Uh oh

It was a spectacular play by Alexi Casilla behind
second base on Ryan Raburn's grounder — spectacular
but ineffective, as Raburn easily beat it out.

The notion was floated here July 7 that we would know by the end of play on July 24 — 18 days, 16 games — if the Twins truly had a shot at winning another AL Central title.

We're still two days, two games, away from the 24th, but we know that the Twins won't hit the 12-4 mark I thought then was necessary. Nor will they go 11-5. They stand now 8-6. They entered this stretch eight games out of first place; they enter today seven games out.

Seven games behind Detroit, and 0-7 against Detroit. The correlation is obvious.

As was the case Thursday against Justin Verlander, the Twins couldn't do anything against Max Scherzer and his mid 90s fastball. I see a trend developing.

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If there are any blog readers attending Bert Blyleven's Hall of Fame induction Sunday, I'd like to hear from you. Send me an email at ethoma@mankatofreepress.com.