Punto was a useful utility guy for the Cards when he wasn’t hurt this season, compiling a .388 on-base percentage and playing his usual stellar defense. His performance at the plate wasn’t so solid in the playoffs. In 15 postseason games (six each in the World Series and LCS, and three in the NLDS), Punto went six for 35 (.171) with three RBI. While he played in all but one game of the World Series, he only collected three hits (all singles), but he walked five times, leading to a bizarre .214/.421/.214 slash line.

Like Punto, Lohse played well during the season but wasn’t as good in the postseason. He was 14-8 with a 3.39 ERA in the first 162 games. In the postseason he was 0-2 with a 7.81 ERA. In 12.2 innings pitched, he gave up 18 hits and 11 earned runs. Lohse made one World Series start, in Game 3. Lohse breezed through three innings, but he couldn’t get an out in the fourth. He faced four men, and three came around to score in the biggest slugfest of the World Series, a 16-7 Cards win.

Lohse and Punto are the latest Twins to win a championship, but they’re not the only ones. The 2010 Giants and the 2009 Yankees somehow managed to win it all without the help of any former Twins. But most of the other championship teams this century have had at least one:

2008 Phillies

J.C. Romero was a very important bullpen arm for this squad. In 59 regular season innings, he struck out 52 and earned a respectable 2.75 ERA. Romero made it into four of the five World Series games, and he didn’t allow a single run in 4.2 innings versus the Rays. In the process he notched two wins. (more…)

This is part nine in a series examining every Twins team that has made the playoffs. Whether the current version of the Twins is 20 games over .500 or stuck in last place, fans can always hold onto memories of successful teams past.

Previous articles in the series: 1965, 1969, 1970, 1987, 1991, 2002, 2003, 2004

The Twins had a disapointing season in 2005. Not only did they slump to 83-79 and lose the division crown for the first time since 2001, they watched the rival Chicago White Sox march through the playoffs and sweep the World Series. Two promising young hitters suffered prominent injuries, as Justin Morneau sustained a concussion early in the season and super-prospect Jason Kubel missed what would have been his rookie year with a severe knee injury. The Twins pitched well, but their hitters did not hold up their end of the bargain. As losses piled up, chaos descended on the clubhouse, culminating in a fistfight between Morneau and centerfielder Torii Hunter.

But 2006 was a new year. During the offseason, the Twins added some veteran hitters: sluggers Ruben Sierra, Tony Batista, and Rondell White, and top-of-the-order threat Luis Castillo. The Twins were healthy and talented, and they looked ready to destroy the competition in the AL Central.

So it was a complete surprise to many people when the Twins were well under .500 and 11.5 games out of first place by the end of May. But that wasn’t as surprising as what happened afterward: one of the greatest comebacks in Major League history. (more…)