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Rondell has been exactly what he was expected to be down the stretch. A little bit late for everyone's taste, but he's doing it at the right time. It's clear that Tyner is the best option at DH and the 8 hole. He can spark rallies with speed and hustle and that is what this team is built on, not on a washed up power hitter who strikes out every other at-bat.

Hopefully Johan keeps rolling. How many times will he strike out Jhonny Peralta is the real question.

I believe the flow of the game dictates strategy, and at this point in the game the Twins need to begin their full scale assault on the Tigers. Though this has already been going on for weeks now, I have finally rationalized it within myself that it is a reality. For those of you who said weeks ago that the division could be won, you deserve much credit. As I am one who said the wild card was their only chance.

Here's why the division must be won. The Yankees in the Bronx, well we've tried that recently and it didn't work out. This is a new year with a different makeup and attitude, however, I'd rather see someone else have a chance to knock them out first. I believe the sterile, consistant air of the metrodome is the best environment for Santana to register two wins in the divisional playoffs. Santana can dominate anywhere, any time. Nevertheless, he is more devastating in the predictable environment of the dome. With Santana throwing the bookends of a series going to the max against the A's, I like the Twins chances of moving into that next round. Could the A's surpass the Twins and get home ice? Yes, but not likely. For the Twins to bolt ahead of the Tigers they will need to continue to win at the clip they have since June, in the process they will stay ahead of the A's.

So who do we root for when the Sox and Tigers clash this week?

As long as the Twins keep winning, Go Sox, sweep Tigers.

If the Twins lose 2/3 at Boston, Go Tigers, beat Sox.

Big lead now for our boys. If they fininsh 7-6, Sox have got to go 11-2 just to tie.

How about this for 'against the grain': We have to face the Yankees to get to the World Series anyway. We have a better chance of beating them in a 5 game series than a 7. Lets take em on right away. If we get by them, nothin scary about whoever we play next.

Go Twins.

Boof Sha-ka-lak-a
Boof Sha-ka-lak-a

Baker????

WOW!

This season, every time you think you've got things figured out...

Home field throughout is not out of reach.

Go Twinks...

1969: The Miracle Mets
The Mets began the 1969 season with a mediocre start, going 21-23 through the end of May. By mid-August, the favored Chicago Cubs seemed safely on their way to winning the pennant in the newly-formed National League East Division while the Mets sat in third place, ten games behind. On August 14, the Cubs led the Mets by 9 1/2 games. (Courtesy Wikipedia)

On June 7th the Twins were 25-33, 11.5 games back.

The Mets had a young pitching staff led by Tom Seaver, and their leading hitter batted .340(Cleon Jones).

Moral of the story?

We need a name...

Boy, did I make the right calls this weekend. Who could've guessed that the only game they'd lose in the series would be the game Johan started. I obviously didn't see Baker only giving up one run, though he did get a lot of help from his fielders and the Cleveland batters. I might have to start going with George Costanza of Seinfeld's philosophy of doing the opposite of what you believe is right, which brought him stunning results in one episode.

With that in mind, I'd say it doesn't matter when the Twins face the Yankees they can take them in either the division series or the LCS. I think Johan might have his problems with the Yankee lineup, but Carlos Silva and Baker will handle them with ease. The Yankees staff might give the Twins fits but Rivera will serve up gopherballs to Phil Nevin and Rondell White. Frankly, I'm more worried about the A's and Tigers than the Yankees, that A's lineup terrifies me.

Cheering for the ChiSox to take 2 of 3 from the Tigers and the Twins to get 2 of 3 from the BoSox. I'll use my great public school math and figure out that it gets us tied for the Central lead and still 4 games up on the ChiSox. (Plus I kinda want that last weekend series to still mean something because I have tickets to Friday & Saturday)

Also, with that scenario the Yankees will get HFA which is huge for them.

I'd rather play the A's, they rely too much on the longball and can't manufacture runs. Yes, the Yanks love the deep ball as well, but watching them lately they are able to get the timely hits and keep rallies going. I haven't seen the A's doing that, it's been FrankieT going long or else they lose.

My calls:

Yankees win East
A's win West
Twins win Central
Tigers win WC

Twins beat A's 3-1
Yankees sweep Tigers

Yankees beat Twins 4-2

Yankees win WS over Cardinals in 5 games

Well folks, there you have it. ER gives the "Kiss of Death" to the Yanks.

Thanks ER!

(We know how well you pick HS hockey!)

It seems like all that can go wrong does go wrong for this team as far as injuries and bad luck goes, yet they are still finding a way to win series and at times overwhelm their opponent.

I like our chances should we get to the postseason. They remind me a lot of the Angels when they won the World Series. A pesky lineup that can manufacture runs along with run producers in the middle of the order (Salmon, Anderson) and a great bullpen. Hopefully somebody like Boof Bonser or Matt Garza can step up and be the John Lackey of the playoffs.

Obviously this is all predicated on us qualifying for the postseason, but if we continue playing like this, that should take care of itself.

If I'm in a section where there is a clear cut #1, I hope that my fellow coaches will see me as the #3 and not the #4. Facing and conquering the best in order to advance is true nearly all the time. It's honorable and quite necessary to promote that theme when addressing your team or the media. However, I would prefer the path that I percieve to have the least resistance. Once in a while you can get lucky and avoid hell coming to dinner by having someone else do the heavy lifting for you. After all, the 02 Angels got their wish by avoiding the Twins until Denny Hocking could rip his hand open on a cleat at the bottom of that dog pile in Oakland.

Packerboy, your logic may be correct in that beating the Yanks in 5 could be easier than in 7. Nevertheless, call me a coward because I'll still take the home ice and .750 winning pct. that comes with it in the first round over a trip to the Bronx.

It's interesting how all of us who seem to be watching the same season interpret potential playoff teams differently. As for me, the Yankees are clearly the toughest 27 outs in the game. Jeter, ARod, Cano, Giambi, Abreu, Sheff, Posada, Williams, Damon, and Matsui are a potential rally every inning.

my prediction...

AL East New York Yankees (best record)
Al Central Detroit
AL West Oakland
AL Wild Card Minnesota

NL East New York Mets (best record)
NL Central Cardinals
NL West Dodgers
NL Wild Card Philadelphia

Twins over Yanks 3-2
A's over Tigers 3-1

Mets over Phillies 3-0
Dodgers over Cardinals 3-1

Twins over A's 4-2
Mets over Dodgers 4-2

Mets over Twins 4-2

Tough series against the Red Sox coming up. They have their best pitchers lined up for the 3 games.

Must avoid a sweep. After BOS, 7 games against BAL and KC.

ER, no matteer how it goes, the last 3 games should be meaningful. If not for the WC, then the division. Hopefully, the WC will be in the bag by then.

Go Twins.

Here's a hypothetical for you boys.

Santana is on schedule to pitch the last game of the season. If it means getting into the post season, of course he'll pitch. If it means nothing, he'll rest and go the first game of the playoffs.

But what if the game is the difference between Division Champs and Wild Card?

Does he sit or pitch?

They were sounding the death knell for the White Sox on KFAN this morning but I think it's a bit early to say it's in the bag. Call me paranoid but I don't like to count another team out until they've been mathematically eliminated. Right now, the Twins' magic number for the wildcard is 9, with thirteen games left so the Sox still have a chance. Not a good one, but a chance. Like ER I've got tickets for that end of the season series against the White Sox but I wouldn't mind if they're just playing for the division title.

Garza goes up against Wakefield tonight. Wakefield might not be real sharp, this is his second start after being on the DL since July so if Garza can get some breaking pitches across and last 5+ innings the Twins stand a good chance.

I have to agree with those that feel the Yankees are the team to beat in the AL. The starting pitching and middle relief are shaky, but the lineup really doesn't have any holes. Packerboy may be right in wanting to try to get past them in five games because they'll wear a pitching staff down.

Id sit him Neut.

Save him for the playoffs.

Home field isnt that big of a deal. The Yankees are great but they have only won about 3 more games than the Twins.

This team has got a chance if Santana can pitch 2 games of a 5 game series.

He sits and I start Guerrier. As of late, they have a chance to win with any of the 5 starters. Its not like sitting Santana means you automatically lose.

I agree with ChrisK.

Its never over till its over and its tough to make predictions, especially about the future.

But the Whiteys are in big trouble. If the Twins win 6 or 7 more games, the Whiteys postseason consecutive streak will end at 1.

It would be fun if the Twins ended it with a win the last weekend but Id rather see us with a 4 game WC lead and 3 to play.

Boys, the Tigers arent as close at it seems. After CHI, their last 9 games are with Tor and KC(6). They finish the season with a 3 game series with the Royals at Comerica while we battle AJ, Ozzie and the Palehose.

We shall see but....

Most of you probably haven't noticed, and I don't know why you would, but the Royals have been playing some good ball lately. Their offense has really come on and a lot of their bats have caught fire. I am sure there is nothing they would rather do than spoil the postseason chances of the Tigers.

I would sit Santana in that situation. If we are in, we have to save him and have him for 2 games in that first series.

Big hit for Bartlett, 3 run homer gives us a 4-0 lead for Garza. Hopefully he can go out and give us a quality start so we can take the first game of this series.

I'd sit Santana for two reasons, I'd rather play the Yankees than the A's; the Twins have really struggled on the West Coast and I like the A's pitching especially now that Harden is back a whole lot more than the Yankees. I like the Twins chances trying to outscore the Yankess better than trying to outpitch Oakland. Also the biggest deal is getting into the Playoffs, once you're there winning game 1 is more important than whether you're the 2 or 4 seed.

As much as my heart may not be able to take it, I sure hope the Twins/White Sox series has some meaning, I didn't like how Gardy sat his entire cast of regulars the last week of the season in 2004. The Twins just came out flat in the playoffs and never got their edge back.

Just like I thought that the Twins needed to catch the Tigers to get in the palyoffs, I think the White Sox have to catch the Tigers, the Twins are just too good right now. Tommorrows game in Chicago has huge implications, 4 games (if Chicago wins tommorrow) out with 11 to play is a big margin, but the Tigers are a mere 11-19 in their last 30. Chicago has a series left with Cleveland (3) and Seattle (4) and both are playing worse than the Royals have been.

1) Yankees
2) Twins
3) A's
4) Chicago

1) Mets
2) Dodgers
3) Cardinals
4) Padres

What's wrong with you guys. What's this trend of thought that says I hope the last few games against the Sox have meaning? Reasons vary from I have tickets to they will be flat once the playoffs start. We are witnessing something great this year, I can't think of anything better than the Sox being eliminated, the sooner the better.

The reality is the Sox are done, the steamer they laid infront of their 43rd sellout on Monday night is proof that they can not consistantly answer the bell. Last night the big north wind was blowing out and what did they do? Seven runs via the salami, and three solo shots. One dimensional teams go home the first weekend of Oct.

I'm so confident the Sox are done that I may stop by Comiskey today and see if I can pick up the red, white, and blue bunting that stadiums hang during the post season. Being as the Sox will not need it this year, I will personally volunteer to drive it up to the dome for the Twins. I'm guessing Sox staffers will not grant my request but they will get the message.

Boof Boof ba choo Mr. Robinson, Jolten Joe (Mays) has left and gone away....hey, hey, hey....hey hey hey hey hey.

Shanty I don't know if it's my case you're getting on, but I did say that even though I have tickets for that weekend series I wouldn't mind if they were just playing for the division title and by implication that would mean the Sox would be out.

Personally, I'd rather face the A's than the Yankees. It is a pick your poison situation, but in addition to that lineup the Yankees have a mystique that the A's don't. Also, unless the A's have changed things up this year, the moneyball style of play doesn't work as well in the playoffs. They don't do a lot of stealing or sacrificing during the regular season but in the playoffs these skills become more important when the games are tighter.

Who's got their Division Series tickets?

The Empire does! Looks like no parties for awhile for me though... ($)

I don't know if I'd rather have us win the Central and play the A's for 3 games or get the WC and get to watch my beloved Yankees for just 2. I like the 2nd option better cuz it would save me a little money too. Haha

Hope the Twins sweep the BoSox and have Big Papi go 0-5 again. Nothing better than that. Let's Go Twins!

(I like double posts...)

Neutron 14 wrote:Here's a hypothetical for you boys.

Santana is on schedule to pitch the last game of the season. If it means getting into the post season, of course he'll pitch. If it means nothing, he'll rest and go the first game of the playoffs.

But what if the game is the difference between Division Champs and Wild Card?

Does he sit or pitch?

Not getting on your case Chrisk, I just don't want the above scenario that Neutron speaks off to come to fruition. I don't want anything clouding the better judgement of Ron Gardenhire. I hope Gardy sees it the way I do. If the Twins are in for sure, Santana doesn't pitch that last weekend. I agree ChrisK, I'd rather have the A's first than the Yanks, but a fresh Santana is more important.

Twins Priority List
1. Get in the post season for sure. If it takes Cortisone, throwing Santana on two days rest, or spiking the opponents Gatorade with ExLax, you get it done.
2. Give Santana his normal rest in prep for Tuesday's game #1 of the ALDS.
3. Win division
4. Home field throughout playoffs.

#1 and then #2 can not be compromised. Santana needs to be available for Tues and Sun of first round. Santana only comes back on short rest if Sunday is not guaranteed. If Neutron's situation surfaces someone else must take the bump. Silva, Garza, or Bonser will be needed in the post season, if you can't rely on them against the Tigers, you can't count on them later.

In '02 the A's Art Howe made the mistake of getting Zito only one start in the first round. Already a light hitting team, the left side heavy linuep of Koskie, Ortiz, AJ, Dougie M. and Jones couldn't hit lefties, let alone good ones. Two Zito starts and the Twins don't advance. Howe was setting his rotation for the ALCS and got burned.

Chicago is DONE

Boys, hang on to those White Sox tickets because the series is going to determine the division. I have said all along that the last series would be critical......but I thought it would be for the WC.

I have never been more impressed with a Minnesota pro sports franchise
( and Ive seen them all)

They go into BOS and win the first 2 games like there is nothin to it. Young playere with no playoff nor pennant race experience playing like grizzly veterans.

Rookie pitchers shuttting down the Red Sox....in Fenway.

Veterans playing like veterans.

UnbeBoofinglievable.

I dont care who we play first.

Boofshaka laka laka , Boofshaka laka laka