Welcome to The Opener, where every weekday morning you’ll get a fresh, topical column to start your day from one of SI.com’s MLB writers.
Last week, Minnesota’s playoff odds officially hit the mark they have spiritually occupied for weeks now: 0.0%.
After a steep tumble over a disappointing spring, and the sour trudge across a miserable summer, the numbers at last matched the vibe. And within a few hours of their postseason chances hitting rock bottom, as if some internal mechanism had been triggered, the club made their first move of trade season: Nelson Cruz was sent to the Rays.