Can this team flip the script on 2001 & 2011? Share this story At the beginning of this season, I commented on how the 2001 & 2011 seasons could not have gotten off to more different starts. Somewhat oddly, however, both of those campaigns ended in roughly the same fashion—hope, followed by utter disaster (aka The Minnesota Sports Way TM). In ‘01, the Twins entered the month of August at 60-46, battling tooth-and-nail with Cleveland for the AL Central crown. Even after a 1-7 skid to begin the dog days, the Twins were just a game-and-a-half-back coming into a crucial three-game tilt in The Land. The first game of the series seemed to be trending towards an all-time Twins classic. Eric Milton faced off against Bartolo Colon (presumably just as Sexy in those days, if not quite as Big) and each squad traded blows into the late innings. Down by one in the top of the ninth, the Twins—thanks in large part to a 3-run triple off the bat of A.J. Pierzynski—battered around John Rocker (yes,