Can't take 'em seriously

It was just an ill-played game all around for
Minnesota on Monday.

Monday's loss was just one loss, not two or three. But coming as it did on the heels of a disappointing series split with Cleveland and disastrous series loss to Detroit, the 20-6 beatdown in Texas pretty much beat my 2011 illusions out of me.

This team ain't winning the division.

Those discouraging words having been heard, let's look at the facts.

Detroit, in first place by a single game, is 54-48, which leaves them 60 games to play. If they merely play .500 ball the rest of the way, they'll finish 84-78.

The Twins are 47-55, which also leaves them 60 games to play. To get to 84 wins, they'll have to go 37-23, a .617 pace.

But even that requires that the other two teams ahead of the Twins, Cleveland and Chicago, co-coperate. The Twins have three teams to leapfrog.