Twins: Lost Leads Against Yankees

The Yankees' sweep of the Twins in the ALDS extended Minnesota's post-season losing streak to 12 games. Since Game 1 of the 2003 ALDS, the Twins' playoff record is a dismal 1-15.

Much has been made of the many times the Twins have lost a lead to New York. before last night's game, Minnesota had been ahead in seven of their last eight playoff games against the Yankees -- and eventually lost each of the seven games.

But what is a "lead"? There is a huge difference in losing a 1-0 lead in the first inning or blowing a 7-2 advantage in the bottom of the ninth. So I went back to look.

2004 ALDS
Game 2 - Led 3-1 in 2nd inning, lost lead
         Led 6-5 in 12th inning, lost 6-7 (12)
Game 3 - Never led, lost 4-8
Game 4 - Led 5-2 after 7 innings, lost 5-6 (11)
  
2009 ALDS
Game 1 - Led 2-0 in 3rd inning, lost 2-7
Game 2 - Led 1-0 in 6th inning, lost lead
         Led 3-1 in 9th inning, lost 3-4 (11)
Game 3 - Led 1-0 after 6 innings, lost 1-4
  
2010 ALDS
Game 1 - Led 3-0 after 5 innings, lost 4-6
Game 2 - Led 1-0 after 3 innings, lost 2-5
Game 3 - Never led, lost 1-6

Some of those are pretty bad (both games in 2004 and Game 2 in 2009), but nearly all of the others -- from only looking at the linescores -- do not stand out in any way other than the fact they they are/were cumulative. (The Twins were also swept in the 2006 ALDS against Oakland. They never led in the series, losing 2-3, 2-5, and 3-8.)

Tom Powers of the Pioneer Press has no idea how the Twins' front office will correct the team's flaws.

Where do you find confidence and guts? Where do you find clutch ability? Where do you find playoff fire?

Where, indeed.