Sep 17, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Jhoan Duran (59) reacts during a pitching change in the ninth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
By Ben Axelrod on

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As the final weekend of the 2024 MLB regular season approaches, the Minnesota Twins find themselves on the verge of completing an epic collapse.

But contrary to what Bob Nightengale would have had you believe, the Twins haven’t officially been eliminated from the postseason just yet; they’re merely on life support.

With an 8-6 loss in 13 innings to the Miami Marlins on Thursday night, Minnesota now finds itself on the verge of elimination heading into this weekend’s three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles. And those circumstances were apparently enough for Nightengale to proclaim the Twins’ season dead, while advancing the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals to the playoffs.

“RIP Minnesota Twins’ 2024 season,” the USA Today MLB columnist wrote on X following Minnesota’s latest defeat. “The Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals are going to the playoffs!”

There was just one problem: while the Twins’ outlook is dire, they aren’t dead yet. Being three games back with three games to go, Minnesota has yet to officially be eliminated, even if it appears to be a matter of not “if” but rather “when” that will happen.

“Magic Number down to just 1 as Twins’ stunning collapse going down in history,” Nightengale wrote while quote-tweeting his original post in an apparent attempt to issue a social media correction.

Make no mistake, the Twins’ collapse has certainly been epic as it was just one month ago that they laid claim to a five-game lead for the American League’s third and final Wild Card spot. But in the month since, Minnesota has posted a meager 10-18 record, while the surging Tigers (19-8 in the same stretch) have surpassed their American League Central Division rival in the Wild Card standings.

Heading into this weekend, the Twins’ only hope to make the playoffs is to sweep the Orioles and for either the Royals to get swept by the Atlanta Braves or the Tigers to get swept by the 120-loss Chicago White Sox.

Likely? Of course not. But as the old cliché goes, it’s not over ’til it’s over. And it’s curious that a longtime baseball writer like Nightengale wouldn’t have been fully aware of such scenarios before prematurely eliminating Minnesota from postseason contention, especially considering his previous critiques of the industry.

[Bob Nightengale on X]

About Ben Axelrod

Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.

View all posts by Ben Axelrod