Twins 2019: Leaders Under the Radar

To those of us who expected another lost season in a lost decade for the Minnesota Twins, there's something you should know:  As of July 10, the Twins are leading the American League Central division by 5 1/2 games over the Cleveland Indians.  They have one of the best records in Major League Baseball with 56 wins and 33 losses.  Suddenly the team is relevant again.

How did this happen, you ask?  First-year manager Rocco Baldelli has put together a lineup that so far has put the Twins on a home run pace not seen since the days of Harmon Killebrew, and a more competent pitching staff than anyone dared hope for.

The Twins' efforts haven't been noticed by the rest of baseball--yet--as the New York Yankees, Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers all lead their divisions at the All Star break.  Only pitcher Jose Berrios and shortstop Jorge Polanco were among the starters at the MLB All Star game in Cleveland, which was won by the American League 4-3.

How long the Twins can keep this up the rest of the season is anyone's guess.  Several key players, including Jake Odorizzi, Eddie Rosario, C.J. Cran, Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton are either (A) on the injured list, or (B) flirting with irrelevance and a one way ticket to Rochester, NY.

When it comes to picking up name-brand talent toward the trading deadline, the Twins are usually out of the conversation unless they're the ones selling.  This year could be different, but unless team owner Jim Pohlad could be persuaded to open his bank vault, they're more likely to wind up with small-name castoffs for the stretch run.

And then there's Cleveland, the defending division champion that's been getting its act together after a slow start.  Remember when we said the C's were trailing by 5 1/2 games?  It used to be around ten.

For the Twins to win its first division title since the year Target Field opened,they'll need a lot of things to go right.  If not, then it's what we expected all along.

USWNT: Groundbreaking Champions

The United States women's soccer team won its fourth World Cup Sunday in France, shutting out the Netherlands 2-0.

Megan Rapinoe, who had scored in nearly every game, made a penalty kick in the 61st minute.  Rose Lavelle scored another in the 69th minute to wrap up a championship the Americans were heavily favored to win.

Not only did the American women beat the Dutch, but they also got in Dutch on and off the pitch.

--In their opening match against Thailand,  they scored 13 goals against an obviously overmatched opponent.  The USA was ripped for celebrating a bit too much.   Although they toned it down in subsequent matches, Alex Morgan did pretend to sip tea after scoring against England.

--Rapinoe, the driving force behind this team, got into it with President Donald Trump over being invited to the White House should the U.S. win the World Cup. She wanted nothing to do with it, just like so many athletes of sex and color before her.  Rapinoe also wouldn't salute the flag during the "Star Spangled Banner" in the conventional manner, much like Colin Kaepernick.

Well, they're getting their due anyway.  A ticker tape parade in New York and a visit to the halls of Congress awaits, courtesy of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York.

--Earlier, several members of the women's soccer team sued the American governing body for not getting paid as much as the men's team.  You will recall that the men's team didn't qualify for the 2018 World Cup, and that they are on shaky ground for 2022.

This might be the most important and lasting victory the U.S. women's soccer team will ever have if the courts (and society) see things their way.  Women earn less in all walks of life, including sports.  When you win four World Cups in two decades, you deserve something more than the thanks of a grateful nation, right?