CLEVELAND The feeling originated during the three-game sweep in Toronto, spread over the Canadian border and into the visitors' clubhouse in Cleveland.
And Friday's loss didn't help.
Several Twins players, including Torii Hunter, Luis Castillo, Juan Rincon and Carlos Silva, are wondering if they will be dealt before Tuesday's non-waiver trade deadline.
The hottest rumor has Castillo a target of the Mets, where he could form an effective one-two punch with All-Star shortstop Jose Reyes. The chances increased some Saturday when Ty Wigginton, who plays second and third, was traded from Tampa Bay to Houston for relief pitcher Dan Wheeler.
Castillo has heard and read about the possibility, but he stressed on Saturday that he wants to finish out the season with the Twins and enjoys playing for manager Ron Gardenhire.
"I like the team and I want to be here," Castillo said before the Twins ended their five-game losing streak by beating Cleveland 3-2. "If it were like that, that's fine. I've heard a couple of times that I might get traded. I want to play here and do my job."
A few players hold out hope that they can win a couple games and encourage General Manager Terry Ryan to make a deal in a last-ditch effort to reach the postseason. Others are worried about Ryan going the other way and dealing potential free agents.
Injured Twins outfielder Michael Cuddyer said he has been startled by the shift in the atmosphere surrounding the club after Tuesday's 7-0 loss to Toronto. It carried over into the next two games, a 13-1 loss to Toronto on Wednesday and 10-4 loss to Cleveland on Friday.
"It has," he said. "Whether it is a direct implication of the way we have been playing on the field, or not, I think in some way shape or form it has affected the way we have played."
Some believe it's an unavoidable reaction to this time of year when a club appears to be out of chances.
It's something Gardenhire is fighting against.
"Sometimes it takes away from the focus and it shouldn't," Gardenhire said. "That's my job, to try to keep the focus. And I haven't done my job very well either, because we haven't remained focused on the field."
Cuddyer agreed that the focus should be on the field.
"We're all in Twins uniforms right now," he said, "and that's what should matter."
Etc.
• Gardenhire will juggle his lineup more today against Cleveland lefthander C.C. Sabathia. Gardenhire hopes Rondell White will be able to play a day game after a night game. And he wants Joe Mauer to catch because Mike Redmond is still feeling the effects of a dislocated middle finger.
• Hunter injured his left middle finger on Friday while swinging a bat but was able to start on Saturday.
• Cuddyer played catch and hit off the tee Saturday, his first activities since spraining his right thumb on July 19. Cuddyer said he hopes to take batting practice on Monday so he can be ready to go when activated on Friday.
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