Why the Yankees’ Exit Feels Like a Victory for Minnesota
The New York Yankees have been ousted from the 2025 MLB postseason - are there any sweeter words in the baseball world? Their ALDS exit extends their now sixteen-year long drought without a World Series championship, the second longest in their franchise history. Twins Territory, join me in this quick message to the team in pinstripes: "Cry me a river." Sarcasm aside, Twins fans can enjoy something rare after Toronto sealed the deal with a 5-2 victory in New York: unadulterated, guilt-free joy at someone else's expense - the Yankees' expense!
So, why does it feel like the Twins just scored a postseason win even though they're watching the happenings from home? Let's take a short trip down memory lane to remind ourselves, or perhaps inform newcomers, as to why any Yankees loss feels so good.
A Brief (and Painful) History: Yankees vs. Twins in the Postseason
It is no secret that when it comes to playoff baseball, the Yankees have historically treated the Twins like their personal punching bag. From 2003 through 2019 (the last time they played each other in the postseason), the two teams have faced off in the playoffs six times. New York has won all six series in that timeframe. The numbers are downright cruel, so bear with me:
Head-to-Head Postseason Record (2003-2019): Yankees 16 - Twins 2
Series Record: Yankees 6 - Twins 0
Runs Scored: Yankees 100 - Twins 47
Alright, that is enough. We get it. Each matchup felt like a rerun of the same tragic plot: a season of promise, hope going into the playoffs, "oh, we play the Yankees AGAIN," the inevitable meltdown or walk-off courtesy of the Bronx Bombers, Twins fans are crushed. Nauseating for those of us who have witnessed it over and over again. No matter how well the season went, when the Twins would meet the Yankees they seemed to be a different team - and we despised New York for what they would do to our team. But we're here for the good news, let's get back to that.
Meanwhile in 2025...
The Empire has fallen! Well, for this year anyway. The Yankees' once-iron grip on October has been slippery at best in the recent years despite reaching the postseason in eight of the last ten seasons. In 2024, the Yankees lost in the World Series 4-1 vs. the Dodgers (we'll call them the NL Yankees) after missing the playoffs entirely in 2023. With their last World Series win coming in 2009, they find themselves in their longest stint without a championship since the mid-80's when the Twins were still playing in the Metrodome and Kirby Puckett was just beginning his legendary career.
As with anytime the Yankees bow out in the playoffs, the blame game immediately begins. Is Aaron Boone, the Yankees manager, the problem? What about Brian Cashman, the team's general manager? Did Aaron Judge perform up to the MVP standard? Did Jazz Chisholm's costly error seal the deal on the Yankees' 2025 postseason exit? Some social media posts lay the blame squarely on Cashman, some even going so far as to say that they've wasted the prime of Judge's career. Again, it has hard to feel bad for a franchise with a galaxy-sized payroll and a reputation akin to that of the Empire from the Star Wars films.
The Yankees haven’t won a World Series in 16 years. Brian Cashman has wasted the prime of Aaron Judge, yet has a lifetime contract. Aaron Boone is a bottom tier manager, managing the most decorated team in North American sports history. Fire these losers. Fire them all.
— Bob Stew (@TheBobStew) October 9, 2025
I do want to give credit, a lot of credit, to the Toronto Blue Jays for how they played. The Jays put up 34 runs in the four game series with the lone loss coming in game three that saw former Twins pitcher Louis Varland surrender a moonshot to Judge in the fourth inning. This series showed why Toronto was able to win the AL East with 94 wins this season - big hits when they needed them and resilience to bounce back after the deflating game three loss.
Silver Linings and Small Victories
Twins fans have endured more than most fan bases when it comes to postseason heartbreak in the recent decades. Not all, but most. Watching the mighty Yankees stumble, while Minnesota rebuilds, reshapes (blows up??) its roster feels like a bit of poetic justice or like the balance is being restored...ever so slightly. It is a reminder that even the biggest dynasties fade in and out and hope - much like the celebration in Royce Lewis's photo above - can come when you least expect it. I doubt I'm the first to admit that my reaction to the Blue Jay's victory last night looked much like Royce did on September 21.
While the Twins didn't go anywhere this year, the hope remains that the team's core is young, they're getting healthy, the farm system continues to thrive, and perhaps most importantly today, the Yankees are sitting at home too. Silver linings and small victories, Twins Territory.
Obviously there is no banner to raise for this sort of "win" but for the Twins faithful, it is a lovely way to begin the coming AL Championship Series - the Yankees tripped first and that is a great start to the 2025 postseason.