Fans keep faith as Twins stumble

Carlos Gonzalez, Star Tribune

Twins fans at Sneaky Pete’s in Minneapolis found a play to cheer — there weren’t many — while watching Tuesday’s playoff game for the American League Central Division title.

By MARY LYNN SMITH, Star Tribune

Last update: September 30, 2008 - 11:27 PM

Print this story

More from Twins

It was only a one-night stand. But for Twins fans, it was one night of glorious fall ball.

At least until the last out, when hopes for the postseason dropped out of sight in Chicago on Tuesday night. The White Sox won a 1-0 playoff game to claim the American League's Central Division title.

Never mind that the Twins could have clinched the title if they had won one more game against Kansas City over the weekend or if Detroit would have taken the White Sox down on Monday.

"But this is what it is," said Mark Cook of Maple Grove, who slipped into his Joe Mauer shirt and watched the tiebreaker game with a bar full of other fans at Sneaky Pete's in downtown Minneapolis. "A lot of teams are checking in their gear today, and we still get to play."

So Tuesday night, Twins fans everywhere settled into their home sofas or gathered in bars for yet another night of baseball. It wasn't the Dome, but fans packed Majors Sports Cafe in Golden Valley to cheer and jeer. They nervously clapped; they let out collective aarghs.

And then suddenly, there was quiet. The season was over.

"I'm disappointed," said Jim Olson of Minneapolis. "But I feel we proved everyone wrong. Everyone predicted the Twins would be dead last or second to last. But we were a breath away from the playoffs."

And for one night, it was exciting. "There aren't too many situations where you win or go home," Cook said.

"This is a scrappy team," said Ryan Prodzinski of Winona, Minn. He and his wife, Alison, were in the Twin Cities to shop for the day. By night, they settled in at Sneaky Pete's.

Early in the game, Ryan Prodzinski nearly winced when asked for his prediction. "It doesn't look good."

His wife shot him the look only a wife can give that says: "Shush."

"They win when they have to,'' Alison Prodzinski said. "Don't get down on them."

Even with a night-ending loss, some fans kept a stiff upper lip. The team that exceeded expectations will be even better next year, they said.

The one-game playoff was a bonus, said diehard fan Jacob Harrington of Minneapolis.

And it brought people together, said Cassie Wieberdink of St. Louis Park as she looked around Sneaky Pete's: "This is what baseball is all about.''

Mary Lynn Smith • 612-673-4788

Recent Twins stories

Brewers decline option on RHP David Weathers - September 30, 2008

Brewers decline option on RHP David Weathers - The Milwaukee Brewers have declined a $3.7 million club option on right-handed reliever David Weathers for next season. More