Punto in the lineup again. Looks like the Reign of Rivas has finally, mercifully ended...

sw

Yay!!! Enough speculation on the negative! Let's go kick some Cleveland butt!!!

Thank god for an actual game. Now they just need to win and give us something positive to think about. It definately seems like it's been more than 3 days since Radke beat the Angels.

Um, just to mention a slightly off topic happiness...

Kevin Brown has given up *six* runs in 1/3rd of an inning to Tampa Bay.

With apologies to YankeeFan, Bronx Panic makes me all squidgy inside.

Carrie - I'm with ya, gal. I just had to stayed glued to gameday hoping it would really bust into a bigger number. We must be terrible folks, or maybe normal.

I'm on my way home from work out here in CA and can't wait to see some Twins baseball. I want a win real bad today.

Nothing like a win on the field to help forget the loss off it.

Hey, there's a game tonight?

*whew*

Insider -- hey, I'm an O's fan. I'd be kicked out of Baltimore and be forced to resign my citizenship if I didn't take a somewhat malicious delight in the Yankees' failures.

Besides, when the rest of us are having to learn the tough lessons that our boys are human after all, it's only fair that the Yanks have to learn it, too.

Does anyone know how the stadium vote went? It was today, right?

Once again, MLB.TV is not showing the Twins broadcast, but is instead showing the opposing teams. WTF????

Can someone please give Kevin Brown some steriods before I lose my mind...... just kidding of course.

Tbird41,

Near as I can tell (from hitting various websites) the debate is still going on.

MK

I know Herb's really old, but hearing his voice sure brings me back to when I was a kid in Bloomington.....

Same here. Can't find anything.

Thanks MK--I the Trib had a blurb about it on its website, but it mainly focused on who was for/ against it and the huge turnout. That turnout would explain why it's still going on.

Mike,

I have extra.

BG

Here's a quote from the latest edition of Strib online:

"More than 50 people signed up to testify on the proposal. Representatives of the Twins and downtown business groups, including former star player Kent Hrbek, were also on hand to tout the stadium tax plan, which appeared to have the four votes needed to pass the board and be sent on to the state Legislature."

Travis Haf-swing.

Damn, I take that back.

Bad Joe Mays, BAD

Aw, bugger.

Okay, we've been through this whole letting-them-score-first thing. The guys should know what to do with it by now...

Well, that was... less than pretty.

I just got home... I'm so happy to see Tumbleweed's boyfriend, LNP, in the lineup at 2nd! yahoo!

but I am not happy with that first inning. ick.

and just in case... if anyone's still looking for Santana or Jones medallions, the SA by my apartment in Fridley still has a ton of both, but no newspapers.

oh, that was just yucky.

let's not let them get any more home runs, shall we?

not cool Joe, not cool at all...unless yall have a crazy comeback planned, this is NOT the kind of pick up that Twins Territory needs.

This is not the happy Joey tonight.

What is going on with Maysie???? He's gonna pull it together, right???

Awww crap, did I really want to watch this game?

and now ass glove for Cuddy.

do you suppose our boys are a little preoccupied? buck up, little campers!

Last time Joe pitched he gave up three runs in about five seconds and said he "hit the wall" - wonder if he's still leaning on it

Ahhhh jeez, E-5. Can't we at least have the moral high ground on the field?

This is starting great....

yay!

what is that? M!

M

Okay, Joe, it's a start...

Gameday's alittle behind. Tell me when the double play is recorded

The Old Man's gonna start warming up in the bullpen.

Oh, dear.

I hope that's soon CA-TwinsFan...

That was *not* the time for a ground-rule double (I think that's what it was...)

This is going to be one of those VERY long games.

A very...very...very long one.

good grief. Al Pacino's warming up

One more Joe.....

You know, the Twins were given the chance in the division (and by some to go all the way) because we were able to bring back our entire pitching staff.

So far it's been Santana, Nathan...and well...yeah...

Wow, Mays sucks tonight.

Do you think LNP has his SuperHero outfit on under his uniform?

We can only hope Pepper...we can only hope.

There's nothing more disheartening than seeing gameday sitting there with a blue circle for the opposing team with "in play run-scoring play" for about a minute while the audio catches up

This is looking too much like Mays' last start against the Indians. It was his last start B.S. (that would be Before Surgery), and I was at the game. 3-1/3 innings and either 7 or 9 earned runs, and those of us that weren't booing him were wondering where the real Joe had gone.

Hey, Mays hasn't pitched for awhile and I hear that sinkerball pitchers need to be a little tired to be effective. Yeah that's it...sure....

YAHOO FOR THE DOCTOR!!!!!

DOCTOR!

There we go!!!!

Just what the doctor ordered!!

How far did that go? No TV...only gameday.

Morneau: "DON'T. PICK. ON. MAYS!"

DOCTOR! WAY TO HEAL US!

and JJ comes through!

(oh! there was my boyfriend Joe!)

c'mon, Torii!!!

Hurry up score before they can warm up their Al Pacino!!!

lol I had them backwards. I thought for sure I heard Bert say it JJ at the plate... I was not looking at my TV. whoops!

Run Torii run

Gameday...too far behind. Unable to...watch game live.

Must resort to imagination...

*pictures Morneau homerun punching hole in Metrodome roof*

Aaaaaah...

Batgirl sad.

Walk to the dugout Torii, walk...rats.....

OH. MY. GOD.

for crying out loud. TOrii caught stealing, Jones caught trying to stretch a single into a double.

you... guys... mrph!

Somebody finally figured out Torii on the basepaths.

And Jacque following that up by getting thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double didn't help.

EMERGENCY MEMO:

This is not a good night for baserunning.

Seriously, I'm watching the O's-Toronto game, and about five runners have been picked off. I thought it was just them, but then I noticed that A-Rod got picked off too, and now Torii, obviously, it's everyone.

Was it close for Torii? Cause him getting thrown out is a rare thing these days...or so I've heard.

*curses Gameday*

Heh...everybody's playing on the moon. Imagination time!

That's the kind of veteran play we lik to see from Th and JJ

Get that memo to the dugout quick....

And now Jacque. Seriously, guys, read the memo.

Kids, this is how NOT to run the bases.

That's what happened?

Rats! Instead of 1st/2nd (1st/3rd possibly) and no outs...we're done in the inning.

BAH!

Now Mays has to NOT give up runs.

Capital N on the not.

BTW, according to the Greet Machine an amendment has been added to the stadium proposal mandating that any excess funds go toward keeping libraries in the Hennepin County and Minneapolis systems open.

Torhu--Torii broke for second before the pitcher went into his motion, and the pitcher just turned and threw Torii out at 2nd base. Not really that close.

well Torhu from my gameday, Torii got caught when the little red dot went from the grey "Westbrook" bar to the little white square. I saw it all clearly.....

What's Greet Machine?

Damn.... Bitch Sox 2 - Royals 2.... that Iguchi guy just hit his first HR. I really wish that the Sox didn't sign him cause he's really been huge this year so far...

Torhu... not close at all.

and Jacques... that wasn't close, either.

Stewie... this is NOT our night.

Man I am bad luck for us. The first game I got to be on this thread was the last Angels game....think I'll just watch the little red dot for awhile

Thanks for the visual, CA-TwinsFan. I'm listening to the radio, so that was very helpful:-)

aw... Automatic looks kinda sad.

Tumbleweed could cheer him up.

Per the stadium: who cares about the damn libraries. Or the schools for that matter. My new stadium plan: all money marked for anything that helps people should be funneled to the stadium.

Grrrr. Losing makes Mort cranky

Mort, you need a kitty.

Maybe Tumbleweed could cheer Mort up.

MM

and until money that goes to education already makes it to the areas of the system that need it and NOT a raise for the superintendant or trees for the parking lot or a computer for the principal, the people who use that excuse to bitch about the stadium should just shut up.

I am just all for stupid people shutting up right now.

BG,

Yes, either a kitty or a pet Punto. But who doesn't need a pet Punto

that was not a Tiny Superhero bunt attempt. c'mon, LNP, lay it down right!

Cuddy gets a hit. Now don't do something stupid and try to steal 3 runs. One at a time guys, Westbrook is gonna give up alot of hits tonight.

C'mon, LNP!

oh... LNPTS... that was not very superhero-like of you.

Yeah Stewie!!

Hey on the good side, Mays has shut down a couple of very troublesome situations....maybe the gasoline he poured on his uniform before the game has evaporated

My cats are biting each others' heads. This has been a stressful night for them. And Tidus always gets finicky when LNP strikes out.

mort, did you see this:

http://69.93.183.37/889/77/upload/p2909934.jpg

I think Tumbleweed devouring Bartolo Colon could cheer up even the crankiest of Batlings.

Or Batgirls.

Come on Joe!!!!!

oh, look, they're all chewing bubblegum. those are the Twins I know and love...

yes. or Batgirls. :)

yahoo for the Chairman!!! rbi single!

let's go, Doctor!

YES!! MAUER POWER!!!

And now the doctor.....

There we go, darlin'.

kafumbly,

Yes thank you, that did soothe my nerves. The RBI from the Chairman helped a little as well.

Come on blue circle - "in play, run-scoring play" can't wait

Now would be a lovely time for a HR, Doc. Or a single wouldn't be too bad either.

Kafumbly--I just looked at your picture and it's hilarious. I also noticed that Colon seems to have a chin for each of the things he ate this weekend. That dude seriously needs to go on a diet or something.

damn. Morneau puts everything he's got into every swing. you can see him getting ready for it even when he decides to let a pitch go by.

and I have to admit, every time I see him at the plate, I am transported back in time to junior high/high school, in gym class, and people who didn't know how to play baseball... the way Morneau stands reminds me of them. he looks as though he has no idea what he's doing.

and then... BLAMMO!!! 96 antlers later, that ball is GONE!

Oh dear, the bases are loaded....

I dunn, Doctor's cartoon stance on Gameday looks pretty traditional...

TBird, thank you. it gave me great pleasure to watch her eat him.

Torii, that's not what you should do when the bases are loaded.

Bad Torii. BAD BAD Torii!

Walk back in shame. First pitch swinging...what is that?

Y'know, this complete incapability to convert on bases loaded is getting very, very old.

I hate at-'em ball....

I don't know Torhu--it looked like he hit pretty hard, sadly, it was right at sizemore.

Somewhat off subject, but any word on the county vote?

Nothing yet.

ok, ty

Punto almost got eaten there. good thing he backed away.

In the first 3 innings, they had 2 baserunners run into outs in the same inning, and left the bases loaded in another inning. At least, in the first they went down 1-2-3, and didn't piss anyone off. Of couse there was also Cuddle's 7th error to cheer us up a little. I missed the 2 run first by Cleveland, so I have been pissed off for a shorter time.Al

The first two runs were so fast, we didn't have time to get pissed

aw, "Punto gobbles it up." I'm so glad he's doing the eating in this game.

By the way, guys, Joe's only got about 80 pitches in him, so we might see Al Pacino next inning,.

"A grounder to second... Punto gobbles it up." Delicious irony! Yay LNP!

Al -- I didn't think that should've been an error on DJ, in fairness. It was a tough play.

Dick just said that LNP "gobbled up" a ground ball. It's nice to see LNP doing the eating for a change.

I thought Jacque and Torii were supposed to stop doing that.

Before he bats a quick Jacque story:

In his rookie year we went to see the Twins in Anaheim. We were behind the dugout, and my younger son, who in Teeball was on the Twins, wanted to go and meet a player. We went to the rail, and JJ was out signing autograghs. He reached for something from my son, and when he had nothing, I said "No, he just wanted to meet a bigleague ballplayer." JJ shhook his hand, and said HI and to this day, even tho he doesnt follow the Twins, he always asks me how JJ is doing. A Class act.

oh, I can't imagine that felt very good. he just fouled that off his hand.

my supplemental boyfriend #3, Cuddy, has his good bat out today. I wish everyone else did.

let's go LNP!

I love Jacque, even though he sometimes swings at the first ball and grounds out. Thanks for the nice story, Scotty Dawg.

KCs ahead!!!

I guess the story illustrates why this group is so special, and we all love 'em

Thanks Dawg! Anaheim's a nice ballpark and I take my daughter to see the twins a couple of times a year

Cuddy has 2 hits? WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

where in Ca? SoCal here

Batgirl,

Sorry I missed it earlier (I'm still at work), but the Greet Machine is the blog of a UM employee who's huge into the stadium issues, and he's doing a kind of play-by-play of the meeting. http://blog.lib.umn.edu/snackeru/greet/

MK

DAMMIT! Poor LNP.

SoCal here too.....There are usually a big load of Twins fans at Anaheim when they're in town

argh! I HATE Coco Crisp! FRUITY CRISP, more like! geez! just stop doing that, stupid Cleveland! gosh!

Indeed, good to see our friends there.
I am in Riverside County

Admit it kafumbly, you're koo-koo for Coco Crisp :-)

*glances at the O's scoreboard*

*glances at the Twins scoreboard*

Ya know, between the breaking of the O's streak, Santana's streak, and this scandal-which-shall-not-be-named, it's been a rough few days.

Carrie needs a win. And Carrie's counterpart needs a win, so he'll stop sulking into his Spells and Magic charts.

Thanks MK. He doesn't seem to be aware of Batgirl either!

Is Baker in town yet? if we need to go to the pen, I'd like to see him. I hear great things

I'm in the "greater Ontario" area. Actually there's probably a lot of areas greater than Ontario.....good to see I'm not the only one here....

hey Joe don't walk the leadoff guy!!!!!

Mark, perhaps you are confusing Coco Crisp with Coco Puffs.

ha, actually, every time I hear his name, I think of Fruity Marshmallow Crispies... lots of fruity marshmallow shapes! gets you snap, crackle, poppin' over lots of fruit taste!

or however that song went.

Hey 'lings and 'girls, have a good rest-of-the-game - gotta go direct a community theatre play. And no I'm not gay....

If only Stewie had an arm...

So an Empire guy, lol. Me too

*groans*

Nah, Pepper. But his last name is not Puffs.

But, maybe Coco Krispies should be his nickname...gotta think about that one. I just call him Cereal Boy.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!

I hope they've caught our sickness... bases loaded...

*thwacks head against wall*

*thwack*

*thwack*

*thwack*

Okay, one out...

MMM

ok two out

Two outs...

WOOT!

Wow. I mean, Wow.

Nice job, Joe

WOOOOOOOO!!!

*whew*

we gave it to 'em! I hope they keep it.

*breathes again*

Well, that's getting out of a sticky situation with flair.
Carrie, if you keep pounding your head on walls, you're eventually going to put your head through one....

This proves to me that Joe Mays has recovered. Two years ago, bases loaded with nobody out would have been the start of a four or five run inning for him...

anyone care to give me a quick run down as to how the Twins got out of that one?

...and Stew with the base hit? Nice start...

woooooooooo!!! SB Stewie!

After getting out of that Joe Joe deserves some runs....

GO Twins!

...and the stolen base?!

See, that's what happens when you attempt the steal AFTER the ball has left the pitcher's hand

TBird, Mays got the first guy to pop to shallow left, the next guy struck out, and then the last guy hit a grounder to ... short? I was too busy dancing.

Hopefully, that was a "take one for the team" HBP instead of a "Man Down!" HBP...

TBird

--pop out, 3 pitch strick out, grounder to DJ Cuddles.

Relieved,
BG

Is that Daft Punk playing in our house?

oh... so... close... at least the runners advanced.

The Chairman JUST missed that one... still a good result, though!

Way for the Chairman to move the runners over...

Batkitty #3 is kicking Batkitty #2's butt. I think they're tense.

Let's get a big hit!

They're not the only one.

dammit. that was a big crap.

Oh, c'mon, Torii. C'mon.

Thanks yall--I figured it was a prudent time to hop in the shower.

C'mon Torii---now's the time for a big hit

AAAARG!

what do these guys have to do to get a hit w/ runners in scoring position??????????????

nice catch, LNP! bravo!

That's my LNPTS!

*sigh* I do love Little Nicky Punto and his fast, fast glove.

Note to self: next time following game at work (and thus cannot get to Gameday Audio or MLB.tv), do not choose to listen to the Revenge of the Sith soundtrack...too tense...

This is so painful, it's upsetting my stomach.

My cats, for the record, have gone to sleep in protest.

The vote passed, 4-3.

Oh, good!

Er, proposal. Still.

Yay!

A ballpark would really be awfully nice.

Thank god. That nice man won a Snapper mower.

We really needed someone to win a Snapper mower this inning.

It's also nice to see someone else doing the grounding out for a change.

YAHOO!!! did you hear Clay?! 4-3 in favor of the ballpark! yay!

GO Grey Goat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If he pitches well while Rincon is out the Twins might be ok...

He can keep the rest of the pen from being over worked

Let's just hope the final of tonight's game isn't 4-3.

Ugh. That was the JJ of old.

Ugh, BitchSox climb out of the hole.

wow that was quick

Bradke needs to have a talk with out hitters. It's not okay to talk about the Pope in the dugout and forget about hitting. Simiarly, it's not okay to talk about the stadium vote and forget about hitting.

http://69.93.183.37/889/77/upload/p2912614.jpg

aw... ain't she sweet...

Okay. Doesn't the Gameday picture of Travis Hafner make him look like a non-green Shrek?

Oh! She's trying to cheer him up!

any chance for a double play

YES! thank you, Torii, and your gold glove!

That's my Sweetcheeks!

Whew.

I like this getting-out-of-jams stuff. Now if only they don't get into the jams in the first place, I'd feel better...

I bet he'd have made it if he'd slid into first...

(thank you for not sliding into first, LNP)

What the hell?!?!? The Royals bullpen blew another one... they were sure a lot of help tonight... now we gotta win to keep pace with the Bitch Sox again, dammit

[Edited by BG, who frowns on taunting, SESF]

MK- Travis Hafner is shrek, he just used some chemicals.

What a night...

Started with t'ai chi class, came home to watch the game and spent an hour practicing Mendelssohn's "Fingal's Cave" Overture and now it's time to go play pool. With the radio on the whole time, I might add.

Night, all... let's bring home a winner

IXNAY ON THE ASS-BATAY'S!!!!!!!!!

Come on, Can't i have a little fun. I wasn't just saying something like
SOX RULE TWINS SUCK
I was just trying to get some kind of reaction.
BAH

I love how Bart can work the count...

None of us are in the mood for that at the moment, SESF.

Shaggy sighting...

But BG has no interest in providing a place where people come in to taunt her regulars or come in to get a reaction, because those things quickly devolve into flame wars and then BG would have to shut the whole thing down because it would make her miserable. There are plenty of places where this sort of thing is encouraged, but not here. We have several lovely sox fans who play very nice, which is all I ask.

Oh, please do not shut things down, BG.

We will be good Batlings and ignore all troll-ish posts. We promise.

You are all exquisite Batlings, fear not!

BG, thanks for keeping this a pleasant place. Too many good blogs go down in flames.

Hear, hear. Thank you, BG.

Now, let's get some damn runs!

yes, I like it here. it's friendly and fun!

Tumbleweed likes it, too.

http://69.93.183.37/889/77/upload/p2912661.jpg

Juan almost cracked a smile when she danced for him...

Damn runs, any runs, it's all the same to me...

Do you think somebody asked for Ash bats, and there was confusion?

Mauer power! Let's go!

and the Chairman comes through again!

Thataway, Chairman!

The Cleveland TV guys just said that Mauer is "a good-looking hitter." But we already know that. It's gotta be the sideburns.

Aw, Justin... damnit.

Damn. That was a good pitch to hit, too.

Haven't I seen this half-inning before? Does it end differently this time?

I hope so.

crap. okay little sweetcheeks, make us proud.

hey, who's got the Barbie backpack this year? is it Crain again? I saw a guy walking out with it on Sunday, but I couldn't tell who it was; he had a sweatshirt on.

Maybe Guerrier?

I AM HORRIBLY EMBARRASSED by the representation on our County Commission for all female baseball fans in Hennepin county. The Board of Commissioners was split 4-3 - all the men voting FOR the stadium and the women against. I am ASHAMED of those three and do not consider them REAL women.

Of course, do I *really* care? NO!! BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO THE LEGISLATURE NOW!!! WHOOO HOOOO!! IT PASSED THE FIRST OBSTACLE!!! WHOOOOO!

... ... ... ... ...!

arg.

Torii and Jacque both hit the ball well. Maybe it's just not our night. (But I hold out hope for the 9th).

Here's da link:

http://wcco.com/topstories/local_story_123213949.html

Oh, now it's Baker I guess.

Molly,

I know. The worst offender was my rep, too.

Chicks like baseball too.

C'mon now SESF. i am also a diehard Sox fan, but trolling is not cool and pretty inappropriate. rivalry is great, but taunting is not. you must also realize that it is still early and that although the Sox are playing very well, this has happened the last 3 seasons. i'm right with you hoping that they can keep it up, but let them do the talking instead.

I wonder what's written on the inside of JC's cap...

See, this is why we like sox fans like you, MM. You take the 'bitch' out of 'bitch sox'. Glad you're here.

Perhaps it reads "Boo is my NSMC"?

JC's cap says "Don't explode."

(Thanks Mr. Mark. Loved you in Boogie Nights.)

The chairman came out just to remind JC to read the inside of his ballcap.

Nice, Sacky. I'm guessing his hat _doesn't_ say, "Walk a guy batting .187."

I think it says: "DON'T walk batters!" trouble is, it's written in Greek, so he can't read it.

twink - I'm starting to think JC can't read.

Out comes Jesse "Clean up JC's Mess" Crain

But he says he LOVES to read.

How does good JC change places with bad JC so fast that we can't even see him move?

Kafumbly,
It's nice that JC's trying to learn Greek, and all, but I wish he'd do it on his own time, _not_ on the mound.

Did they say we'd issued 7 walks since the 5th?

Jesse Crain is so cool.

two pitches. didn't he get two guys out with three pitches a few games ago? I really like him.

BG,
One from Old Man Mulholland, two a piece from young Master Guerrier and darlin' JC....

lol Batgirl

Well, I LOVE to crush homeruns off Captain Cheeseburger, but it ain't happenin'.

Maybe JC actually said "I'd LOVE to read!"

For the two hundred thirty seventh time this year alone, Jesse Crain finishes an inning with exactly two pitches. Uncanny!

c'mon LEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW...

I am liking Wickman's 6.48 ERA.

Bob Wickman = Grimace?

Okay, baby Lew. Come ON. You KNOW you want a hit tonight....

that little scrape on his cheek from that bunt to his face is healing nicely.

stupid Fruity Marshmallow Krispies. I shake my fist at you!

okay dimples, here we go...

*sigh* Okay, Lew. That wasn't exactly a hit.

Is it just me, or does anyone else think, from his photo, that Wickman looks like a man who wants to eat our LNP? Hungry, he looks.

Now that you mention it, katharriet... where IS LNP, anyway?

yahoo for DJ Cuddles!

Yeeha, Cuddybear, way to get it done!

Sacky,
Uneaten and on base, thank heavens! Don't let him eat you, LNP!

And way to GO, Cuddy!

Tumbleweed may have to eat Wickman if he thinks he's gonna eat LNP...

Now would be a good time to have Terry Tiffee.

sacky, yes it would.

I frequently miss balks. But that was as obvious as they come.

geez, there are a lot of balks this year.

Ooh, look! A balk _we_ didn't give up!

Let's go, Matty!!!

Balk, walk... they rhyme!

Okay, Matty. Please?

Why am I suddenly hungry for crawdads?

yahoo!

what do you s'pose is up with Wickman? maybe he's afraid that Little Nicky Punto: Tiny Superhero is going to eat him up if the Twins lose? and that Captain Cheeseburger will eat him if the Indians lose? wow, what a situation for him to be in!

Is this the fattest pitcher to hitter combo in baseball history?

Tying run is on.

LOL, Batgirl. It just might be, since LeRoy didn't face Colon on Sunday.

Or maybe he has some other small utility player or a batboy or somethin' stuck in his craw. COUGH IT UP, WICKMAN!

Batgirl,

It just might be. Don't have the stats to back it up though...

I'd think John Kruk would have to be in the equation somewhere

oh please oh please oh please oh please

Smart move, Stewie!

*sweating*

NO! I do not believe he swung at that.

ARRRRGH!!!

That was intense!

BASE HIT!!!!!

wait, nope, he struck out.

Damn.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGG! Matty, you PUNK! Get him to a 3 and 1 count and then strike out swinging? Where's your pinch-hitting prowess?!

*sigh*

Okay, I'm done now.

auugh

Sigh.

No donuts for you!

Would have been interesting to get Mauer up there with the bags juiced

Well...
Tomorrow is another day... .

As Ben Jarvhi once said "Tomorrow is the next day!"

...please add your own thick Indian accent for effect...

You know who stinks? ESPN stinks. No respect for any market outside of the Boston / New York sprawl. The two best teams in the American league so far are playing in the central (With the potential exclusion of the Orioles, who aren't getting much love either.). Heck, they're probably the best three teams in baseball.

ESPN, I'm boycotting your ass. No news on any exciting teams, slow updates on games. I don't care what's wrong with the Yankees or how Mr. Shilling's doing these days.

Incredibly frustrating.

New York, they're getting beat by the D-Rays, CONSISTENTLY. They're bad, they're boring, they're like the Cubs. Really. The Cubs are the least exciting, least compelling .500 team I've ever watched. No excitement, no drive. If I've ever seen a more lackluster team that looks like they have a plane or a train to catch, or somewhere better to be, I can't think of it (I should know, my brother can walk to Wrigley). The Cubs must have PlayStation 2s all lined up in the clubhouse or something, because those players sure don't want to be on the field. Same with the Yanks, and frankly, same with the BoSox. Have some hot dogs, boys, because you're going to be playing golf in October while real teams--hungry teams without David Wells or Giambi on their squads--are going to show you how to play baseball with a little passion.

The Twins play like they have something to lose. Something important on the line. They play with pride. They've got gumption. Johan Santana has 17 straight starts without a single loss? Merits a passing mention on ESPN.

The Sox set a record today. Really. But that's beneath ESPN's notice.

The Orioles build a winner out of has-beens, Lopez, Tejada, rubber bands and duct tape? Thanks, but we'd rather see the Yanks plod. Brian Roberts is the best player in baseball (with the exception of Santana), but you wouldn't know it.

It's patronizing, and it's frustrating. The April mulligan is over. It's not 2004, it's 2005. Set your clocks, ESPN, and report on 2005. I'd rather hear about the D-Rays than the Yanks.

The national media is out to lunch. If it ain't the Yankmees. BoTox or sCrubs, it ain't worth mentioning.

Personally, I don't mind if they ignore the Sox all season. I think the AL Central will be playing in the ALCS THIS season....

..for all the Jack Daw reasons...

Did anyone catch Drew Carey at the game tonight? We were about 20 rows above him; the fans and he were having some fun at each other's expense. Much more exciting than the game, although it got fun at times.

Did anyone notice the absence of Lew Ford's facial air right before his last at bat? He definitly shaved in the clubhouse before going to the plate in the bottom of the 9th.

kojak,

I wouldn't mind an *all* AL Central LCS this year...

MK

MK, that's what I bees sezzin'! ;-)