Detroit Tigers vs Minnesota Twins head to head analysis
Fans of the Detroit Tigers have not had a whole lot to cheer about in recent years. True, when they go to the post season they tend to make it to the World Series more often than not (10 World Series trips in 12 postseason trips from 1901-2009). In the early 1900s they were pretty good playing in three consecutive World Series (and losing them) from 1907-1909. They would not make it back until 1934 (another loss), but would win their first World Series title in 1935.
Minnesota Twins fans have actually had a similar post season journey dating back to their time as the Washington Senators. The Twins have one more postseason journey than Detroit, but only been to the World Series 6 times compared to 10 for Detroit.
While both have had long and storied histories all their own, being in the same division has led to times when they have both had an impact on how the other team’s season ended. This could not be truer than it has over the last few years.
The 2006 season
Detroit had their last successful season in 2006 making it to the World Series, but had to do so as the wild card thanks to the Minnesota Twins. The Twins came on strong towards the end of the season. On September 28th the Twins ended up setting a Major League record when they defeated the Royals to move into a first place tie with the Tigers; no other team had moved into first with only three games left.
Detroit had won the season series against the Twins meaning a tie at the end of the season would have the Tigers win the division. All Detroit had to do was win out against one of the worst teams in baseball, Kansas City. Instead, they were swept by the Royals. Minnesota managed to win one against the White Sox giving them the division crown.
The 2009 season
It’s a strange day when history appears to repeat itself, but that was exactly the case with the two teams three years later in the 2009 season. This time it would be the Detroit Tigers that would end up doing a Major League first.
All season long the division belonged to the Detroit Tigers. For 146 days, the Tigers sat on top of the division; winning the division pennant seemed like more of an afterthought than something they actually had to work for.
With four days to go, Detroit had a three game lead on the Twins. Win two against either the Twins or the White Sox and they wrap up their first division pennant since 1987. Instead they drop three of their last four. Minnesota responded by winning their last four games to finish the season tied for first with the Tigers.
The division would end up being decided by playing another game, a tie-breaker between the Tigers and Twins. Stakes were a little higher this time around; the winner gets the division pennant and a playoff berth while the loser is stuck going home. The game itself would be an epic battle for the ages and would have to go into extra innings in order to be decided. In the end, it took an extra 12 innings for the Tigers to complete their end of season collapse. Minnesota won 6-5.
The 2010 season
Forty six games into the current season and it seems as if it will be another close contest between the Tigers and Twins again. After 46 the Twins hold a single game advantage over Detroit with one more win. If the statistics are any indicator it could very well go down to the wire again.
Offensively the Twins hold a slight advantage with a .274 batting average (3rd in the league); Detroit’s team average is .269. Minnesota even holds a slight advantage in homeruns, 38-37.
The Twins pitching staff holds a slight advantage over Detroit’s as well. Team ERA for Minnesota after 46 games is 3.87; Detroit’s is 4.11.
Tags: