Twins fans might be getting a case of deja vu now. And they're probably feeling pretty good about it.
The team's recent resurgence is starting to look a lot like the one in 2006, when it went on a tear and won the AL Central crown on the last day of the season. (Let's just forget the horrible playoff series against Oakland.)
Two years ago the Twins were eight games under .500 and looked dead. Interleague play was what got the team going to a successful season.
The Twins won their eighth in a row Wednesday, 9-3 at San Diego. Greg Maddux failed to win in his ninth attempt at 351 victories, and Glen Perkins got the decision instead. All eight of the wins have come in interleague play.
For a change the team has showed power. The Twins hit two homers Tuesday and did the same in Wednesday's game, with Brendan Harris and Craig Monroe doing the honors. For anyone who hasn't been to Petco Park, let me tell you it's spacious, especially in right field.
The Twins have shown the same elements of success that they did two years ago during interleague play:
*The bullpen's been lights out. About unhittable. I'd take Joe Nathan over any closer in the league.
* Young pitchers have been tough. Two years ago it was Francisco Liriano. This year it's been Glen Perkins, Scott Baker, Kevin Slowey and Nick Blackburn. You'd expect that they would only get better.
* The core of the team's lineup got hot. Justin Morneau won the MVP two years ago and has been great this year (though his 12-game hitting streak ended Wednesday). Joe Mauer won the batting title two years ago; he's hitting .325 now. (Let's forget that Torii Hunter went on an incredible hot streak two years ago, helping carry the Twins and any number of fantasy teams.)
* Young guys contributed. This year the Twins have had some very pleasant surprises, such as Alexi Casilla, who went one for three with a run and an RBI; rookie Brian Buscher, who was one for two with three runs and is hitting .375; and Carlos Gomez, who's been as good as advertised, and was three for four with a run and RBI on Wednesday.
The good news is that the Twins have plenty of room to improve. Delmon Young, Jason Kubel and Michael Cuddyer can all hit better than they have, and it would be nice to see them show more power.
San Diego has little of that hope. The team has lost four in a row and nine of the past 11. You have to feel for Maddux, always a classy guy. He hasn't won in a month and a half but has an ERA of 2.70 in his past eight starts. This Padres team just doesn't have much punch. And they look, well, old.
The worst part of San Diego's loss Wednesday was that the team had a 3-0 lead at home. You should never consider a game in the bag, but you should win games when you're up 3-0 at home with a good pitcher on the mound.
Maddux wasn't sharp. He allowed six earned runs, his most since yielding a career-high nine in a 9-0 loss at Arizona on April 18. He gave up seven hits in 5 2-3 innings.
But there's good news for the Padres. They're in a horrible division and aren't out of it. Arizona lost to the Red Sox and dropped to 40-39, only three games ahead of the Dodgers (who beat the White Sox, 5-0) and eight ahead of the Padres and Rockies. Strangely, the Giants are in third, only five and a half games back. Most people picked them for last despite some good pitching. Go figure.
The Twins are only a half-game behind the White Sox. And, folks, take a close look at the AL Central standings. They're very interesting and show the unpredictability of baseball and how you should never bury a team early in the season.
After the Twins, the Tigers are in third place, only five games out. Do you remember how poorly they started? I watched the ESPN show "Around the Horn" and some of the sports pundits were saying Detroit was done a month ago.
The Royals, who have won five games in a row and nine of 10, are only seven games out.
Who does that leave in last place? Why, the Indians, last year's division winner and the team that very nearly beat the Red Sox (and would certainly have beaten the Rockies). Cleveland's seven and a half games out and has suffered from injuries and a wretched bullpen.
It will get tougher for the Twins. They play the Brewers, who are making a move in the NL Central, and then the Tigers. Stay tuned.
