*claps*

Very well put. And yes, the fantabulous outfielders were showing much bravery on both sides for this whole game.

Johan, you are a beautiful man. thank you, Johan.

wow.

It was beautiful to watch. beautiful.

(beautiful recap, btw!)

http://images.sportsline.com/u/ap/photos/MPD108082322_1024x768.jpg

Like I was reliving it all again!!!

First game I got to watch on a real TV, instead of mlb.tv. Even the Bitch Sox announcers were saying that it was the best game they'd seen in years.

Of course, they watch Bitch Sox games.

You can see a player who I believe is LNP above the N-Flag boosting himself up to watch it leave the park.

That makes the pic so awesome.

Dear Mr. Eric,

Thank you. Added the picture.

Sincerely,
BG

I could only follow the game via Gameday, and still I was in awe. Somehow I just *knew* that despite Garcia's no-no bid that the Twins would prevail.

beautiful

thank you, tony twinkerbell.

This was one of the harder-to-take losses of the season. I rarely get grouchy after a Sox loss, but I am feeling pretty snarchly right now. So I was rather pleased to see you throw some props our way. It truly was a magnificent baseball game. This game could have been so different in so many ways, but the circus catches and warning tracks made it otherwise.

Thanks for the great recap BG! May weasels not rip your flesh! ;-)

In honor of the Twins beating the BitchSox again this evening (and the recent Beatles shows that were mentioned in another comment thread), I shall regale you with this lost Beatles' classic. . .

All you need is one (Everybody, now!)
All you need is one
All you need is one. . .one. . .
One is all you need.

We had Outfield vs. the Wall. The One-Homer Dome wall battled valliantly against a left, right and center fielder, and was vanquished each time. And the wall didn't even have the Kirby-era Plexiglass.

"Twitchy McXanax"?

JJ - was playing with a heavy heart I'm sure- his uncle passed away - so I think he hit that ball over the wall for him - kudos JJ!!!

It was a wonderful- wonderful- wonderful game -the best game I've seen in a very long time -

may the excellent pitching karma pass on to Joey -I know you have it in ya Joey!!!

Much love
Wonder Woman

Hope this doesn't ruin the love fest but....

"The reason the Minnesota Twins played good in the second half is because of Santana," Guillen said. "It's not because they play great baseball. They have a great pitching staff."

Huh - not sure what to think - we do have an excellent pitching staff - but I think we've played some awesome baseball of late - just me =)

Much Love
Wonder Woman

WW - What else do you expect from the Bitch Sox?

BG - Wonderful as always, but it wasn't a throwing error that got DJ Cuddles on base, it was a fielding error. The 3B tried to backhand an easy grounder, and whoops!, it went under his glove.

WOW!!!!!
Reminds me of why I love baseball so much.
Joe versus the Buehrle.....didn't Tom Hanks star in that movie?

"A Midsummer Pitcher's Promise"

Act Four, Scene One:

[Enter STEWAMUS and WALL]

STEWAMUS
O grim, look'd ball! O ball with flight so high!
O ball, which ever art when love is not!
O ball, O ball, sigh, sigh, sigh,
I fear my Johansby's promise is forgot!--
And thou, O wall, O sweet, O lovely wall,
That stand'st between my person and his promise;
Thou wall, O wall, O sweet and lovely wall,
Show me thy spot, where thy've got my shoulder's bliss

[WALL illuminates a STEWAMUS-sized portion of the wall]

Thanks, courteous wall: Torii shield thee well for this!
But what feel what feel I? No bliss do I feel.
O wicked wall, of whom I feel no love,
Curs'd be thy pads for the pain I must heal.

Act Eight, Scene One:

[Enter LEWAMUS and WALL]

LEWAMUS
O grim, look'd ball! O ball with Force so Dark!
O ball, which ever art when Light is not!
O ball, O ball, hark, hark, hark,
I fear my Johansby's promise is forgot!--
And thou, O wall, O sweet, O lovely wall,
That stand'st between his promise and my state of zen;
Thou wall, O wall, O sweet and lovely wall,
Show me thy spot, where thy've got the power of my X-Men

[WALL illuminates a LEWAMUS-sized portion of the wall]

Thanks, courteous wall: Torii shield thee well for this!
But what feel what feel I? These mutant powers are not so nice.
O wicked wall, of whom I feel no love,
Curs'd be thy pads for these pains I must ice.

Act Eight, Scene Two:

[Enter WALL, BALL, and BITCH SOX HOPE]

WALL
Thus have I, wall, my part discharged so;
And, being done, thus Wall away doth go.

[Exeunt WALL, enter JACQUESEUS]

JACQUESEUS
Now is the mural down between Johansby's promise!

[Exeunt BALL and BITCH SOX HOPE]

Also, I just had another thought. Wasn't it the bitch sox pitching that got them where they are now? IIRC their offense has been pretty awful this year too (granted not as bad as ours)

"The reason the Minnesota Twins played good in the second half is because of Santana," Guillen said. "It's not because they play great baseball. They have a great pitching staff."

What about the 2 non-Santana games where we pimp-slapped the BitchSox around like they were late with our money?

God help them if the Twins should happen to meet them in the ALCS or something.

This was very good writting!

... and the picture with the T.G. blessing the HR. too funny!

Okay, I don't know if they showed this on TV, but the best part about LNP's Jermaine Dye-injuring fly ball was that after LNP rounded first, he barrelled right into Paul Konerko. I looked over at first and LNP was sprawled out on top of Konerko. It was really weird/funny. Anyone else see that?

Correction: "Geoff Blum" was playing 1B, not Konerko. Still funny though.

What a great game and a great recap. "Frodo Lives!" made me bust out laughing.

Before we go jumping on Ozzie Guillen, read this:

The article [by Jim Souhan regarding the Sox's history of choking] also featured comments from Gardenhire, stating that a good series for the Twins in the Metrodome could make the White Sox squirm a little bit. Guillen took no umbrage with Gardenhire, understanding he simply was trying to pump up his team.

Guillen also counts Gardenhire as one of the three or four managers he truly respects in the game. It was Guillen who was one of the first to congratulate Gardenhire in Chicago in 2004, after the Twins clinched the Central at U.S. Cellular.

"He knows I was rooting for him to go all the way to the World Series," said Guillen of Gardenhire. "That man, I love him, because I know how hard he worked to get that job and I know how hard he worked to earn it."

The Twins (and Gardy) do owe a lot of their success in recent years to Johan Santana. But pitching is still a big part of the game, and fortunately for us, Johan Santana pitches for our team.

Beege: I was wondering if you would find a way to work Pat Robertson's fatwa into the recap tonight. Nice work.

Awesome recap Batgirl. Don't know who is stealing from who, but: (from Jim Souhan's article in Wednesday's Trib)"If a mourning Jones pointing to the dome isn't Shakespearean enough, the Metrodome outfield looked like the stage floor of a tragedy Tuesday, with Stewart, then Ford, then Chicago's Jermaine Dye lying on the warning track after rib-crushing catches."

To: IcePhoenix
Re: E-5

To those of us in GA, it didn't appear to be an error at all. We are firm in the belief that Cuddy should have been given a hit for that, the 3B was simply unable to get to the ball.

Just our thoughts,
A, B, and E.

Ahahaha...

(click my name)

Dear Silo
YES! I thought that was great and was disappointed it didn't make BG's highlights, but it was fleeting on TV and not replayed as it should have been. LNP totally took Konerko out (perhaps hoping to thwart a relay to home??;).

And BG, the line about the Stewie, MichaelRyan and Folger's crystals? Absolutely hilarious. Thanks for a great recap. I forgive you for not annointing JJ w/BOD. Not that you as Supreme etc. need my forgiveness, but you have it.

Aurora: as a third baseman, TRUST ME, it was an error. If you ever see it again, he was well in position to make the play, and actually had a few seconds to wait on the ball before attempting the backhand, which skipped under his glove. He had more than enough time to get in front of the ball, get it, and make an easy throw to get cuddy out. While at first it did look like a hit, when they showed the replay it was blatantly obvious (to someone with the experience at the position) that it was both a physical and (severe) mental error.

I personally think he was trying to make web gems, or at least the highlite reel, as one of those "no-hitter saving defensive gems."

(PS: I mean no disrespect, if it came off that way. Like I said, I just have [assumedly] a lot more experience with those situations)

Silo:
They showed the replay of it on TV right as it went to commercial break. Gotta love LNP.

What a game. That's at least the second instant classic the Twins have been involved in this year, along with Silva's 74-pitch game.

Regarding Guillen's comments, yes the reason we have managed not to fall off the face of the standings this year has been the pitching. I will be the first to admit it. If we can score 3-4 runs a game, we have a legitimate chance to win almost every game that we play. The Twins are finally doing that, plus the infield defense is looking better than it's been all season. Even Matty LeCroy looks like a gold glover when he plays first base right now.

Also, I must say, The "TonyTinkerbell blessing Jacque" pic is one of the best pics of the year. Hilarious.

"Frodo lives!"

I now have orange juice all over my monitor and keyboard. That is hilarious!

:reciting Tony Gwynn's prayer:

i am still mildly stressed out from the tension of this game. sheesh.

*still tingly*

Now THAT'S how baseball is meant to be played! Solid pitching and solid defense! (not that the defense got much to deal with)

I heart Johan!

Chicks did the long-ball? Well, only when it breaks up a no-hitter for the other pitcher! It was a beautiful game; the defense and pitching were beautiful.

The highlight moment for me was when Justin hit into the double-play, hearing E call the play as it happened: "ONE! SIX! THREE! YES! I have that! Thank you, Justin!" Ah, what Twingo does to a fan!

Some stuff to give us hope for the rest of the season. . .stolen from a White Sox blog.

-The White Sox have scored in 3 of their last 53 innings.
-They have scored in only 1 of their last 53 innings without the aid of a home run.
-It's the 24th of August, and the Sox are batting just .228 as a team in the month. This is not a slump.
-As a team, the Sox are 3 for their last 36 with runners in scoring position.
-Freddy Garcia tossed the 60th complete game 1-hitter in Sox history. It was the first loss in such a game.
-The last three games have begun with runner on second, nobody out situations. Tadahito Iguchi has struck out all three times.

I am proud to announce that my brand-new #57 Santana jersey (white with pinstripes home jersey with the two-tone numbers on the BACK, even) is SO. NOT. CURSED!

I hope Shannon Stewart is okay, and I'm SO VERY glad that my beloved American League Player of the Week (a.k.a. Lewwwwwwww) was okay, because I admit a was a little scared there for a minute.

(Exactly, BG. Dye TOTALLY copied. Wussie baby copier. He so did that for attention.)

And Jacque. Darling, dimpled Jacque. Jacque "My Man" Jones... there are no words.

Great recap Batgirl. What a game! By the ninth inning my stomach was as twitchy as Joe Nathan.

Sadly I was unable to watch the game. I was in the car on the way home in time to hear Jacque's homer. Thanks BG for a stunning recap that brought tears to my eyes.

Emotionally,
mn.minx

*sniff* I feel like I let other fans down... of all the games to fall asleep on the couch watching.. HOW COULD I?!?!?!?!?! *sob*

but in all the recap stuff, I feel like I was there anyway and one thing I must point out.

"The reason the Minnesota Twins played good in the second half is because of Santana," Guillen said. "It's not because they play great baseball. They have a great pitching staff."

umm.. Ozz... normally, I can't say enough about your class and respect you show to other teams (read: us) in the press but..

Mr. Guillen, I feel the need to remind you that great pitching IS playing great baseball!!!!! You guys did the same and I refuse to say that Mr. Garcia wasn't playing some phenomenal ball!! Please try to remember that baseball is about putting it all together and the boys playing as a team. Thank you for your time. *steps off soapbox*

excellent recap! i'm still giddy over the win. one of the best pitched games i've seen.

Wow, BG, that was terrific. and i totally agree with you about nathan's new nickname... he's turning into eddie! oh dear lord no! maybe it's because he said after the game that the crowd was so loud he couldn't think at all... oops! my bad!

Twitchy McXanax.... That's gonna keep me going all day. Thanks, BG. :D

LNP in the Strib: "And, uh, I'm not going to talk to Jermaine Dye for a couple of days."

One more, this time from the Pioneer Press: "It was one of those games where the opposing team kind of takes a breath when they see that Johan isn't coming back out there," Nathan said. "Cy Young could go out there and they'd be relieved that it's not Johan."

I cannot adequately express my feelings about the game yesterday. I'm so glad I made Aurora and Beth go with me. It was simply magnificent.

Also, the indians dancing around the Sox players in right field was really amusing.

It... it was beautiful. I listened to the whole thing on the radio, and as soon as I get home from work I will be paying to download the game. It will be worth every penny.

This one game made this month's bill for mlb.tv worth it. A classic.

I don't get to see the Twins on TV very often. I got to see this. Life is good.

I was there, what a duel, and as luck would have it, caught a foul ball behind the net! When automatic joe came up, it was the loudest I had heard in the dome for years!
Sit down bitch!

Will: "Exeunt BALL and BITCH SOX HOPE"
Ha!

Or...
"And, one more--oh, I wouldn't swing at that, Aaron Rowand, but if you must, well, all I can say is:"

He gone!

Dear Mr. Will,

That was exquisite.

Dear Mr. Phoenix,

BG does not even remember typing "throwing error," for of course it was not, it went under his glove. But there, she typed throwing error. BG doesn't think so good sometimes.

Sincerely,
BG

What can I say except "what a game"?
And so very Shakespearian-- when it seemed that nothing else would jinx Freddy Garcia, at the top of the eighth, my father screamed "MACBETH!"
Highly appropriate.

Dear Batgirl:

Another truly inspired recap. I guess it can be said that art inspires art.

Dear Will:
Classic. Again more art.

k-bro

BG, you are the best baseball writer in the universe! Even better than Sid. So many lines were home runs in your article. Made me laugh and weep all at the same time. Best of all was the setting where you placed us there in tails and gowns to watch a great opera unfold. Thank you!

Roy

Well said as always Batgirl. It truly was Art last night and I feel like I am a bit more enlightened to have seen it, if only on tv.
Now LETS SWEEP THE BITCHES!!!

I *heart* Jacque when he hits homeruns. I must say the confident "I hit the bejesus out of that" bat flip is what really did it for me.

So in honor of Jacque I give you:

Me and Mr. Jones, we got a thing going on,
We both know he's in right
And the streak is too strong to let it cool down.
We meet ev'ry day at the same ball park,
seven-ten, I know he'll be there,
Catching fly balls, making all kinds of runs
While the organist plays our favorite song.
Me and Mr., Mr. Jones, Mr. Jones, Mr. Jones, Mr. Jones got a thing going on,
We both know he's in right
And the streak is too strong to let it cool down now.
We gotta be extra careful that we don't build our hopes too high
Cause he's got an oblique strain and so do I,
Me, me and Mr., Mr. Jones, Mr. Jones, Mr. Jones, Mr. Jones got a thing going on,
We both know he's in right
And the streak is too strong to let it cool down.
Well, it's time for us to be leaving,
A hit to right, A run to win the game,
Now he'll go his way and I'll go mine,
But tomorrow we'll meet the same place, the same time.
Me and Mr. Jones, Mr. Jones, Mr. Jones.

"Even better than Sid". Wow. Glowing, transcendent, voluptuous words indeed. Somewhere, Batgirl is surely weeping, as her lifelong dream of being a better scribe than Sid "Did I mention I'm personal friends with George Steinbrenner AND Lou Holtz?" has been realized. A Pulitzer must be in the offing...

Batgirl once again I am reminded of your genius. Long may it reign.

This was probably the best game I've seen all year. El Presidente's performance in Oakland was awsome as well but this was against Chi-Sox so it is even better.

I hope Stewie is ok, and can play on Thursday. JJ, truly, my condolences. Dick and Bert were talking about how MLB only allows teams to replace players on berievment when someone in their immediate family passes. That's too bad b/c I've had an uncle pass recently and it sure felt like someone in my immediate family passed.

So I hope tonight Mays can pitch well, and just not make mistakes, I hope the POLKA PATROL can pick up new shoes b4 the game, b/c you always run faster and jump highier wearing new kicks, and Morneau finds his home run swing, maybe more than once tonight. (Don't be afraid to go the other way Justin!)

Peace to all you Twin fans out there and let's root for our Minnesota Twins today!

I remain lost in CA

I love it when the games are so fantastic that BG gets to write a happy recap. Many happy recaps to come!

The Game of the Year in MLB, no question. The Blog of All Time, ditto. Thanks, Twins. Thanks, BG!

Any interest in a Randy Johnson/Johan Santana trade ? We'll even through in Kevin Brown and Bernie Williams.

Dear mike,

hahahahahahaha

amused,
kafumbly

I would hardly blame the duel on Part Robertson, as a Venezuelan I can tell you that most of us actually agree with Pat Robertson...

Dont worry mike, we'll get Santana in due time, probably when he's 45 years old and makes $30mil a year...but we'll get him.

Ah, fall. Cooler weather, football, changing leaves, and the Bitch Sox annual death spiral. To bad the can't borrow Esteban Loaiza for the stretch run again.

I'll be in MN at the Dome on Sept 18th to watch us take the division lead, yo.

I know it was a while ago, but Eric's link to the Sportsline headling is absolutely fabulous.

"Freddy Got Dingered"

...I nearly fell out of my chair.

Infield frightened the nice people in the adjoining cubicles when she read "Twitchy McXanax" and burst out laughing into what had been a silent, concentrated frenzy of we're-way-off-schedule work.

(Luckily, infield is not on the behind-schedule project, so she still has time to read BG.)

It would seem that el Presidente has been studing at Rad's artist salon talks.

Art can save the world!

Dear HooliganKat,

Bravo!!!

I always appreciate a good musical interlude!!

bubblemint

Dear Batgirl,

Another amazing column. I have come to expect greatness each day from you, and you never let me down!!

bubblemint

The five most beautiful words in the english language, in two glorious sentences.

"Sit Down Bitch."
"Twins Win."

Batgirl-you said it better than any old crankypants sports writer could've. This was one to tell the grandkids about, and I for one am printing your today's offering, because nobody has or could have said it better than you just did. Bravo, baby!

Great game.

Santana is a good man.

Sorry BG - a little off topic -I don't know Lew at the Fair - could be an adventure for the young Lew Skywalker - I don't think he was there last year =)

http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20050824&content_id=1181994&vkey=pr_min&fext=.jsp&c_id=min

Much Love
WW

TWINS RULE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Twins and Indians will SMASH the Dirty Sox and send them to their coach eating chips while watching the playoffs on TV. This collapse will be worse than the Cubs collapse in 69.

"Chef Sakai v. Iron Chef Chen"

The BatCrew's grasp of all things, from all corners of pop culture, as well as all things "cultured," facinates me so.

Could you possibly arrange to sit next to me on all future plane trips?

We outed BG as an Iron Chef before. BTW Iron Chef America blows in comparision to the Japanese one. I can't quite put my finger on what it is about the new series that sucks so much but it really does suck.

Maybe BG could host, I just hope we don't end up with an Iron Chef hottest chick .Sakai would not be a good looking woman.

Well, Koskos just made an incredible catch vs. the Yankees, reaching two rows into the foul seats, and the ESPN2 nimrods continually referred to him as "Adams" (?) until the back of his jersey turned to the camera. Then, "Corey Koskie making the play!" Dorks.

I am absolutely convinced they still thought Koskie played for the Twins.

Everytime I hear announcers from other teams on mlb.tv this year... I swear they're just reading from a 2002 Twins Media Almanac. Did this year's copies get lost in the mail? Seriously, the only one they recognize is Joe Mauer. That's it.

Just started watching the game tonight. Ya Hoo, the Polka Patrol is in the outfield.

As a White Sox fan, lemme say: Best game of the year. Even in a loss. Best defense, best pitching, THIS is baseball, not that over-roided 1998 bullplop.

Besides, we're on our way to a win tonight, you can have last night's W :)

-Pander
The Appreciate White Sox fan.

One of the best games ever between the two teams. Even cheering for the guys in the other dugout didn't lessen my appreciation for the pitching duel.