This was awesome night to be a baseball fan.

INCREDIBLE!

This was a horrible night to be a baseball fan.

Time to think of what ridiculous things Ron Gardenhire will do with his playoff rotation. I bet he starts Glen Perkins, because of his 12-4 "record," but leaves out Scott Baker.

Time to think of what ridiculous things Ron Gardenhire will do with his playoff rotation. I bet he starts Glen Perkins, because of his 12-4 "record," but leaves out Scott Baker.

For a team with a complete moron as a manager, the Twins sure do win a lot more than anyone expects them to.

BTW congratulations to the 2008 American League Central Division champion Minnesota Twins.

An incredible game. Closer vs. closer, and the Twinks nailed it.

#6 - I wouldn't be so fast.

So remember when everyone with a brain said Griffey was going to kill the Sox on defense if he played CF? Turns out everyone was correct. Good thing the people getting paid to make those decisions are on the same page. With his decrepit offense, he has to have cost the Sox two wins or so in a very short time.

The player I'm most disappointed in is Nick Swisher. If it wasn't for his season-long slump, Griffey wouldn't have been an option and the loss of Quentin would've hurt much less. Here are Swisher's OPS+'s since entering the league:
101
125
127
94

And he ended up getting only 2 plate appearances in the most important series of the year. In year where a lot went right for the Sox, that deal went horribly wrong.*

* I'm not saying he won't rebound next season, but the Sox really could've used his bat in '08.

I'm so glad there was absolutely no way for me to consume this game on television. I didn't want to watch it anyway.

Finally got home. Easily the best sporting event I have attending since the GW vs UNC-Charlotte basketball game in '06 ending with GW remaining undefeated at home on the season with a crazy OT tip-in. I stayed in the Dome along with thousands of others for at least 30 minutes after the conclusion just delirious.

Alfonso Marquez was given his walking papers after the game, correct? I certainly hope so... two more miserable calls today (okay, maybe just one -- the Span ball down the line was close. I'm fairly sure it was foul, but FSN North showed all of about two replays so I can't be certain) after a strike zone that was the worst I've seen (in recent memory). I think there were several pitches right down the heart of the plate that he called for balls.

On the bright side, at least I won't have to hear a Twins telecast for the next six months. Christ, for all the #### that Hawk and DJ get, Blyleven and his PBP partner ####### suck just as hard.

And even though just about everything had to go right for the Twins to sweep, they're probably the better team (with Quentin hurt) anyways. Just kind of sucks that it had to happen like this.

It also sucks that this sweep all but ensures Justin Morneau another MVP. Their ####### Gold-Glove catcher is about to win the batting title (again? hasn't he done it before?) and has been hot as #### in September, but they're gonna give it to the Morneau. What a crime.

So, moving forward for the Sox.... Danks starts tomorrow night. Do you dare start Clayton Richard on Saturday? Or does Ozzie stick with the 4-man rotation and go with Vasquez and Buerhle, both on 3 days rest, Saturday and Sunday? That would involve having to throw Floyd on 3 days rest vs. the Tigers Monday if need be (which it is looking more and more likely that it will).

Unfortunately for the Sox, it doesn't look like there are any good options here, especially with the bullpen having been whittled down to 2 "trusted" relievers. The best hope, I think, is that the softball team shows back up at the Cell and lights up Indians pitching this weekend.

And even though just about everything had to go right for the Twins to sweep

Did you black out during the Sox 5 run inning?

You gotta go 4 man rotation if you're the Sox, you can't let Clayton Richard do much of anything at this point.

13, does this mean if I catch another Sox telecast this season, I'll have to listen to more conspiracy theories from Hawk about how everyone's out to get the Sawx?

I mentioned this elsewhere, but it's amazing how the Twins have been so sub-par against shoddy teams, but have really played competitive ball against Chicago all season.

The White Sox missing out on the playoffs would pretty much ensure a damn-near perfect lineup of playoff teams for me.

You gotta go 4 man rotation if you're the Sox, you can't let Clayton Richard do much of anything at this point.

I guess. A 4-man rotation is one of those things that, once you decide to do it because you have no better options, you have to ride it, even if it's to your death. But pitchers in the playoffs are so notoriously bad with 3 days rest; I can't imagine the late-September numbers are all that much better.

You think Kenny Williams would LOVE to go back in time and un-do the Griffey-for-Masset et al. trade now?

Did you black out during the Sox 5 run inning?

I'm more talking about the series of events throughout the three-game set. From the Sox having what, one or two hits all series long with RISP to two of the three starters having absolutely nothing (seriously -- where was Floyd's curveball last night?), to Jenks being dinked to death (I don't think they hit one ball hard off of him, but c'est la vie, I guess...).


13, does this mean if I catch another Sox telecast this season, I'll have to listen to more conspiracy theories from Hawk about how everyone's out to get the Sawx?

Oh, more ######## about Hawk? Haven't heard that before. How original.

(I'm not defending the two, mind you, but that horse has been beaten to a bloody pulp.)

Gotta start Richard. You can't have the entire rotation on short rest going into the playoffs. I guess it depends on your goal. If the goal is to make the playoffs, don't start Richard. If your goal is to win playoff games, with a decreased chance of making the playoffs, start Richard.

Gotta start Richard. You can't have the entire rotation on short rest going into the playoffs. I guess it depends on your goal. If the goal is to make the playoffs, don't start Richard. If your goal is to win playoff games, with a decreased chance of making the playoffs, start Richard.


Vazquez will almost certainly go Saturday, seeing that he only threw 78 pitches on Tuesday. He's been pretty bad on short rest in his career, but that's still a better option than Richard, and there aren't many injury or too-many-innings-pitched concerns with Vazquez, either. Sunday will be the interesting day (if the Sox happen to still be in the race, of course), as Buehrle threw 120+ pitches on Wednesday. As much as the Quentin injury has hurt, you could make a case that losing Contreras has been even more painful a loss, as the Sox really have no viable sixth starters.

you can complain about how the bounces didn't go Chicago's way, but it surprised precisely nobody in mn that the twins showed up in the clutch and the sox didn't. The season is not over, but this series is the type that makes me remember that my abacus and my mom's basement don't tell the whole story. And don't call gardy an idiot, because that idiot gets his guys to show up lie nobody else and might be on his way to a 5th postseason in 7 years. The twins are doing something right, and like a dodgers fan told me earlier tonight, there's nobody more fun to watch do it.

That was the most exciting baseball game I've ever personally attended. I cannot remember an atmosphere as electric as this game, especially as the Twins clawed back to a tie and into extra innings.

I am stunned by this team, I don't understand how this lineup pulled off coming back from 6-1, but they did.

edit: Also, Carlos Gomez was the MVP of this game. That kid has so much raw talent that it's hard to imagine that he doesn't become a productive ballplayer.

It was a serious question, Keith. I didn't get to see the game, so I was curious as to whether Hawk would have a case or not. I know that horse has been stomped and kicked, but it continues to amaze me that a team so resistant to pass the buck when things aren't going well could have an announcer so determined to find new antagonists in so many situations.

I take back everything I've ever said about Carlos Gomez.

Speaking as a Twins fan: A buddy of mine said it was pretty obvious who the Twins' MVP was. I said, you mean the guy that can hit the ball out of the park? He said, ya think? (Of course, Morneau hasn't even done a whole lot of that, but he did set a team record for 2 baggers.) That doesn't make him the league MVP, but I do think Morneau is more valuable than Mauer. There, I said it. But for the league, let's be honest. There's nobody in the AL who has the look. I mean, the Angels and Devils (oh, they're not?) are the 2 best teams and neither has a credible candidate. Maybe they just ought to leave it vacant this year. But if they give it to somebody in the Central, wouldn't that person have to be Sizemore?

Sizemore's team is under .500; while he's having a great season it's not transcendent enough to win the MVP award while his team stinks.

If I had to choose an MVP award tomorrow and wasn't allowed to pick any Red Sox because they're my team, I give it to Mauer. A catcher leading the league in hitting and with an OPS+ of 135? That's my winner. Morneau's been excellent as well, but to get that type of production out of your catcher puts him over the top for me.

That doesn't make him the league MVP, but I do think Morneau is more valuable than Mauer.

Only if you're completely dismissive of a 1.7-win position advantage and a 1.3-win fielding advantage.

Opponents' OPS vs. White Sox relievers (before All-Star Break) - .662
Opponents' OPS vs. White Sox relievers (after All-Star Break) - .807

Tells you all you need to know, really.

It was a serious question, Keith.

My apologies, WCUtB, for the overly hostile tone of my post. I think the play-by-play spot is (basically) Hawk's until he says he's done. Like it or not, he seems to be a fixture, so...

I may be alone in this, but I never mind when I get the Sox broadcast on Extra Innings. I also do not think that Gardenhire is an idiot. In the interest of full disclosure, I also think Sizemore is the league MVP; I don't think either the Sox or TWINT can beat Tampa; and the moon landings were faked.

I was watching a football game at a bar, and my bad eyesight made it look like the Sox had 0 instead of 6 all night on the ESPN crawl. I'm glad I didn't actually know what was going on.

So remember when everyone with a brain said Griffey was going to kill the Sox on defense if he played CF? Turns out everyone was correct. Good thing the people getting paid to make those decisions are on the same page. With his decrepit offense, he has to have cost the Sox two wins or so in a very short time.

I didn't think it possible, but Guillen has managed to field his worst outfield in the most important series of the season. Wise-Griffey-Dye is atrocious defensively, and two out of the three can't hit. I know Swisher isn't play well, but if he's good enough to play all season, he should be good enough to play now.

And, it's the Metrodome, play some good defensive players, Ozzie!

Boy, that was a fun game.

The player I'm most disappointed in is Nick Swisher. If it wasn't for his season-long slump, Griffey wouldn't have been an option and the loss of Quentin would've hurt much less.

Agreed wholeheartedly.

You think Kenny Williams would LOVE to go back in time and un-do the Griffey-for-Masset et al. trade now?

Not really. While Masset has been adequate, I doubt he would ever have been a high-leverage option for the Sox. Griffey has been bad, but so has Swisher and Konerko, so it's not like Griffey is blocking a better option. I guess Anderson is the best option because he can play defense, but once Quentin got hurt everything got ugly in a hurry.

Gotta start Richard. You can't have the entire rotation on short rest going into the playoffs. I guess it depends on your goal. If the goal is to make the playoffs, don't start Richard. If your goal is to win playoff games, with a decreased chance of making the playoffs, start Richard.

No, your goal is to make the playoffs. You deal with the rotation once you get there. You play the remaining 4 games (I sure as hell hope there's a fourth) like it's the last game of the season.

Opponents' OPS vs. White Sox relievers (before All-Star Break) - .662
Opponents' OPS vs. White Sox relievers (after All-Star Break) - .807

Tells you all you need to know, really.

Yep. Although Jermaine Dye's inability to hit the past 25 days shouldn't be discounted (0.584 OPS in Sept, 0 HR in 85 ABs).

In fact the entire team is only putting up a .693 OPS during the month. It's shocking we're actually still in control of our destiny.

I didn't think it possible, but Guillen has managed to field his worst outfield in the most important series of the season. Wise-Griffey-Dye is atrocious defensively, and two out of the three can't hit. I know Swisher isn't play well, but if he's good enough to play all season, he should be good enough to play now.

Swisher has an OPS of .545 in September. He has 19Ks and 4 BBs in 57 PAs. Ozzie is simply trying to find some offense and Griffey has shown some power the first two games of the series.

You can't blame Ozzie really for his OF, unless you are a Brian Anderson fan. Swisher has been horrid and is at best a below average CF.

You can't blame Ozzie really for his OF, unless you are a Brian Anderson fan. Swisher has been horrid and is at best a below average CF.

In general, I'm not an Anderson fan. He's not some savior. He's better than Dewayne Wise though, and he's probably better than Griffey too (he easily is defensively).

Really? I thought people were telling me that Swisher was grading out to be slightly above average at CF defensively this year.

Really? I thought people were telling me that Swisher was grading out to be slightly above average at CF defensively this year.

I would take those grades with a sample-size grain of salt. From what I recall he had graded out at below average in any significant time spent there previously. By my judgment he has been adequate, but his range is below average.

I could certainly be inaccurate on the numbers. I will say his defense isn't such that it can prop a 0.545 OPS. Swisher has been down right awful recently, as have Dye and AJ. The rest of the lineup has been merely bad (although Cabrera has hit pretty well). It's been a total collapse. If Minnesota weren't a seriously flawed bunch themselves the race would already be over.

It's been a total collapse. If Minnesota weren't a seriously flawed bunch themselves the race would already be over.

If Minnesota hadn't given Santana away, they'd be serious World Series contenders.