What if Delmon Young started to drive in a few runs?
What if Joe Mauer started to hit with power?
What if Michael Cuddyer got hot?
What if the Twins overcome the hex the Yankees have had over them?
Who knows what might happen. But the signs were good Monday night. It made you dream of what might happen in the fall.
I was really nervous watching the game on ESPN. I was afraid the team would revert to its old ways -- when Juan Rincon blew a game against the Yankees a couple of years ago. The Twins have always had trouble against the Yankees, my least favorite team.
But all those good things happened. Young had three RBI doubles, Mauer went yard and Joe Nathan got Hideki Matsui to hit into a double play in the ninth.
Cuddyer had a good game, too, with three hits. But it was his great play in the field in the 8th that might have been the turning point of the contest.
Derek Jeter hit one off the right-field baggie, but Cuddyer fielded it cleanly with his right hand and threw a strike to second. He led the majors last year with 19 assists, but I'll bet none was a bigger play than that one.
I know the Twins are considered an average team by many pundits. But consider a few facts:
(1) The Twins have traditionally been a second-half team.
(2) Francisco Liriano might come back and be pretty good.
(3) Getting Boof Bonser out of the rotation was a great move and long overdue. The rotation looks a lot better with him out of it.
(4) The division is not very good.
(5) David Ortiz is hurt. I don't feel good about anyone getting injured, but the fact is the Red Sox are not nearly as dominant without him. With him, I don't see anyone beating them. Without him, it's up for grabs.
No, I won't predict anything wild like a World Series win. Still, the Twins have potential. I think they could win their division. And when you're in the playoffs, anything can happen.
