Only nine more games, thank god. The Twins made it interesting in the 9th, before channeling the early 2010 Twins to remind us all they are the 2011 Twins:
• League pitching.
• Tosoni pinch-hitting for Butera.
• Tosoni singled to center.
• Revere singled to center, Tosoni to second.
• Plouffe safe at first on a sacrifice plus pitcher League's throwing error, Tosoni to third, Revere to second.
• Cuddyer struck out.
• Parmelee grounded into fielder's choice, first baseman Carp to catcher Olivo, Tosoni out, Revere to third, Plouffe to second.
• Valencia grounded out, third baseman Liddi to first baseman Carp.
Yuck. That's ten losses in a row. Bring on the Mark Appel era.
Someone asked what the Twins record for losing streak to end a season was. 1999 ended with an eight-game losing streak and a seven inning tie. 1998 had a ten-game losing streak late in September before finishing 5-3.
What's the major league record? Do we have a shot at that?
That's harder to find out, since B-R's streak finder doesn't let you do all years for all teams. Manually going backwards, so far I found the Orioles finished 2002 with a 12 game losing streak.
The Angels in 1988 matched that.
Ooh, The Washington Senators in 1970 ended with a 14 game losing streak.
So far I've checked through 1959.
The Cincinnati Reds in 1937 matched the 14 game losing streak, along with the 1916 St. Louis Cardinals. That's it through 1901, which is as far as I can go. Anyone have the schedule for the 1899 Spiders?
B-R does. They ended with a 16 game losing streak.
If the Twins lose out, I'm almost certain that they will set the record.
At least they can't set the record for consecutive losses in a single season.
The Twins' tragic number for a last-place finish is down to 1, so just one more KC win or Twins loss will clinch a first-to-worst finish. #itshappening.