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★★★
The Twins’ 2015 season was supposed to be about taking steps towards contention, but not actually contending just yet. The AL Central was just too talented, the sheer number of playoff-caliber teams in the American League as a whole a hindrance to the Twins, who lost 92 games last season. While they still might end up seeing 2015 as a stepping stone to greater things in the future, as of Thursday morning, they have won six games in a row and are now in possession of the AL’s second Wild Card spot.
Promoting prospect Miguel Sano at midseason has helped considerably, with the third baseman batting .284/.392/.580 in his 46 games, finally giving the Twins a serious hitter in the middle of their lineup. It’s somewhat amazing that, in a season in which it took a few months for Aaron Hicks to get going, Torii Hunter and Joe Mauer have not been productive and Ervin Santana has been either missing or bad that the Twins find themselves in position for the playoffs. Baseball is weird/evil like that.
It is worth pointing out that the Twins have been outscored on the season, and with Hicks currently on the disabled list, Sano is the only real offensive threat besides Brian Dozier who has shown up lately. Still, the Rangers, Angels, Rays and Orioles, who all trail the Twins as of this moment, have their own problems to deal with. It’s not out of the question that the Twins end up a year ahead of schedule, before they can even add useful pitching or get a quality season out of Byron Buxton.
- David Price won the 99th game of his career on his 30th birthday. If only Price had won another game earlier, we could have celebrated two round numbers in one go.
- Zack Greinke has yet to allow a hit to a pitcher this season, and hopefully now that you're aware of that he doesn't allow one just yet: he's set to face Madison Bumgarner next week. Bumgarner hasn't allowed a hit to a pitcher, either.
- The Wild Card Game was designed for hope, but in practice it has crushed hope underfoot and spit all over it repeatedly.
- Two of the Little League World Series' finals spots were earned on Wednesday, with Japan winning their way to the international game and Pennsylvania's own Lewisberry toppling Texas.
- This headline is so normal that it's weird that it would even be included here oh well better click on it anyway just in case.
- The Red Sox will move Hanley Ramirez to first base in 2016, which likely means Boston's outfield for next year is set. Either it's some alignment of Mookie Betts, Rusney Castillo, and Jackie Bradley Jr., or the Sox go out and sign a big corner outfielder like Yoenis Cespedes and deal one of those three to make room. Regardless: no more Hanley out there.
- Justin Verlander threw a shutout on Wednesday night and carried a no-hitter into the ninth. But don't think it came out of nowhere. Verlander has a 1.38 ERA over his last seven starts, in which he's averaged 7 1/3 frames per start and has 49 punch outs against eight walks. Verlander's back, y'all.
- Teams like the White Sox are out of contention, which means the rest of 2015 is about finding out whether players like Avisail Garcia have a role on the 2016 club.
- The Braves acquired Hector Olivera at the trade deadline, but he has yet to debut for them. He's unlikely to be called up before rosters expand on Tuesday, so keep on waiting for your first glimpse of the Cuban import.
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