If the end of the Twins' season left a bitter taste, consider that it was supposed to end a whole lot earlier.
By most measures, the team was a pleasant surprise. Before the season, oddsmakers set Minnesota's over-under for victories around 70. Models based on run differential had no idea how the team was above water for much of the year. Despite allowing four more runs than it scored, the team was within a final-weekend mulligan of playoff contention.
How did they get here? Take a walk here through the lows, highs and turning points that brought the club back to relevance for the first time in years.