It Ain't Over Till It's Over

It's only a matter of time...

To be quite honest, I'm not even really sure where to start the post for this weekends do-or-die series, other than with this. I spent the entire weekend being nice to the Chicago White Sox, even saying thank you when they would do something to help us. I even made the promise that if they swept Detroit, I would never say anything bad about AJ again. So since they didn't sweep the Tigers, I have something I need to get off my chest...

AJ... you suck.

Ah, I feel better now :)

As it was originally planned for the weekend I was only supposed to be attending Sunday's game with Betsy, but as we both watched Friday nights game and knew we were still in this fight we decided to attend Saturday's game as well and boy am I glad I was there. That was a make me sick to my stomach game but it was worth it. I'm not sure who lit the fire under these guys asses, but I'm glad whoever it was did it. It seems to be working and I just pray that it carries over till Tuesday's game.

I think Friday nights game was an amazing way to start off the weekend. As I was watching with my mom during the first inning, she happened to make that comment that Delmon Young reminded her of Kirby Puckett, with a quick glance I could see what she was talking about. So with the bases loaded, I made the comment "channel your inner Kirby, Delmon." and amazingly he must have because the next thing I knew that ball was in the seats giving Delmon his first grand slam.

I did feel bad for Delmon though, he was interviewed after the game was over and was asked if his dad was there to see his grand slam, he responded with, yes his dad was there, but he wished his mom could have been there to see it. Believe me Delmon, she was watching :)

I was just in awe watching these guys this weekend, fighting till the end, knowing what was on the line. Back to Saturday's game... those guys do have a way of stressing us out till the very end. But once again, our rock star Cuddy showed everyone he can make big swings happen when they are needed the most. To see the excitement on his face and the rest of the teams face watching the replay online kinda gave me chills cause you can see how much these guys want this.

Also, Nick Blackburn pitched a beautiful game against Zack Grienke. I'll admit I was worried facing Grienke during a do or die weekend, but again these guys checked fear at the door and wowed a few critics that said we couldn't/wouldn't. Amazing job Blackie :)

Yesterdays game was a mixture of emotions for me. I was excited with knowing what could happen, but at the same time I was kinda sad because I knew there was a chance we could be walking out of the Dome for the last time. Apparently the guys aren't ready to say goodbye to that bubble just yet and we have to play game 163 again, which thankfully this time around I will actually get to be there with Betsy and Krystal. There was no way in hell I wasn't going to be at that game tomorrow so we used every available resource to try and get tickets.

All I could think during the earlier parts of yesterday's game was, "save some runs for Tuesday!". I spent a good portion of the game scoreboard watching until the final score was posted for the Tiger/Sox game, then I focused more on our game. But when Kansas seemed to start rallying, I was glad we had those extra runs, as I'm sure Carl was thinking the same thing.

The post-game ceremony to close out the Dome was really good. Most of the team from the '87 and '91 World Series were there along with most of the All-Metrodome Team, the only ones missing were Torii, Johan, Chuck and of course Kirby. They did a wonderful tribute for Kirby along with having Kirby Jr. take down the last number in the Countdown to Outdoor Baseball over in the home run porch.

But I think Kent Hrbek said it best when he said in his speech, "We've got to come back here on Tuesday and drink some more beer!" And actually, I may just have to have one Tuesday night.

Detroit's sending Rick Porcello to the mound while we're sending Timmy. I've got faith and a whole lot of prayers. Go after it guys, we'll all be there to cheer you on. You've all made it this far, just keep plugging along.

You Got To Fight

Tonight's game seemed to come down to who's bats were swinging better. Thankfully it came down to the fact that our bats were swinging better. It was a fight to the end and Chicago wasn't going to roll over and play dead, although at time I wish they would, but I don't get that lucky when it comes to stuff like this.

The Twins needed this win tonight, especially with Cleveland failing us and losing to Detroit 3-1. It should not have come down to us hoping, wishing, and/or praying that another team in the division would beat whoever is leading, but that seems to be the case with the Twins. They wait until the last few weeks and then get that second or third wind and make the push for the play offs. Hopefully this year we won't have to have a tie breaker game or else we're going to be in trouble since the NFL has already said they won't move the Packer/Viking game that night.

I felt bad for Jeff Manship tonight, he just wasn't on top of it tonight and it cost him what should have been his game. Part of me wonders if he's really ready to be a major league starter. I could see him possibly making the team as a relief pitcher next season, but as Gardy normally goes, I'm pretty sure he has no faith in Manny. I have faith in him, I would love to see him get one more try at his first major league win, but I doubt he will :(

When the ugly, ugly Sux took the lead, I figured I might want to turn the game off. I was in a bad mood for most of the game. I turned it off for about five minutes and happened to walk in the living room in enough time to see Cuddy be the rock star that he is. Maybe he ate some of my Skittles I gave him before the game ;-) Like I told Betsy, I think Cuddy needs the same kind of contract as Jeter with the Yankees. I could see Cuddy staying a Twin for his whole career, in all seriousness I hope that really happens. I can't see him playing any place else.


I was also in the living room long enough to see an instant replay, that is see Matty T get his second home run of the season in about the same spot as his first home run about 4 months ago. I think maybe he was talking to Cuddy before the game or something. He's got a lot of talent and hopefully he will make the team out of spring training next season and will actually get another chance at it.

Between Cuddy and Matty T, OC and Kubes also decided to help with the HR's tonight. I thought the guys did a good job tonight. The bull pen went out there and did a pretty decent job, Matty G... home runs are not acceptable though, ok? And yet again, I turned Joe Nathan off when he came into pitch the 9th. As much as I want to be able to watch him pitch again this season, if this works I'm just going to run with it. I wanna see this team in the play offs so I'll deal with it.

Tomorrow we have Brian going against Buehrle. One game at a time... as the old saying goes, "Slow and steady wins the race". This race is yours to be won guys.

Welcome to the Candy Shop!

There is a reason to that picture, but you're going to have to wait until possibly next Wed for the reasoning behind it.

After 3 months for the first time this season we finally, FINALLY, made it to 2 games over .500. That deserves a huge it's about time. This is an over .500 team and it's time they show it to everyone else that wants to doubt them (I'm talking to you Souhan!)

Speaking of Souhan, normally I don't give his column the time of day because it as a rule pisses me off. Today's/Last nights column was no different. When it was discussed this morning on Twitter, I decided I should read it and see what all the fuss was about, well what I found was an article that appeared to be written by a high schooler, not a professional writer (why the Tribune continues to pay him for the crap he writes is beyond me).

According to Souhan, Dickey didn't make the team out of Spring Training. So apparently the guy that was filling in for Scott while he was on the DL was a figment of our imaginations and not who Dick and Bert told us it was. It just kills me that the title of his column is "Stop me if you've heard this one: bullpen needs help". I could have stopped him as soon as he started writing the column because it's all we seem to hear from him this season.

I'll step off my soapbox now.

Onto today's game...

It was nice to have a little more cushion then we did last night, I didn't have to start pacing around my office because I couldn't bear to just sit there and listen. I am also thankful to have instant video on Gameday so I could see Cuddy's home run shortly after it happened (skittles for him!)

I really thought Papa Perk had another strong outing, he kept his pitch count down and went 7 innings. I really like what I'm seeing from him since he came off the DL.


And once we think that we've got a strong starting line-up, we lose 3 today from injuries. Red-Dogs looked painful when they were talking about during the news and even from the picture I can see why he was taken out. Justin went out with a tight left groin muscle. I really, really hope with a couple days rest he'll be ready for the series against the Tigers because I know I was looking forward to seeing him again on Saturday.

And then we have Nick Punto. As much as I love Nicky, I really wonder how long it's going to be before he ends up on the DL again. How much longer Gardy can go with being short an infielder because Nicky's got some sort of injury. I don't wanna see it come to that, but I also want a healthy team.

And did you all know that Nicky can fly?

Tomorrow: Off day! Rest up boys, the Tigers are on their way in, one day at a time. Slow and steady wins the race.

Friday: Kevin against newbie Lucas French.