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On Oct. 10, the Minnesota Twins brought the ALDS back to Target Field with a series tie. However, after surrendering an early lead, their fans needed to get creative about getting inside the heads of their adversaries.
After an RBI single from Kyle Tucker, Jose Abreu hit a three-run home run off of Twins starter Sonny Gray to put the Houston Astros up 4-0 in the very first inning. Initially, the crowd at Target Field went silent, but someone soon had a rather unorthodox idea.
During the ensuing bottom half of the first inning, a cacophony of chants could be heard raining down at Target Field. For Minnesota Twins fans, their objective was clear: get inside the head of Astros starter Cristian Javier by loudly counting down the pitch clock.
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"Twins fans are counting down with the pitch clock, and it's LOUD" - Jomboy Media
The pitch clock is a brainchild of MLB commissioner Rob Manfred and made its MLB debut this season. Under the rules, pitchers have 15 seconds to deliver their throw, or 20 with runners on base.
Predictably, there was just as much controversy over the fans at Target Field heckling the Houston Astros by counting down as there was about the pitch clock itself.
In many ways, this ALDS showdown is a David vs Goliath situation. The Astros won their division, the AL West, for the seventh straight season and are strong contenders to win their second straight World Series.
By contrast, the Twins' AL Wild Card Series win against the Toronto Blue Jays was their first postseason series win since 2002.
Astros starter Cristian Javier has still held the Twins scoreless through three innings, despite the chants. However, some have remarked that the 26-year old right-hander appears slightly more shaky than usual, perhaps owing to the raucous ballpark.
Minnesota Twins fans will need to pull out every stop to beat the Astros
While chanting down the pitck clock might be a novel idea, the Twins will need more than heckling to defeat the Astros.
With the Texas Rangers being a likely ALCS adversary for the eventual winner of the series, a loss will put the Minnesota Twins within one loss of losing their entire season.
It may be true that the chanting demonstrated a passionate fanbase. However, as well all know, no amount of fan engagement can make a team score runs when it desperately needs to.
