RIP, 2007: Indians put final nail in Twins coffin

The latest dominating performance by Cleveland has the Twins, if they weren't already, looking ahead to 2008.

By La Velle E. Neal III, Star Tribune

Last update: September 8, 2007 - 1:35 PM

There's a time for hope. There's a time for denial. And there's a time to break out the offseason vacation guides.

And the Twins may have officially arrived at that third stage on Wednesday afternoon after the Cleveland Indians whipped them 6-2 at the Metrodome. The three-game series sweep resembled the Indians' dominance of the Twins back in the days of Roberto Alomar and friends.

The Twins, 12½ games out in the AL Central, are left to evaluate some players for next season, to try to not fall further in the division and hopefully finish above .500 for the sixth consecutive year under manager Ron Gardenhire.

"It's pretty much worry-free now," Twins outfielder Michael Cuddyer said. "There's no reason to panic or put pressure on yourself. If and when we're mathematically eliminated, there's still not going to be any quit.

"We still have plenty of pride in the clubhouse."

Cleveland swept the Twins for the fourth time this season, the first time an opponent has done that since 1999, when the Twins were outclassed by Texas.

Cleveland finished the season series 14-4 against the Twins, the most lopsided margin since the Indians went 15-4 against them in 2001 to win the AL Central title.

All the Twins' big dreams this season have been crushed. They had six games left against the Indians, but the Twins were swept in Cleveland last week to end any realistic chance of getting back in the division race,

This week, Cleveland swept the Twins again, beating Twins ace Johan Santana on Monday and Scott Baker on Wednesday -- and Baker was coming off a one-hitter in his last outing.

Any creative thoughts of a magical comeback were snuffed out.

"It's not easy when your expectations are very high as you start a season and, as you go along, you come into the last 10 days knowing you're playing Cleveland six times and you have a chance to do something," Gardenhire said, "and they whack you pretty good."

The last time Cleveland took it to the Twins like this was in 2001, when the Indians clinched the AL Central title at home against the Twins, leaving Twins players like Doug Mientkiewicz sitting in the dugout, watching the Indians frolic on the Jacobs Field infield as their fans celebrated.

"I have a sneaking suspicion Cleveland better enjoy this one," Mientkiewicz said at the time, "because it could be a while before they get another one."

Mientkiewicz was prophetic. Too bad he couldn't have warned the Twins of what was coming this season.

The Twins offense has been flat for most of the year, and the fundamentals have been lacking at times. And when a team repeatedly says it's too inconsistent, it translates to just not being good enough.

Cleveland has proven that against the Twins all season, including on Wednesday when Baker needed 27 pitches to get the first out as the Indians took a 3-0 lead. The Twins got within 3-2 only to have the bullpen break down in the ninth and give up three runs.

"They have kicked our tails," Twins outfielder Torii Hunter said, "so it's been mentally draining. They are maturing and they are hitting the ball hard. I wish them the best of luck if they go on to the playoffs ... and bring it back to the AL Central."

La Velle E. Neal III • lneal@startribune.com

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