The national spotlight shines on Twins and White Sox
Posted on September 30th, 2008 – 12:30 PMBy Joe Christensen
CHICAGO — Beginning Wednesday, the MLB postseason will begin zooming by with three games on back-to-back days.
Some people like to play hookie on the first Thursday and Friday of the NCAA basketball tournament. For baseball junkies, like me, the first round of the playoffs feel a little like that.
In many ways, tonight is even more special. The Twins and White Sox will have the national spotlight all to themselves. Baseball fans from Alaska to the Florida Keys will have a window (on TBS) into one of the game’s most underrated rivalries.
(* FSN North is doing a Twins postgame show, as well.)
I have vivid memories of last year’s one-game playoff between the Padres and Rockies, and those teams don’t even hate each other like the Twins and White Sox do.
The Rockies were on their amazing run of 20 victories in 21 games. The Padres had just missed clinching a playoff spot, when Milwaukee’s Tony Gwynn Jr., of all people, played spoiler.
The game at Coors Field stretched 13 innings. San Diego scored two runs in the 13th to take the lead, but the Rockies stormed back with three runs against all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman. Did Matt Holliday touch home plate or not, as he slid chin-first? A question Padres fans had to chew on all winter.
Tonight will bring only the eighth one-game playoff in major league history. Our baseball editor, Dennis Brackin, put together a fun look at the previous eight called, “Paging Bucky Dent and Luis Sojo.”
So have fun watching tonight. As Souhan wrote, it’s like Game 7 without the six appetizers.
I’m predicting a high-scoring game. The wind will be blowing straight to center field, but the more I study it, the conditions don’t look like they’ll be quite as blustery as we thought during the game. (Temps in the high 50s, NW winds at 10-15 mph.)
Anyway, I’ll be back with the starting lineups and pregame notes in a few hours. Get ready. It should be a lot of fun.
67 Responses to "The national spotlight shines on Twins and White Sox"
Get after ‘em Twins!
Battle your Tails off!
Go Twins Go!!!
Got to get the early lead. Run on AJ all night long. In short, play Twins baseball and make the laundry chase us to win.
Let’s go boys!!! I’m so excited! Win Twins! Hammer down, yeah!!!
Go Twins!
Living in Colorado I was lucky enough to attend that game last year. It was the best sporting even I have ever been too. If tonights game can even approach that we are in for a treat.
Go Twins, Believe in the Dream!
Startribune,
You have a problem with your blogs. We are picking up cookie information from other individuals. I just had ES16 (or something like that) with his email address in my comment area.
It’s do a die. Win or go home. For all the marbles. Turn out the lights time. The fat lady will soon be singing. The Twins are ramping it up, all systems are go! Smell those RBI’s, boys.
There are plenty of holes in those socks, let’s give ‘em all we’ve got, hit’em with our best shot, and be proud of our team, the Minnesota Twins!
Anyhow…
I am looking for Danks to be very nervous tonight early. We need to score early and big. Patience at the plate for the first 3 batters and then Mornie goes yard. Get out front 3,4,5 to 0 and let them try to play catch up.
Twins 7 - 3. That’s my call.
weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
OK. NOW I HAVE CULPURPLE’S STUFF IN MY NAME AND EMAIL FIELDS.
STARTRIBUNE, YOU HAVE A SERIOUS SECURITY PROBLEM FOR THOSE WITH EMAIL ADDRESSES THAT ARE REAL!!
If we could score in the first inning that would be really big. That would help relax Blackie a bit and put a lot of pressure on Chicago.
What a position to be in! Regardless of the outcome, this game will be one of the most exciting played all year. COME ON TWINS!! You’ve always liked playing as the underdogs - now go out there and show them how it’s done on their own field. WIN OR GO HOME!
If the Twins lose, I would not feel so bad if the Sox then got whooped by the Rays.
But I think the Rays could be vulnurable in a short series, first time and all, and I think Twins or Sox could beat them. If the Sox got by them, that would make it hurt all the more.
What the heck
4 division titles in 7 years would look awfully good on gardy’s resume.
If the Twins lose this game it will really sting especially with all the opportunities we blew on the Road and the fact it’s the White Sox.
Keep the White Sox in the park and the twins win the game, it literally is that simple.
keep em off the board yessssss.
The Twins are playing to win the Division when they weren’t even supposed to contend.
Win or lose, it’s been a great ride.
Summer of Stun!!! First to 7 takes this one.
As the Tiggers showed last night, keep them in the park and they can be had. Don’t leave it up, and PLEASE don’t put it in the dirt either.
And let’s hope the Sox come into this with the same mindset they did last week. Twins have more on the line tonight as far as pride. Nobody thinks they deserve to be here.
I hope Blackburn read what Ozzie said about him and comes out and dominates tonight and the only call i want to hear is Gordo saying touch em all.
Another key to beating the Whities is to not walk anyone. If they are going to get on base they gotta hit the darn ball to do it. As soon as you start walking people you start risking giving up 2-4 run HR’s. The solo shots can be managed, it is the sudden explosions that make them dangerous.
Throw STRIKES!
PLAYOFFS?!?!?
We can’t even beat the Royals, and you are talking about playoffs?!?!?
PLAYOFFS?!?!?
We are just trying to win a game and you want to talk to me about the playoffs?!?!?
Adam, a suggestion: decaf…
Mightycasey - that would be 5 division titles in 7 years.
I agree with the ‘keep em in the yard’ comment. If they don’t hit home runs, they don’t win. It is that simple. If Blackie’s sinker is sinking, we’ll be fine. I also agree that scoring first and early in the game will help relax Blackburn and take the crowd out of it some. GO TWINS!
We put our hearts into 162 games and it comes down to this. Its been a great ride, so we better win so its not all for naught, regarlessd of the expectations going inro the season
We can’t even beat the Royals, and you are talking about playoffs?!?!?
And Chicago wasn’t able to beat the Indians.
That’s why the two teams find themselves in this situation.
So nervous. I’m just praying our offense doesn’t go cold as it seems to from time to time.
How many of these clinch-or-get-eliminated games have the Twins ever played? Game 5 in 2002, Game 7 in ‘87 and ‘91. Any others before that that I’m too young to remember?
That is so cool that Kent Hrbek takes time to check in with the bloggers!
DCTF-
You named the ones they have won, but there also were clinch-or-get-eliminated games they lost in ‘65, ‘69, ‘02, ‘03, ‘04, and ‘06.
One of my most vivid memories of the ‘87 post season was seeing the Twins celebrate winning the ALCS title on the Tigers’ home field, after having been given no chance. Would love to see that again tonight from US Bitchular Field.
(by the way… it was a picture of the ALCS “celbration” from Tiger Stadium… rather than from the World Series clinching… that Wheaties used for their cereal box after the Twins won the WS in ‘87.)
Deuce,
gotta trim down your list, CLINCH OR GET ELIMINATED, in ‘06 they were swept, 03 and 04 they lost 3 games to 1 against New York. DCTF was only referring to Game 5(ALDS) or Game 7(ALCS/WS) They were also swept in the 1969 ALCS. This will be their 5th Clinch or go home game. 1965 WS Game 7, LOSS. Game 5 Vs Oakland Win (AJ with Game winning HR) and the two World Series game 7’s in 87 and 91 i think we all know the outcomes of those 2!
DCFan:
1967 twins were 1 game up on the red sox and lost the last 2 games to finish 1 behind. big choke that yr. the worst one i can remember.
in 1984 they were tied for first with 7 games left and lost the last 6 games finishing 2nd, 3 gms out. that’s when the rat said it’s hard to throw the ball when your hands are wrapped around your throat.
Deuce:
DCTF was referring to a “final game” type atmosphere where they’d either win and move on or lose and be done.
2006 was never such a situation, as the Twins had clinched a playoff berth and were looking at the Division crown in 2006. They never got to Game 5 against Oakland.
In 2003 and 2004 they never got to Game 5 against New York. Both times they won Game 1 but failed to win another.
In 2002 they took the A’s to Game 5 and won. But again against Anaheim they failed to force Game 7.
So under Gardy, Twins have played only 1 true “deciding game” type atmosphere. This would be only the second time that Gardy’s Twins will be in a “win and elminate” or “lose and be eliminated” scenario.
“T says:
Twins have more on the line tonight as far as pride. Nobody thinks they deserve to be here.”
How do you figure that? You think the Sox, who were ahead in the standings most of the year, want to lose another one at home? The Sox who just last week had their jocks handed to them. I think Chicago is the one that has their pride on the line.
And who is saying the Twins don’t deserve to be in this position? I’ve heard people say NEITHER team deserves to win, because their performance has been similar down the stretch.
lets go white sox
[…] Around the Majors – […]
The lineup tonight is going to be interesting. I wonder if Gardy is going to stick with Kubel against the lefty since he has had some success against him. Cuddy has also hit him well and you figure both can’t start. If I had to make a guess it would be Kubel starting. That also leaves the Twins open to Mark B coming in out of the pen against the big 3.
I imagine Harris starts over Buscher especially considering Kubel being in the lineup.
My Guess…
Span - RF
Casilla - 2B
Mauer - C
Morneau - 1B
Kubel - DH
Young - LF
Harris - 3B
Punto - SS
Gomez - CF
That last post by Randall is me…what is going on Star Tribune????
We can’t even beat the Royals, and you are talking about playoffs?!?!?
KC finished up the year with a 13 - 3 record. NOBODY was beating them!!
It’s time to forget about the weekend. Neither the Twins nor the White Sox got the done. But isn’t this the way it should be? After going neck-and-neck for two months, the teams meet on the field for a winner-take-all match? It’s too bad neither team has its best pitcher on the mound, and it’s also too bad, as Joe pointed out, that some 5-year-old decided to call heads instead of tails earlier this month. C’est la vie. It won’t matter if the Twins get timely hitting, play good defense and pitch well — all the things the franchise seemingly tries to emphasize ad nauseum. Do your job, Twins, and you will win.
They faced win or go home in game 6 of the 87 and 91 World Series. Came home down 3 games to 2 in both of them. I think the Twins will win 4-2, Home run for Morneau and 2 solo shots for Jr.
Why did the Sox get to call it they should’ve had a coin toss to determine the coin toss it’s all so stupid considering the advantage both teams have at home.
BC, they got to call because at the time they had the better record.
win twins!!!! please… 4 hrs. to gametime. Blackburns gotta get through 5, which would result in no big innings for the sox. I expect a solo or two given up, but stay away from the crooked numbers, and leave boof in the pen please….run run run on a.j. and squeeze this one out boys. i hate to say it but its punto, gomez, and span, that will have to have big games if we’re to win.
To be safe just use a fake email.
Hopefully we get to Danks early and Blackburn can get comfortable, and shove Ozzies words down his throat.
Twins 7 – Sox 3
Blackburn: 5 IP 2 ER
Danks: 3.2 IP 5 ER
HRs:
Morneau
Young
Thome
Justin is due, he needs to hit tonight! Joe will come through, please tell me Harris is playing instead of BB. That boy scares me at third and even more at the plate. GO GO GOMEZ & THE TWINS WIN!
Michael Ryan, where are you when we need you in a key pinch hit situation?
Matt LeCroy, we need you now for your bat.
T. Ryan, who do you like right now and who has been getting good at-bats and is seeing the ball well without seasoning.
Please do not let this come down to bases loaded, two outs, and everyones hero LNP at the plate to save the season.
I either want this a 13-0 loss but not a 4-3 LM because we played the infield back up 3-2 with 1 out.
I sure hope Redmon, Tolbert, Everett, Ruiz got good comp seats to take this one in.
GO twolves
We can predict, offer advice, say do this, do that, none of it matters. Let the PUPS decide it on the field. Either the MadDog Mutts WIN, or the WhiteSux win. The guys on the field will decide it. I am rooting for the TWINS MADDOG JUNKYARD MUTTS!!!!!!!!!!! GO PUPS, GO MUTTS, WIN TWINS!!!!!
I’m not opposed to Redmond playing tonight, but the usual suspects to sit instead (Mauer if he catches, Kubel if he DH’s) are both needed tonight.
Mauer is 8 for 12 lifetime against Danks.
Justin is 7 for 16.
I picked the wrong day to quit (pick one)…
__smoking
__drinking
__sniffing glue
__amphetemines
I just hope to make it through the first five innings!
WIN TWINS!
Hey, who are these imposters posting under my name!?
For the record, I did not post “lets go white sox”. I would have used much better punctuation and capitalization!
Ghosts in the machine today, beware.
Let’s hope the techies are working on it. In the meantime, let’s go Twins! Let’s show those Whities how the game is played, between the lines, not in the newspapers. It doesn’t matter what is written on paper about the two lineups, it’s what you have inside that matters in these games. And I say the Twins have h-e-a-r-t. Next stop, Tampa Bay!
Nlfd Twins Fan: that was funny…I will quit glue and amph(tho I never started either)….while I am smoking and drinking….Pre game cook out is this: I will cook a healthy meal of grilled salmon fillets…hobo potatoes….tossed salad of greens with ranch….all chased by a healthy member of the grain group!!!!! WIN TWINS!!!!
JimCrikket,
In ‘87 as you recall they also clinched the AL West at Texas. So a bad road team that season clinched twice on the road. Maybe that can be the glimmer of hope to hang onto tonight. I don’t have many positive vibes though. Here’s one that hopefully could repeat itslef:
MAY 07 @CWS
Carlos Gomez
AB-6 R-2 H-4 2B-1 3B-1 HR-1 RBI-3 TB-10 (Hits for the cycle)
Why not again Go-Go? Just wait for a good pitch please. No 3 hack and grab some bench for you and Delmon tonight please.
JimCrikket,
In ‘87 as you recall they also clinched the AL West at Texas. So a bad road team that season clinched twice on the road. Maybe that can be the glimmer of hope to hang onto tonight. I don’t have many positive vibes though. Here’s one that hopefully could repeat itself:
MAY 07 @CWS
Carlos Gomez
AB-6 R-2 H-4 2B-1 3B-1 HR-1 RBI-3 TB-10 (Hits for the cycle)
Why not again Go-Go? Just wait for a good pitch please. No 3 hack and grab some bench for you and Delmon tonight please.
I will give you guys one gaurantee tonight..we will battle our tails off out there.
The Twins are pathetic on the road, and the White Sox are great on that dinky little playing field. The Twins have almost no chance, and should lose tonight, but the Whities still have to do it on the field. Something freaky could happen, and the Twins could snatch a win. Stranger things have happened. Go Twins!
no lineups yet???
Thanks for the answers to my earlier questions all. Now let’s hope the Twins add to their record in these games.
And let’s hope they don’t play anywhere near as tense as I’m feeling.
Because I won’t be with you on TBS tonight, I’ll just whisper a little secret in your ear:
You can put it on the boarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrd………………………………………….
YES!!!
Adam S. says:
September 30th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
PLAYOFFS?!?!?
We can’t even beat the Royals, and you are talking about playoffs?!?!?
PLAYOFFS?!?!?
We are just trying to win a game and you want to talk to me about the playoffs?!?!?
Adam–I must be the only one who got your Jim Mora reference. I thought it was funny
Not much swagger in Twins thru the first six. Don’t like seeing that. We need runs early.
this game is ovaaar.
