Underestimated, Underappreciated, Unknown

In three words, The 2009 Twins.

Underestimated:
After their 2-2 series split with the Detroit Tigers last week, I saw no reason to believe that any team could truly overcome a 2-game deficit to win a division crown with 3 left to play. Behold the 2009 Twins, the first team to win a division down 3 games with 4 left to play; a team 7 games behind the Tigers on September 7. Did anyone see this coming? Did anyone expect the Twins to win 17 of their last 21 games to get this point? To force a one-game playoff for the AL Central crown against the Tigers?

I, myself figured that despite their "valiant" comeback, a series split with the Tigers at the end of the year meant the Twins no longer controlled their own destiny. And because of this, it certainly appeared the conclusion of the regular season schedule might be the only reason their surge towards the top of the standings would fall short. Even when they faced the prospect that the White Sox and Ozzie Guillen would have to be their best friend at the end of the season, they showed up to play, sweeping the Royals.

Underappreciated:
The Twins 6-5, 12-inning victory over the Tigers will go down as one of the more memorable one-game play-ins in MLB history, a recent history that includes three straight years of play-in games (2008 White Sox, 2007 Rockies). In a game where it looked as though the Tigers would win at several different points in extra innings, the Metrodome and the Twins were still buzzing. After getting out of several jams, the Tigers put a run on the board in the top of the 10th. The Twins would respond in the bottom of the inning, albeit a fortunate lead-off single-turned-triple by the indecisiveness of left fielder Ryan Raburn. In the bottom of the 12th, Carlos Gomez led off with a single, and scored the winning run from second on a base hit through the right side by Casilla.

Unknown:
Do most people know the names of players on this team outside of Joe Mauer and Joe Nathan? Most likely not, and unless you haven't been following closely, make this 5 AL Central Championships in the last 8 years for the Minnesota Twins. And if it wasn't crystal clear before Tuesday night's game, I think it's safe to say now that Joe Mauer, who led the AL in 6 major offensive categories (inculding avg, obp, and slugging), will win the AL MVP. Much like the poster in the Metrodome crowd which proclaimed "David meets Goliath" the Twins will have their hands full playing the 103-win New York Yankees. But it seems they will be ready for the challenge. You can look at the Twins 0-7 record against the Yankees this year, and think back to the three consecutive walk-offs the Yankees pulled off at Yankee Stadium and how the Yankees turned their season around. I ask you, why can't the Twins take this one game and parlay it into a highly competitive effort against the Yankees?

In conclusion, if this game is any indication of what is to follow in the 2009 MLB playoffs, we are all in store for an epic month of postseason baseball. Let's just hope that if and when the Twins make the playoffs in future seasons, outdoor baseball at a roofless Target Field doesn't bring 40 degree, freezing rain weather conditions.