My flight for New York leaves in less than seven hours, so I’ll make this quick.

I caught up with Twins president Dave St. Peter in one of the only dry spots of the clubhouse, as players soaked each other in champagne and beer celebrating the 6-5, 12-inning victory over Detroit that gave them the AL Central title.

“I can’t imagine there’s ever been a better regular season game played in this building,” St. Peter said. “Obviously, I don’t want to compare it to ‘91 — Game 6 or Game 7. But from a regular season perspective, that game had everything you could ever ask for, and the crowd was as electric as I’ve seen it here, certainly since the ‘91 Series. It was a classic.”

Added St. Peter: “I don’t know what’ll happen [against the Yankees], but we’ve been on a roll. These guys are confident. You’ve gotta give credit to the manager and the coaching staff. I think about Bill Smith, and the moves we made. I know people were critical at times, but we’re not here without Cabrera, Rauch, Mahay and Pavano. So you’ve gotta give credit where credit’s due, and ownership stepped up on that.”

St. Peter said he’d been thinking about late owner Carl Pohlad and was pretty emotional.

Later, Manager Ron Gardenhire mentioned Pohlad, too.

“I sure wish he was here tonight,” Gardenhire said. “He’s been through quite a few of these, but this is in honor of him, what he’s meant to this organization and this city. I’m proud to be a part of this. He gave me an opportunity here.

“I know he’s sitting up there telling me I probably could have made a couple different moves, and kept it a shorter game, but I tip my hat to Mr. Pohlad.”

Quick lineup post, and will add any pregame news here later.

La Velle has some fresh info on his blog. Also, if you haven’t already, check out our preview stories here, here, here, here and here.

Interesting question from Reusse’s column: How do you think the 2009 Twins compare to the 2006 Twins?

Howard Sinker began hosting a live chat at noon. Click here for that.

Randball is here, covering the Tigers side. Sounds like Miguel Cabrera mumbled and Jim Leyland grumbled about Cabrera’s incident.

Update: Manager Ron Gardenhire said it would be Brian Duensing in Game 1 and Nick Blackburn in Game 2 of the ALDS, if the Twins advance, though it’s all hands on deck today, so nothing is in stone.

Denard Span, Joe Nathan and Delmon Young were among several Twins who attended the Monday Night Football game between the Vikings and Packers. They watched from field level, one of the corners of the end zone.

Gardenhire watched on TV at home.

“I had a lot of fantasy players playing, and I lost,” he said.

What about Favre?

“He was my fantasy quarterback,” Gardenhire said. “He just didn’t give it to Adrian enough for me.”

TIGERS (86-76)

1. Curtis Granderson, CF
2. Placido Polanco, 2B
3. Magglio Ordonez, RF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Carlos Guillen, DH
6. Ryan Raburn, LF
7. Brandon Inge, 3B
8. Gerald Laird, C
9. Ramon Santiago, SS

Starting pitcher: Rick Porcello (14-9, 4.04 ERA)

TWINS (86-76)

1. Denard Span, CF
2. Orlando Cabrera, SS
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Jason Kubel, RF
5. Michael Cuddyer, 1B
6. Delmon Young, LF
7. Jose Morales, DH
8. Matt Tolbert, 3B
9. Nick Punto, 2B

Starting pitcher: RH Scott Baker (15-9, 4.36)

Metrodome. First pitch: 4:07 p.m. TV: TBS

The Tigers and Twins have identical 86-76 records heading into Tuesday’s one-game tiebreaker to decide the AL Central title. Here are three things to know about the Tigers, one for each game they played since facing the Twins on Thursday:

1. Their leading MVP candidate, Miguel Cabrera, had a blood-alcohol level of 0.26, more than three times the legal limit, after an altercation with his wife in the wee hours Saturday morning, according to police, the Detroit Free Press reports. Cabrera had been partying with White Sox players after Friday night’s game at the Birmingham Townsend Hotel.

Cabrera is batting .323 with 33 home runs and 101 RBI for the season. But since Wednesday’s victory over the Twins, Cabrera is 1-for-15 with no RBI.

2. Offense has been the issue for the Tigers, and with Cabrera involved in this ordeal, it doesn’t help. The Tigers have scored just nine runs in four games since they put their foot on the Twins’ throats Wednesday night. Meanwhile, the Twins were racking up 36 runs in that span. Detroit could have eliminated the Twins with a victory Thursday, but Scott Baker pitched five innings, as the Twins defeated the Tigers 8-3. Baker will start Tuesday tiebreaker for the Twins.

3. Rick Porcello, who will start Tuesday’s for the Tigers, wasn’t born when the Tigers won the 1987 AL East title. That was their last division championship. He is 20 years old but has been Detroit’s second-best starter to Justin Verlander down the stretch.

“He’s been young all year,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said, as printed in the Free Press. “I know one thing for a fact. He will not be scared.”

The Twins control their own fate today. If they win, this won’t be their last game at the Metrodome.

There will be an hour-long ceremony after this game, win or lose, celebrating the team’s 28 years indoors, and nobody is quite sure what the mood will be like.

The Tigers have Justin Verlander on the mound in Detroit, trying to extend their season, hoping to stop their collapse. The White Sox counter with lefthander John Danks. That one starts at noon, so there the fans packing the Metrodome (with the curtain raised) could be in a frenzy, imagining the possibilities.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland already has predicted a victory for the Twins today. He said last night that his team should expect to have to win today and come back to the Metrodome on Tuesday for a one-game tiebreaker. That would be at 4 p.m., and likely pit Scott Baker vs. Rick Porcello.

(*) Joe Mauer is batting .366, and Ichiro is at .352, so Mauer can wrap up his third batting title today. (Note, if there’s a one-game tiebreaker on Tuesday, that’s considered a regular season game, Mauer might not be officially crowned today.)

(*) If there is a tiebreaker, the Twins and Tigers won’t be able to work out at the Metrodome on Monday. There’s a little event here on Monday — Packers vs. Vikings on Monday Night Football. In fact, as soon as the Twins finish their postgame ceremony today, workers will begin converting this place for football.

Update: An intriguing development in Detroit, as Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera has abrasions on his face and is declining comment on whether he had an altercation after Friday’s game. Here is the story from the Detroit Free Press.

(*) Manager Ron Gardenhire said Baker will be in the bullpen today, just in case.

(*) The Twins began considering a potential playoff roster today, understanding full well that they aren’t there yet, but travel plans need to be made for players who aren’t on that roster, etc.

If the Twins clinch today, they are planning to go with a three-man rotation against the Yankees in the ALDS, with Baker, Nick Blackburn and Carl Pavano. In that scenario, the Twins would likely keep 11 pitchers and 14 position players on their 25-man roster.

If Baker needs to pitch in the tiebreaker, Brian Duensing would likely start Game 1 of the ALDS, and that could change the 11/14 equation.

ROYALS (65-96)

1. Willie Bloomquist, LF
2. Mitch Maier, CF
3. Billy Butler, 1B
4. Mike Jacobs, DH
5. Alberto Callaspo, 2B
6. Mark Teahen, RF
7. John Buck, C
8. Alex Gordon, 3B
9. Luis Hernandez, SS

Starting pitcher: RH Luke Hochevar (7-12, 6.24 ERA)

TWINS (85-76)

1. Denard Span, CF
2. Orlando Cabrera, SS
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Jason Kubel, RF
5. Michael Cuddyer, 1B
6. Delmon Young, LF
7. Jose Morales, DH
8. Matt Tolbert, 3B
9. Nick Punto, 2B

Starting pitcher: Carl Pavano (13-12, 5.07 ERA)

Metrodome. First pitch: 1:10 p.m. TV: Ch. 29

By day’s end, the Twins either will be eliminated, tied with the Tigers, or one game back with one day remaining in the season.

The drama starts at 3:10 p.m., when Nick Blackburn, making his first career start on three day’s rest, makes his first pitch. Blackburn will be opposed by Cy Young candidate Zack Greinke. The Tigers and White Sox are scheduled to start at 6:05 p.m.

Each Greinke start feels like it has postseason implications for the Royals, as he chases his first career Cy Young, so there will be a lot at stake for both teams.

The Twins are going with the same lineup they used against Greinke last Sunday in Kansas City, in a 4-1 loss. Greinke gave up seven hits and two walks in seven innings that day, and the Twins had chances, but managed just the one run.

Note: The Twins have been notified that if a one-game tiebreaker is needed to determine the AL Central champion, it will be at the Metrodome on Tuesday at 4 p.m., Central, televised by TBS.

Update: Brian Duensing will be available in relief today, and Carl Pavano would start Sunday on three day’s rest if it’s a meaningful game for the Twins. Duensing would be available in relief Sunday, if meaningful, and he would start Sunday on regular rest if not used today and if Twins are eliminated.

(*) I asked Manager Ron Gardenhire if the Twins were mildly encouaged by last Sunday’s effort against Greinke.

“That’s your angle? That’s the best you can do?” he said. “Listen, we’re encouraged because we’re swinging the bats well, we scored some runs last night, scored runs in Detroit off pretty good pitchers, too. We’ve faced [Roy] Halladay and beat him. We’ve battled against [Justin] Verlander, Greinke — we’ll take our chances. We’ll do the best we possibly can. This team’s got a lot of gumption about it, so we’ll just see what we can do. He’s pretty good.”

ROYALS (65-95)

1. Willie Bloomquist, LF
2. Mitch Maier, CF
3. Billy Butler, 1B
4. Mike Jacobs, DH
5. Alberto Callaspo, 2B
6. Mark Teahen, RF
7. Miguel Olivo, C
8. Alex Gordon, 3B
9. Luis Hernandez, SS

Starting pitcher: Zack Greinke (16-8, 2.06 ERA)

TWINS (84-76)

1. Denard Span, CF
2. Orlando Cabrera, SS
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Jason Kubel, RF
5. Michael Cuddyer, 1B
6. Delmon Young, LF
7. Jose Morales, DH
8. Matt Tolbert, 3B
9. Nick Punto, 2B

Starting pitcher: Nick Blackburn (11-11, 4.08 ERA)

Metrodome. First pitch: 3:10 p.m. TV: Fox