Survey says: Probably
As I’m sure all of Twins Territory does as well, I have many thoughts about the 2024 season and how it ended. Some I’ve expressed—others can wait for later. First, it feels instructive to put the frightful (it is October) free-fall into context. Was ‘24 the worst collapse in Minnesota Twins history?
Let’s examine…
Collapse 1: 1967
- One game ahead of the Boston Red Sox with two to play in Beantown to close out the season, the Twins lost both in Fenway Park and allowed the Sox their Impossible Dream.
Collapse 2: 1984
- The Twins led the AL West by 5 games on 8/25 and were tied for the crown as late as 9/23. But six consecutive losses—two on gut-punch walk-offs—begat the Legend of Ron Davis.
Collapse 3: 2001
- Suddenly emerging from their mid-1990s doldrums, the ’01 Twins led the AL Central by 5 games on 7/16 and were tied for the lead on 8/11. But a horrendous Chad Allen injury and multiple LaTroy Hawkins meltdowns perpetuated a slow sink that saw this squad 6 GB at the final gun.
Photo credit should read DAVID MAXWELL/AFP via Getty Images
Collapse 4: 2022
- After leading the Central most of the way, the ’22 Twins were tied with the Cleveland Guardians on 9/4. But roster-wide injuries and Emilio Pagan’s RD impersonation led to a 10-20 finish (a whopping 14 GB CLE).
Collapse 5: 2024
- On 8/17 this year’s bunch were 70-53, 2 GB CLE, and had a 92.4% FanGraphs playoffs odds. Though the Guardians pulled away, by 9/5 the Twins had increased their overall October odds to 95.4%. From there: 6-16 and emptying out the clubhouse instead of cleaning up champagne spray.
Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
I’ll be voting for 2024’s gut-punch ending. Perhaps recency bias applies a bit, but it still doesn’t quite seem real that the ’24 Twins couldn’t do the bare minimum to hold onto a seemingly all-but-assured playoff berth (where a Pablo Lopez & Bailey Ober combo in Houston may have produced a least a puncher’s chance).