The Twins entered this week down two and a half games to the Chicago White Sox. They shocked us all by sweeping their rival and moving into first place by a small half-game margin. All that excitement from the big comeback, from the big sweep has quickly disappeared. It’s been an emotional rollercoaster to say the least.

We all knew that the Royals have played well in the season‘s final weeks, but if the Twins were a playoff team, we all were certain that they’d handle themselves and move forward with their destiny in their own hands. We couldn’t have been more wrong.

There is no consolation prize, there is no other path to the playoffs but through The Central. The first loss to the Royals was acceptable. It was hard to see us miss a chance at gaining a game, but still in first, it couldn’t be upsetting.

The second loss? Not so much. Twenty-three runners. That’s the number that the Twins left on base, that’s the number of chances the team missed in the two-run loss. Is the season mathematically over? No. But if the White Sox miss their chance at taking control, it’d be pretty shocking. They’ll be at home, against Zack Johnson, that tells the story.

It’s hard watching the team fade away. It’s hard watching them have such a great season only to lose it in the final days. I don’t feel sick, I feel much worse than that. I’ve put so much into the season, and while it’s not yet over, I just don’t feel good about the final moments.