[Lefty Noob]

With an 8-1 win over Kansas City yesterday, the Minnesota Twins clinched a playoff berth.

Major League Baseball : News : Major League Baseball News
By Kelly Thesier / MLB.com

MINNEAPOLIS -- All week long, the Twins wondered if they would celebrate when they officially clinched a spot in playoffs, even though a division title was still on the line.

But when Joe Nathan flipped the ball to Justin Morneau for the final out of the Twins' 8-1 victory over the Royals on Monday to secure the Twins a postseason bid, there was no question whether or not Minnesota would celebrate.

For all that the team had been through in reaching this postseason bid -- coming back from trailing two clubs in the division race by nearly 11 games and ending the first months of the season below .500 -- it was no surprise that this celebration took on a little extra meaning.

That emotion exploded on the field, as the entire club ran out on the diamond into one big jumping huddle.

"It's unbelievable," Nick Punto said. "From where we came in April, to be where we are celebrating popping corks and champagne ... it doesn't get any better than this."

So the Twins will either win the Central or be the Wild Card. Either way, they're going to be one of the four American League teams playing in the postseason this year. How do you like their chances?

[MJHMarc]

Chances of what?

They already made the Playoffs so I could care less about how they finish.

As long as they get into the post-season it will put smiles on faces.

[Lefty Noob]

Come on, Marc, you know what I mean. Can they win the ALCS? Take the World Series championship? They're definitely one of the hotter teams right now, entering the playoffs. I've said before, I don't think they have the pitching to claim a seven game series. If only they had Radke and Liriano, I think they could take the Yanks.

[MJHMarc]

In my opinion, Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer are the best teammates in the league, compared to all of the MLB teams this year. I would usually consider it to be Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz but both of them have been facing their own problems. If the Twins work hard and play well, they can easily make it to the ALCS.

I can't predict the World Series outcome since it is so far away and I don't know which teams are in the post-season, right now.