More (And There Will Be More) Twins

A one time winner was on the “bdcst,” he being Alex Rodriguez, on 3 different Yankees’ teams that ‘off’d the Twins during their 12 series loss skein, and the streak is over, (now the losing team, Blue Jays have lost 7 straight ‘offs games) as “Minne” advances to play defending champion, Houston (Astros) in a “quarter,” beginning Saturday in Houston.

In 17 post-season series of a minimum 2 games, one team, be it the Twins or their opponent, has won the first two games 12 times. (In 3 World Series as the original Washington Senators, speaking of the Washington Senators, the Texas Rangers nee Washington Senators 1961 expansion (not so good) “vintage,” took Tampa Bay (Rays) also in 2 straight and will face the Baltimore Orioles. (Lowenfish/”Balti” vs Bochy/Texas, only in ’33 when the N.Y. Giants (link to Lowenfish, Bochy but I like neither theirs nor the bigger “society”) won 1 and 2 en route to a 5 game W.S. win, did a team go up (2-0).

In their now 6 post-season series victories, the Twins won the first two games four times. Those occurrences were in the ’87 ALCS, ’87 World Series, ’91 World Series and the “b.S.” “12 to 8 round,” best of 3, just completed.

In the ’65 World Series, with Sandy Koufax NOT pitching game 1 due to his observance of Yom Kippur and actually losing #2, Minne at home, as was the case in the 4 series in which they won the first two or in the 12 to 8 case, only two, won the first two games.

However, L.A. with Sandy pitching shutouts in #’s 5 and 7 (only he and Lew Burdette have done so in World Series play) (Claude Osteen and Don Drysdale had the other Dodgers’ pitching wins) won the crown.

The Twins lost the first two and all 3 to the O’s in both the ’69 and ’70 ALCS and also the first two games in best of 5 “quarters” (I will be polite) in ’06 (vs the A’s), and in ’09,’10 and ’19 vs the Yankees.

In the only previous post-season Houston vs Minnesota baseball clash, if you can call it that, the ‘Stros took Minne in 2 straight in the ridiculous “bubble” playoffs in 2020.

In the only other two Houston/Minne ‘offs series, the Houston Rockets won both vs the Minnesota Timberwolves.

They (4-1’d) and (3-0’d) Minne in first round series in ’18 and ’97 respectively. Houston is (9-1) vs Minne in ‘offs games.

Rodriguez, surely, largely a “bow-wow” in ‘offs, was just as surely superb for the Yankees in their 2009 title season including their playoffs run.

He was supposedly dating Goldie Hawn’s (pictured above) daughter Kate Hudson at the time.

Seems during #2, ’09 “quarters” vs Minne, I watched Hawn, liking her, thought negatively and the super talented Rodriguez, hit a game tying homer (B9).

Rodriguez and the Yankees lost #1 to the Twins in the ’04 “quarters” and as was the case in ’03 before Rodriguez ventured to New York, won the next 3, the ’04 wins starting an 18 game(s), 19 years, Twins’ ‘offs loss skein.

In the ’91 ALCS Minne and Toronto split the first two before the Twins won the last 3 and eventually a second title. In ’02 Minne and Oakland split the first two before David Ortiz and Minne won a decisive #5.

The lone Angels’ crown/”halo?” came after they dropped the first game, but won the last 4 vs the Twins in the ’02 ALCS. They followed that 7’ing those Giants.

One other, a one game, also “b.S.” (not as bad as 12 to 8) “10 to 8’er,” manifested in a Yankees’ win vs Minne in ’17.

Who but me?!!