The Twins beat the Tigers in that thrilling 12-inning playoff game to decide the AL Central yesterday, but not without controversy. En route to his team’s 6-5 loss in the Metrodome, Tigers batter Brandon Inge took a pitch in the top of the 12th with the bases loaded that brushed up against his jersey, which legally counts toward a hit-by-pitch. Inge headed for first base, but was called back to the batter’s box by home plate umpire Randy Marsh. As one might guess, Mr. Inge was not pleased.
“I want a hit as much as the next guy, but when it’s that important, it hit my shirt,” Inge said of the first pitch he took from [Twins reliever Bobby] Keppel, thrown with the bases loaded and one out in the 12th inning. “I’m not going to lie.”[...]
“It hit my shirt, period,” Inge said. “I don’t lie about things like that. I’m not going to try to weasel my way on base.”
Tigers manager Jim Leyland immediately ran out of the dugout to challenge the call. Read the rest of this entry »
Brett Favre and the Vikings play Green Bay in Minnesota tonight on Monday Night Football, and if you thought ESPN would be fellating Favre in the leading up to the game, just wait until Jon Gruden steps up to the mic. If he gets through the entire game without audible slurping, I’ll be amazed.
Additionally, the Minnesota Twins are playing off for the AL Central Division title against the Detroit Tigers. Somehow, I’m not even sure this game will be devoid of Brett Favre references.
“We’re going to have a packed house,” said Michael Cuddyer. “Maybe we’ll have a whiteout. Chicago last year had a blackout — maybe we’ll have a whiteout in the Dome.”
With all the white hankies flying around inside the Metrodome on Sunday, it certainly looked like a whiteout at times, and the expectation is for another packed crowd to help cheer on the Twins on Tuesday.
The winner of the Twins-Tigers contest will be headed to New York to face the Yankees in the first round of the AL Division Series.
I thought Minnesota was already whited-out. Seriously, when was the last time you saw a black guy in Minnesota that didn’t have a uniform number on his back? And yet, it still wasn’t white enough for Kevin Garnett, who left the Minnesota Timberwolves to play in Boston. Doesn’t get much whiter than that.
It all comes down to today. With the Detroit Tigers showing no offensive punch in a brutal 5-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox and the Twins beating American League Cy Young favorite Zack Greinke and the Kansas City Royals 5-4 earlier in the day, the Twins moved into a first-place tie with the Tigers in the worst division in baseball, the American League Central. If the Twins win today, they are at least assured a least a tiebreaker game for all the marbles against the Tigers on Tuesday to determine who will face the New York Yankees in the postseason. And if Detroit loses, well, people in Detroit will be even more depressed than usual.
This is the third time in four seasons that the Twins have an opportunity to win their division on the last day of the season. Last year, Minnesota forced a one-game playoff with the White Sox, only to ultimately lose that game 1-0.
In the end, the pressure is all on the Tigers - the Twins can play it pretty loosey-goosey, considering no team since division play began in 1969 has won their division after being three games back with four games to play. As far as they are concerned, the Twins probably feel they are playing with house money at this point. Given that today’s game will be the last regular season game to be played ever at the Metrodome and they are expecting over 50,000 at the Dump, everything appears to be working in Minnesota’s favor, who have won 15 of 19. The Tigers, meanwhile, are 4-6 in their last 10 games and have lost three straight.
Tigers manager Jim Leyland has all but accepted that Minnesota will win today. He understands what is at stake and hopes his players are aware of the fact they are on the verge of an historic epic fail, although he is somewhat encouraged that staff ace Justin Verlander will be starting today.
“They’re not going to get beat,” he said. “(Verlander) has been a horse. Hopefully we can win that one tomorrow and start the kid [Rick Porcello] up in Minnesota.”
You always feel pretty good with Justin going,” Leyland said, “but you’re still going to have to score some runs.”
Leyland said he told the players after Saturday night’s game, “You have to play your hearts out tomorrow.” via.
All I know is it is incredibly difficult to swing a bat with your hands clenched firmly around your own throat. Don’t the Tigers realize that the entire population of the downtrodden town of Detroit is depending on the team to lift them out of the city’s economic and social morass? Come on, guys!
The White Sox earned the AL Central pennant last night, winning a 1-0 nailbiter over the Twins in a 163rd-game tiebreaker. It was like overtime for the regular season.
The heroes were a pair of 38-year-olds: Jim Thome’s mammoth 7th inning blast was the only run of the game, and Ken Griffey Jr’s outfield assist kept the Twins off the board. John Danks got the win, Bobby Jenks got the save, and somewhere, Brianna Banks got the money shot. High five? High five.
With tonight’s win-or-go-home playoff for the AL Central title, baseball’s regular season will finally come to a merciful end. And the White Sox are pulling out all the stops to make it an unfriendly environment for the visiting Twins: they’re calling for a BLACKOUT!
“We will have 40,000 black rally towels, and hopefully, 40,000 fans using them in support of the team,” said White Sox vice president and chief marketing officer Brooks Boyer of the unique support system. “Hopefully, it will be pretty darn intimidating, and the Twins can see how it’s done Chicago style.”
You know, when I think “Chicago style,” I usually think of the awesome violence in The Untouchables. Or a badass hot dog with 800 other toppings. I generally don’t think of people waving a hankie. “Oh White Sox, I do declare! Save us from those Minnesota brutes!”
Now, beating Joe Mauer to death with a baseball bat during pre-game stretches? That’s “pretty darn intimidating.” That’s Chicago style. **sigh** How come no one ever takes my advice? You people will miss me when I’m gone.
I understand it’s a little late in the day for a baseball recap, but I have to say, I’m impressed with the MLB action last night. After a mere five and a half months of tedium, nearly 30% of last night’s games both ended in dramatic fashion AND had an impact on the playoff race. Way to go, baseball.
Most impressively, the Mets played against type by overcoming a deficit with several clutch plays in the late innings to win in the bottom of the 9th. Carlos Beltran’s walkoff single sealed the 7-6 victory over the Cubs after Ryan Church dramatically eluded a tag at home to tie the game in the 8th. The win moves the Mets to within a game of the Phillies.
Keeping pace in the wild card race, the Brewers beat the Pirates when Ryan Braun’s tenth-inning grand slam ended the game, while over in the AL Central, the White Sox finished coughing up their division lead. Chicago blew a 6-3 lead, then the Twins completed the series sweep when Alexi Casilla singled home the winning run in the 10th.
All in all, a pretty exciting night. Makes me look forward to the playoffs a little. I think I’m almost ready to handle Jeanne Zelasko’s face in HD.
