The countdown is on for Game 1 of the American League Divisional Series in New York this Friday here on WCCO.
As the Twins embark on a possible World Series run against a franchise that has ended their dreams 5 times since 2003, the Bomba Squad is keeping their same cool confidence into the postseason.
Just like in the regular season, there will still be no dress code on the plane and this young group with no ties to the Twins past misery against New York will come into Yankee Stadium with the same demeanor that allowed them to set a major league record for home runs in a season.
First-year manager Rocco Baldelli played against the Yankees throughout his playing career and says the stadium is not intimidating, especially for this team that won more than any other on the road. Neither is that history.
"As far as our players in our clubhouse, I don't think any of our guys care one bit about what has happened here previously and our guys are about as confident heading into this series as you can be," he said.
The Twins just edged the Yankees with 307 home runs this season earning them the nickname the Bomba Squad. For the first time in MLB history 5 players hit at least 30. Catcher Mitch Garver is one of them and says he's ready for the hitter-friendly confines of the ballpark, but says the series is not just about home runs.
"Like Nelson (Cruz) said earlier, it's about who's going to play clean baseball," he said. "Who's going to limit the errors? Who's going to limit the damage with baserunners on? How are you going to handle those situations?"
Baldelli agrees that they can win other ways like small ball and with pitching. The home runs set this team apart as well as their makeup.
"The way our club has kind of melded together and become one has been very impressive from my end to watch," Baldelli said.
Baldelli says he's not ready to announce his starter for Friday, but he does feel good about his decision.
He also said rookie infielder Luis Arraez, who's dealing with a sprained ankle, is coming along, but his status for the series might not be known until the last minute. Baldelli says Arraez has been in the pool working on treatment and improving since he previously couldn't put weight on it.
Game 1 of Yankees-Twins starts at 6 which complete coverage here on WCCO at 4:30 p.m.
