After watching the White Sox get schooled by the Rays in the first two games of the ALDS, it's pretty obvious the Twins took whatever last bit of spunk Chicago had left.
The Angels/Red Sox series is certainly more competitive and entertaining.
Over in the NLDS, it looks like the Brewers are suffering the same pre-playoff hangover as the White Sox. It is puzzling, though, why the Cubs have been so cruddy in their playoff series with the Dodgers. L.A. is playing with a lot of pizazz, but the Cubs are doing nothing for their cause.
I predicted an Angels World Series title after a tour of the Cactus League back in early March and haven't changed my mind. Either way, I believe the tournament winner will come from the American League. If I had to bet, I'd put my money on an Angels vs. Phillies final with the LA Anaheim Angels of California winning in five games.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Time To Think About 2009
Nick Blackburn tossed one hell of a game Tuesday night. Unfortunately, the only highlight for the Twins was the pitching combo of Blackburn, Jose Mijares and Joe Nathan. Giving up five hits to the White Sox is more than Twins fans could ask at this point in the season. One run allowed should also be enough.
The bottom line is that the Twins lineup has not been a playoff lineup for a month. When your only hits are from Michael Cuddyer and Brendan Harris, there's trouble. Where were Mauer and Morneau the past week? The so-called piranhas were sunfish. Small ball went out the window outside the Metrodome.
It's time to look forward to next season and be happy this core group will be that much better next season. No doubt this was another of Ron Gardenhire's magic tricks, but next year we all must expect much, much more.
The bottom line is that the Twins lineup has not been a playoff lineup for a month. When your only hits are from Michael Cuddyer and Brendan Harris, there's trouble. Where were Mauer and Morneau the past week? The so-called piranhas were sunfish. Small ball went out the window outside the Metrodome.
It's time to look forward to next season and be happy this core group will be that much better next season. No doubt this was another of Ron Gardenhire's magic tricks, but next year we all must expect much, much more.
Detroit (Not) Rock City
I'm not sure which was worse Monday afternoon: Watching the terrible fill-in programming on WGN-TV as the White Sox and Tigers waited out a rain delay or Detroit's horrific pitching display during the game.
When Alexei Ramirez sat on that terrifically terrible pitch by Gary Glover in the sixth inning, things got worse.
Ramirez has always reminded me of Alphonso Soriano both in stature and batting stance. The difference, I decided Monday, is that I really love Ramirez as a player and couldn't loathe Soriano more than I currently do.
Ramirez is genuine. The Cuban 27-year-old hit that home run, gave the oh-my-gosh! look with his arms and face, then joyously loped around the bases. WGN had the camera on him as he sat alone on the bench afterwards, kissing his bat before succumbing to emotion. Ramirez dropped his face into his palms and momentarily cried. The range of emotions peculating in his body before, during and after that grand slam have to have been inconceivable. Just last year at this time he was pondering defection from Cuba (he signed a lowly contract of $4.4 million over four years with the White Sox on Dec. 22, 2007). Simply put, it was a great moment.
Here's hoping he has a downer of day at the Cell Tuesday, though.
When Alexei Ramirez sat on that terrifically terrible pitch by Gary Glover in the sixth inning, things got worse.
Ramirez has always reminded me of Alphonso Soriano both in stature and batting stance. The difference, I decided Monday, is that I really love Ramirez as a player and couldn't loathe Soriano more than I currently do.
Ramirez is genuine. The Cuban 27-year-old hit that home run, gave the oh-my-gosh! look with his arms and face, then joyously loped around the bases. WGN had the camera on him as he sat alone on the bench afterwards, kissing his bat before succumbing to emotion. Ramirez dropped his face into his palms and momentarily cried. The range of emotions peculating in his body before, during and after that grand slam have to have been inconceivable. Just last year at this time he was pondering defection from Cuba (he signed a lowly contract of $4.4 million over four years with the White Sox on Dec. 22, 2007). Simply put, it was a great moment.
Here's hoping he has a downer of day at the Cell Tuesday, though.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Finally, A Win
Sunday's win over the Kansas City Royals kept the Twins in first place and has many of us watching WGN-TV tomorrow at 1:05 p.m.
It was nice to see the Twins get some hits. It was even better to have Scott Baker look like a formidable pitcher against the Royals crummy offense. And, yes, wasn't it nice to see Joe Mauer not hit into a single double play?
Let's hope the Tigers are peeved they have to continue their terrible season. Let's hope the White Sox continue to implode. Let's hope Freddy Garcia can still pitch.
As Homer Simpson put it when he opened his Mr. Plow business: "Now we play the waiting game ... The waiting game sucks. Let's play Hungry Hungry Hippos." In all sincerity, there was no way I thought this team would win 88 games this season. No way. Damn nice job, no matter what the outcome tomorrow and Tuesday.
Who said it was over?
It was nice to see the Twins get some hits. It was even better to have Scott Baker look like a formidable pitcher against the Royals crummy offense. And, yes, wasn't it nice to see Joe Mauer not hit into a single double play?
Let's hope the Tigers are peeved they have to continue their terrible season. Let's hope the White Sox continue to implode. Let's hope Freddy Garcia can still pitch.
As Homer Simpson put it when he opened his Mr. Plow business: "Now we play the waiting game ... The waiting game sucks. Let's play Hungry Hungry Hippos." In all sincerity, there was no way I thought this team would win 88 games this season. No way. Damn nice job, no matter what the outcome tomorrow and Tuesday.
Who said it was over?
Friday, September 26, 2008
How 'bout My Minnesota Twins?
Years back I worked with a guy named Mike Augustin who would yell loudly across the newsroom, over the phone or type on the top text line of his raw stories: "How 'bout my St. John's Johnnies!?" or simply: "Myyyyyy Cubbies!"
Auggie usually was most boisterous when it was an underdog or a team overcoming long odds.
Thursday night Auggie was yelling across the heavens to St. Peter: "Myyyyyy Minnesota Twins!"
Three straight against the Chicago White Sox is deserving of any raucous fan belting it out. The way the Twins played in their sweep was nothing short of inspirational.
The finale was the capper. Down 6-1 and momentarily looking like a bumbling Triple-A team, the Twins buckled down. The dug deep. The never said never. Pick your damn cliche because whatever you call it, that's what they did.
Go-go Gomez is as goofy as they come, yet there he was going 4-for-5 with two triples and a double. Alexei Casilla looked clueless at the plate for nine innings and then drilled an 0-1 pitch into center for the game-winner. Denard Span has struggled of late, but suddenly oh-so-close to hitting for the cycle.
Joe Nathan hasn't exactly been perfect lately, but Gardy gives him the ball and he goes an unprecedented two innings, knocking down six straight White Sox for his first win.
It was pure Twins baseball, much to the delight and torture of White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. Justin Morneau and Delmon Young each went 0-for-5 and the Twins use seven pitchers, yet a teammate was always there to pick up the slack and spark a rally.
Twins baseball. Myyyyyyyy Twins baseball.
Three more days of fun.
Read this story and this story. Oh, and this story. How about this one? Finally, this one. Joy.
Auggie usually was most boisterous when it was an underdog or a team overcoming long odds.
Thursday night Auggie was yelling across the heavens to St. Peter: "Myyyyyy Minnesota Twins!"
Three straight against the Chicago White Sox is deserving of any raucous fan belting it out. The way the Twins played in their sweep was nothing short of inspirational.
The finale was the capper. Down 6-1 and momentarily looking like a bumbling Triple-A team, the Twins buckled down. The dug deep. The never said never. Pick your damn cliche because whatever you call it, that's what they did.
Go-go Gomez is as goofy as they come, yet there he was going 4-for-5 with two triples and a double. Alexei Casilla looked clueless at the plate for nine innings and then drilled an 0-1 pitch into center for the game-winner. Denard Span has struggled of late, but suddenly oh-so-close to hitting for the cycle.
Joe Nathan hasn't exactly been perfect lately, but Gardy gives him the ball and he goes an unprecedented two innings, knocking down six straight White Sox for his first win.
It was pure Twins baseball, much to the delight and torture of White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. Justin Morneau and Delmon Young each went 0-for-5 and the Twins use seven pitchers, yet a teammate was always there to pick up the slack and spark a rally.
Twins baseball. Myyyyyyyy Twins baseball.
Three more days of fun.
Read this story and this story. Oh, and this story. How about this one? Finally, this one. Joy.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
White Sox Being The White Sox
The Twins winning the first two over the White Sox is a major step. Now just a half game out behind Chicago, the Twins are proving a reality of baseball: The White Sox are poised for another of their patented season-ending blowups. Sure, Chicago is just as hobbled and have as tired a starting pitching staff as the Twins, but the White Sox also had a 2.5 game lead heading into the final handful of games in the season. Whether the Twins pull out another AL Central title or not, the White Sox fans and front office cannot be happy with how poorly Chicago has played in the past month.
Whether the White Sox win the division or not, word around the league is that Ozzie Guillen's job isn't safe. Guillen's brash behavior coupled with his sometimes team-critical demeanor has made him an easy target for a firing at the end of the season.
Heck, if Ned Yost gets fired so close to a playoff berth and so late in the season, then Guillen can't be comfortable with his job security.
Guillen's love for the Twins organization -- or more importantly, their fundamental strengths and manner of play -- is setting up his downfall. He wanted Javier Vazquez to pitch like a big-time pitcher so he calls him out in the media and Vazquez quickly gets shelled by the Twins. Guillen hoped for Vazquez to do as Twins pitchers Scott Baker and Nick Blackburn did over the past two games ... suck it up and pitch better than their now sloppy, tired and slow arms would allow. Guillen did whatever he could to get Vazquez to pitch like a Twin.
Mark Buerhle, on the other hand, did what Vazquez couldn't tonight. Fortunately for Minnesota the Twins kept all but Ken Griffey Jr. from making more than a dent on the scoreboard.
Kudos to the Twins. They continue to hang on and hang on, keeping close enough to the Sox to have a puncher's chance. The standing ten count could come tomorrow. I don't think either the White Sox or Twins will do much in the playoffs, but right now who cares? It's getting damn fun.
Doesn't it feel great to have playoff-like baseball back?
Whether the White Sox win the division or not, word around the league is that Ozzie Guillen's job isn't safe. Guillen's brash behavior coupled with his sometimes team-critical demeanor has made him an easy target for a firing at the end of the season.
Heck, if Ned Yost gets fired so close to a playoff berth and so late in the season, then Guillen can't be comfortable with his job security.
Guillen's love for the Twins organization -- or more importantly, their fundamental strengths and manner of play -- is setting up his downfall. He wanted Javier Vazquez to pitch like a big-time pitcher so he calls him out in the media and Vazquez quickly gets shelled by the Twins. Guillen hoped for Vazquez to do as Twins pitchers Scott Baker and Nick Blackburn did over the past two games ... suck it up and pitch better than their now sloppy, tired and slow arms would allow. Guillen did whatever he could to get Vazquez to pitch like a Twin.
Mark Buerhle, on the other hand, did what Vazquez couldn't tonight. Fortunately for Minnesota the Twins kept all but Ken Griffey Jr. from making more than a dent on the scoreboard.
Kudos to the Twins. They continue to hang on and hang on, keeping close enough to the Sox to have a puncher's chance. The standing ten count could come tomorrow. I don't think either the White Sox or Twins will do much in the playoffs, but right now who cares? It's getting damn fun.
Doesn't it feel great to have playoff-like baseball back?
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
It's Over
Tuesday was just another in a line of too many bullpen blow-ups and lost chances for the Twins. I think it's official: The pennant run for 2008 is over.
The arms are too tired, the bats too inconsistent and the next two series feature teams just too strong for the Twins to overcome and continue this unbelievable run.
The arms are too tired, the bats too inconsistent and the next two series feature teams just too strong for the Twins to overcome and continue this unbelievable run.
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