So the Twins are taking some heat today over their raucous post-game celebration after winning the AL Central on Tuesday. Look at the photo above, and then consider the lead in today’s MINNEAPOLIS STAR-TRIBUNE game story on their 7-2 loss to the Yankees:
Almost predictably, the Twins came up a little flat against the Yankees after Tuesday’s 12-inning thriller.
Almost predictably? Hopefully anyone not connected to the Twins left the lockerroom quickly on Tuesday and laid down a tidy bundle on the Yankees with their friendly offshore bookies. This was the biggest sure thing since the Nazi blitzkrieg was declared the favorite vs. the Polish cavalry.
I’m not sure how long Minnesota’s post-game celebration lasted on Tuesday, but looking back on their bleary-eyed performance in Game 1 at Yankee Stadium the next night, can anyone say that their two-fisted champagne guzzling pictured above was wise? Many are now questioning such behavior on a school night. From the NATIONAL POST:
So you’re the Twins. You have to start the playoffs against the powerhouse Yanks, at Yankee Stadium, less than 24 hours after your emotional win. You probably want to eat a good dinner, get a good night’s rest (presumably in a New York hotel) to give yourself a maximum shot at a stunning upset in Game 1, right?
The correct answer is no. No, you do not.
Instead, you have the traditional clubhouse Champagne celebration, cost yourself hours of sleep and a possible hangover. In other news, the Yankees are favoured by 30 runs in Game 1.
Yeah, that was written before the Yankees game, in which the Twins blew a 2-0 lead and limped to a 7-2 defeat.
The statistics: Tuesday’s win over Detroit ended at 9:45 p.m. ET, with the first pitch at Yankee Stadium scheduled for just after 6 p.m. the next evening. You’ve got your celebration, your flight, your checking in to a New York hotel, and of course eight hours of restful sleep (laugh track). Those numbers don’t add up.
And consider these: The Twins were 0-7 against the Yankees this season (now 0-8), and 3-23 in New York over the past eight regular seasons. Plus they are two-time losers to the Yankees in first-round playoff series.
One would think that a team in such intimate proximity to the Tigers, who blew a seven-game division lead in September, wouldn’t take winning for granted.
How should the Twins have handled it on Tuesday night? I’m now picturing Wilford Brimley, the rough-hewn manager from “The Natural,” striding though the Twins lockerroom and tearing down the plastic anti-champagne splatter sheets. “We haven’t won anything yet!” he bellows, as players duck for cover. “Put away that champagne; we have the Yankees tomorrow! And you can bet they’re not drinking right now.”
Results for Joba Chamberlain may vary.
2:29 pm on October 8th, 2009
they did win something; the american league central
2:53 pm on October 8th, 2009
I think they could have celebrated with champagne because it’s tradition but just close your mouth and don’t swallow. Is it that hard to not swallow? Spray it around. Just don’t swallow.
3:08 pm on October 8th, 2009
They acted like idiots, celebrating to get in the playoffs, woohoo! celebrate when you get to the world series and win the whole thing, until then focus on the task ahead.
3:48 pm on October 8th, 2009
Yo jo mamma, I think after 162 games + 1 to win a pennant race, they deserve the right to do some celebrating. Their season started in April. The Twins can also celebrate the fact they have never spent 1.5 billion dollars in payroll for their whole exsistence including when they were the senators. Winning a pennant is still a big deal, no matter if you are playing a double header in between celebrating. Party it boys! F the Yanks. Personally I would like to see Boston beat them again.
3:50 pm on October 8th, 2009
They acted dumb. As i was watching the game and the twins won im saying to my buddy, why the hell are they flopping around on the field and goin nuts for? They won 1 game to get into the playoffs. Oh they won the AL central …yeah who cares..you got the yankees in NY in less than 24 hrs and your acting like you just won the world series.
3:59 pm on October 8th, 2009
Maybe they lost because they’re the weakest team in the playoffs and the Yankees are a steamroller this year.
Just sayin’
4:05 pm on October 8th, 2009
Yo Alan. The twins will have several months to celebrate the yanks sweeping them in the playoffs. The pennant means little since they added the wildcard. So go ahead celebrate your pennant and payroll (your kidding right). .. And enjoy the offseason wondering why the twins lost AGIAN in the first rnd to the yanks.
4:22 pm on October 8th, 2009
i was at the game on tuesday night, those boys busted their asses for 12 damn innings, they earned the right for a little celebration. As soon as Gomez crossed the plate the entire Dome Exploded in cheers and screaming. As my friend & i were leaving there were chants of ‘YANKEES SUCK!!” around the concourse. So the first game may not have been a good showing but i bet the Tigers were feeling even better especially with the atmosphere, the noise, and the energy in the good ol’ B.I.T (Big Inflatable Toilet).
4:36 pm on October 8th, 2009
The Phillies, Dodgers and Cardinals all had similar celebrations, yet Jo Momma and Spidy say the Twins acted Dumb. These guys came from 3 games down with 4 left to play…….7 games back in the beginning of the month. They deserve to celebrate. The Twins were put in the National spot light for playing a 163rd game tie breaker…something that has only happened 5 times in the majors. That is why the are getting so much attention from the pictures. Yankees, Dodgers and countless other teams have won the pennant, they know what it feels like, you don’t think they are going to celebrate? You know they do. This was an exciting circumstance for a young team that beat out an organization with a payroll twice as high as the Twins. Do I think the Twins are going to beat the Yankees, NO. But they deserve to be there.
4:43 pm on October 8th, 2009
The Twinks are 0-8 now in the last 8. You would have to be a complete homer to think they are going past the alds. So they should celebrate like rick james, they were riding an emotional roller coaster for the month of sept. The ride is done. Twink fans are well experienced in getting swept in the alds by the Yanks. Who cares the Wild are playing now. (They may suck bad this year) how bout the twolves( they really suck outloud) I guess we will have to ride the favre wagon til it breaks. And yes I was joking about the all time stat, but the 1.5 billion in nine years for the Yankees is true.
Go Red Sox!
4:49 pm on October 8th, 2009
“Is it that hard to not swallow? Spray it around. Just don’t swallow.”
That’s what she said.
4:51 pm on October 8th, 2009
Hey alan why dont you cry a river about the yankees payroll. Why dont you shut up and tell your owner to spend some money after all it takes money to make money. As far as boston goes F Boston I would personally like to see it go to a game 7 again just so we can crush them again. Stop complaining about payroll if you take a look at teams over the $100 million dollar payroll in the past 5 years it usually the same teams year after year. Although the yankees are at the top they managed to save 60 million and it will keep going down. I agree with Reggy the twins are the weekest team in the playoffs.
4:57 pm on October 8th, 2009
i’m so sick of the national media singing the praises of the mighty yankees. they are a reflection of the typical east coast arrogance.
the twins deserved to win the central, they are coming around, and i’d love to see everyone eat their words after the Twins put the yankees and their fat payroll to winter pasture early
4:58 pm on October 8th, 2009
The Yankee Love Fest the TBS crew had going on last night made me sick. Joe Mauer MVP!!
5:11 pm on October 8th, 2009
I was joking about the payrolls, at least premium seats in the crappy but loud super inflatable toilet aren’t 2500 dollars for one game. You are right though, you get what you pay for, enjoy Mauer when you get him. He is just like gaborik with your mighty Rangers. Good, but can never play an entire season.
The TBS crew was crushing on the Yankees last night, but they are the same guys that were in Minne the night before crushing on the Twins. Go with the favorite.
5:21 pm on October 8th, 2009
Did the Twins not deserve to celebrate? You never know, it could be the last time the Twins get an opportunity to celebrate a division championship for another 10 years. Always have to enjoy it while you can.
The bigger issue here is why the MLB would schedule a game 1 on the road for the Twins mere hours after their victory.
It should have been the Red Sox/Angels playing yesterday. Yet inexplicably, those were the two teams with the day off.
5:29 pm on October 8th, 2009
The Twins won the AL Central, not a hard division by any means, but they did it, and they played more games than anyone else that made the playoffs to do so. They had a ton of injuries this year, including an All-Star first baseman down the stretch when they needed him the most. They earned their spot, they can celebrate. When you win out of sheer perseverance, and you never give up, you’re likely to be pretty emotional about it. You just gave your EVERYTHING, and you succeeded, it’s a lot like running a marathon. By the way, when was the last time anyone on this board won an MLB pennant, who are you to say they can’t celebrate, seriously?
Pay attention here; In the 7 games the Twins played the Yankees this season, yes, they were 0-7. However, 4 of those 7 games were lost by only one run, and 2 were lost by just two runs, not exactly ass kickings. Included in the 7 games were two extra inning games, and three games that the Yankees won in their last at-bat.
I’m not saying that they’re going to beat the Yankees, but they earned their spot in the playoffs, and the one thing you can never prepare against, is sheer will.
6:20 pm on October 8th, 2009
What would want them them to do? Sit there and acted like nothing happened. Every team celebrates their division titles. It’s not really new news. What is news! Is when Miguel Cabrera goes out with White Soxs players the night before when they play them and gets drunk and goes home and beats up his wife. And then comes back the next day and goes 0-4 and probably cost them a division title. I’m not putting everything on him. But you don’t go out drinking with your opponents during a series. We Twins fans should be thanking the White Soxs for that one. Now! that is new news…….
7:03 pm on October 8th, 2009
So you’re saying not to celebrate a division championship? You’re talking about a team that came from behind all season, only to come from behind in the game multiple times.
I was at the game on Tuesday night, and it was such an emotional rollercoaster. By Wednesday, I had one of the worst days (I didn’t even party, I had classes) that I’d experienced in awhile. I was so emotionally and physically worn. Even for the fans, that game just wore you out. Standing for half the game, cheering loud everytime the count got to 2 strikes in the top half, and cheering loud for every Twins at bat; it all adds up after awhile. By the seventh inning I was exhausted, and I was just sitting there.
Give the team a freaking break. If I was that emotionally exhausted, think what it was like to be in their shoes! I can’t imagine it. Go ahead, party a little; they knew full well what was going on the next day. They are full grown adults. They’re big boys, I think they can do what they want. If management thought they were going overboard, they could have stepped in.
These are two separate teams that have two different ways of going about business. One team buys the talent, the other team develops the talent. It’s two different methods so it’s difficult to compare what should and shouldn’t be done. Anyone who plays the game just so they can be rich millionaires should leave. Anyone who plays the game because it’s what they love to do and who plays for the fans deserves to celebrate their successes.
3:03 am on October 9th, 2009
Are you saying if you won the division championchip you wouldent celebrate?? thats what i thought… and of course they lost to the yanks, im sure it would be the other way around if the twins spent billions of dollars (exagerating for all you factiods out there) buying talent, yanks do it for the money, twins play for the fans……preach