 at the plate scoring twice. He reached base on an error that set up Zoilo Versalles who capitalized on the Dodgers mishap. We’ll get to that in a moment.

#5 – Jim Kaat – 1965, Game 2: CG, 1 R, 7 H, 3 K

Kitty not only outdueled hall of famer Sandy Koufax, but broke the game open with the Twins leading 3-1 in the 8th inning, lining a 2-run single to center to create some breathing room at 5-1.

#4 – Zoilo Versalles – 1965, Game 1: 2-4, R, 4 RBIWith the game tied at one in the third, Versalles hit a 3-run home run to give the Twins a lead they would never relinquish. For good measure, he singled in a run in the sixth.

#3 – Kirby Puckett – 1991, Game 6: 3-4, 2 R, 3 RBI

Puck put a team facing elimination on his back. His fingerprints were all over this game as he robbed an extra-base hit in the third with a runner on, tripled in the game’s first run, then scored on a single giving the Twins a 2-0 lead. His sacrifice fly in the fifth broke up a 2-2 tie. Again tied, this time at three in the eighth, Puckett singled and stole second but was stranded. Enter the 11th inning when he took Charlie Leibrandt deep for the walk-off winner.

#2 – Mudcat Grant – 1965, Game 6: CG, R, 6 H, 0 BB, 5 K

Take a look at #6 on this list, now realize that was Mudcat’s SECOND best performance in this series. With the Twins facing elimination he dominated on the hill, but that was only half of his contribution. Clinging to a 2-0 lead in the sixth, Mudcat belted a 3-run home run to ensure a game seven.

#1 – Jack Morris – 1991, Game 7: CG (10 inn), 0 R, 7 H, 2 BB, 8 K

In the biggest game of the year, Blackjack pitched a 10-inning shutout. A complete game in baseball is impressive, a complete game shutout even more so, to pitch 10 shutout innings is unheard of, add the fact that this was game seven of the World Series, and now you have a folk tale. The Twins needed every bit of it, as they scored the game’s first run in the bottom of the 10th to win the Championship 1-0.