The Twins are nine games over .500 at the All-Star Break and have a four-game lead in the race for a Wild Card berth. They just finished a run against three serious playoff contenders with eight victories in 11 games. On Sunday, the Twins took apart Detroit (for the third time in four games) with a lineup that included five players who spent time in the minor leagues this season. Things are good. Unexpectedly good. So good that it's perfectly fine, with more than 50 percent of the season played, to talk about the Twins as a postseason contender without sounding silly. And one of the good things about that discussion is that it no longer breaks off into an argument over whether the Twins are playing for today or building for the future. Those two things, right now, are pretty much one. And there isn't very much "in spite of" on the roster. Sure, you can pick on Mike Pelfrey right now for his problems in recent starts, but find another American League team that has a fifth starter who doesn't concern its manager. About the only thing you'd want from the Twins is a bullpen upgrade.
Section 219: startribune.com/twins
