And sometimes, if you go 13-2 after the break and run down the Bitch Sox, you commit the teeniest, tiniest bit of hubris. You feel a little too fat and sassy. And sometimes the baseball gods take notice, and decide to smite you. Just a little bit.
But then sometimes they throw you a freakin' bone, and smite the Motor City Kitties upside the head for a half inning.

And all is well again in the universe.

Yesterday the Tiger's announcers were commenting on the great defense Detroit had been playing lately...

And sometimes you offer kudos to Batgirl, for getting up a post thatdarnfast. Because sometimes, Batlings just gotta talk about the Twins ASAP. Thanks BG!

Its about time the Tiggers imploded in a game. Clutch work by Cuddles and Redmond, Neshek gets a one-batter five-pitch win, Twitchy gets it to the finish line in one piece. Good times.

This was a very good ending to a very bad weekend. The last time the Twins lost a series was before the break when they lost two straight to Kansas City and Texas, (revenge coming this week?) and I didn't really feel upset by those losses. They were coming off some very unlikely streaks, and one could chalk the losses up to exhaustion or letting their guard down. Ultimately though, we knew that they would come back in the second half and show they belong with the best teams in baseball--and they did.

These two losses really upset me. They highlighted our strengths and exposed our weaknesses. We have two of the best pitchers in baseball (our ace gave up only three runs despite all the hits because he knows how to get an out when needed), we have the best bullpen in baseball... and we sure could use another dependable bat.

People say we should leave well enough alone. I agree with that statement, but who says everything IS "well enough" at this point. For instance, everyone talks about the fear of every other team facing us in the playoffs. While I tend to agree with that statement, we might end up a very crushed bunch of fans, watching our pitchers throw 12 strikeouts and 8 innings... and losing 3-2. I agree with not wanting to sell the farm, but I also agree with those that say a trade is necessary for us to make the playoffs and beyond. Knowing the big trades that usually happen around here (Reed and Boone come to mind), I am not feeling real positive that we will get the necessary deal done.

I hope I'm wrong. I do know this, Twins baseball is fun again! :0)

I agree... I think this weekend showed that we do need another bat. Not taking anything away from today's win, but Cuddyer's hit was the only one hit hard. We scored the rest of the runs from balks and errors, and we might not always get that lucky. I'm torn. I don't want to give up one of our top prospects for someone like Soriano, but with the Yankees picking up Abreu today, it looks like the Twins need to do something to keep up with their offense.

Great comeback for the boys today. Did we ever need that one!

Let's be honest. If Matsui and Sheffield come back at full strength, I doubt our offense is going to keep up with that of the Yankees. I don't know who we'd add, other than Soriano, who seems very unlikely. But I think we're okay. Yes, another bat would be nice, but we're doing just fine, outside of this series.

After seeing much of the series, I'm convinced that the Tigers are not a fluke in the least. They're just a very good team with very good starting pitching. Lots of teams are going to have trouble scoring many runs against them.

Who needs an actual boyfriend when you have Cuddles.

Still trying to wrap my head around what exactly happened in the 8th inning...I seem to have blacked out and only have some feelings of shock, befuddlement, and joy.

While this series definitely showed our weaknesses, I think we also exposeda bit on the Tigers side. We had an opportunity to win every game of this series because of late rallies. Plus if you keep hitting the ball to them, eventually the infileders will start to make some mistakes.

Great hit there by Cuddyer, lets start a new streak!

The Abreu trade seems very strange to me. The yankees gave up 3 prospects who noone's ever heard of for Abreu and Lidle. This is like a late season fantasy trade where two friends consolidate all the good players on their team onto one team by trading all the crap players to the other so they can win the league. Either that or someone in the yankees organization kidnapped a family member of either the Phillies owner or GM and demanded that they make this trade as ransom.

I agree with you Nick. The problem is, we might be the team that faces them in the playoffs! How about a rerun--in Detroit? I don't believe with trying to keep up with the Yankees (that's impossible). What I really want to do is keep up with the Twins!

I wish people would not panic over losing a series to the team with the best record. People need to calm down. What we need more then anything is another reliable starting pitcher.

wow. Thanks Cuddles, and thanks Twins for an amazing comeback after an entertaining (if often disappointing) weekend of baseball.

TiB, I agree wholeheartedly about the Abreu trade. I don't know much about the prospects, but I'm a little shocked. It seems almost unfair.

In retrospect, this series was a bit disappointing, but on the plus side, we won one, and could certainly have won on Friday if our offense could have done a little more, or some of the Tigers' grounders would have been hit to just a slightly different spot. So I think we're in good shape. We just need to keep playing solid baseball.

I don't want to jump to big conclusions either, after two unfortunate games, but Soriano's bat would look great for the rest of the season. Especially knowing that even though the Twins could get through to the playoffs on their own, they (or ANY AL team) will need help if they meet the T-i-double-guh-ers in the ALCS.

Just sayin'....

Keep in mind that one of those prospects was a SS that was the Yankees #1 pick in 2005 so it wasnt a pure give-away.

And basically this was about money. NY took the huge salaries off the Phillies hands. I dont think the quality of the players the Yankees got was all that great. Nobody else wanted those guys. Abreu hasn't hit for crap since his HR derby win a year ago... and he's been playing in an inferior league.

Soriano's bat would be nice. But not if Garza is the price. If Bowden comes back down to reality and is willing to take a couple of midling prospects, fine. Otherwise, forget it.

By the way... so much for the "Jim Leyland is a damb baseball genius" chorus. What the hell he was thinking leaving that kid in to pitch after a couple guys got on base today is beyond me. That's what a bullpen is supposed to be for.

What an odd game.

Am I the only one that thinks the umps had more of a say in this series than either the Twins or the Tigers?

Yes, Carrie. Tough game for the blue-crew today (tho they wore black). A lot of close calls. I did think that the home plate ump had a tiny little strike zone, but he called it pretty much the same for both pitchers. Santana couldnt adjust as well as Bonderman did.

Yeah, McClellan seemed pretty consistent today in spite of the itty bitty zone, although after Leyland came out to argue the tag, he seemed to get a little more restrictive on Bonderman.

He did a way better job than Welke on Friday night, though. *grumbles and kicks dirt at Bill Welke*

Oh, and is it too late to add "Pat Neshek, Boneless Wonder" to the nickname contest?

I am very happy that the Twins won today, avoiding a sweep. It wasn't the prettiest thing, but a win is a win- I don't care.

I just wish we would've won one other game to win the series. It isn't a huge deal because the Tigers are the best team in baseball, but I just feel that if we could have won the series then we could prove to everyone (and ourselves)that we are totally awesome.

I am not complaining though, because we did win, and there are many more series left for us to sweep and win.
*I knew Cuddles would get BOD when I was watching the highlights and saw his hott, base-clearing triple* Yay for DJ and the Twins!

you know, though, we were IN every game. I said to myself before this series began that this series would really show us what our team is made of, and although we lost the first two games, the guys did not quit. I've seen what this team is made of, and I like it.

Nora: "People need to calm down."

That was my mantra today as I left the house. Everybody just count to ten and relax. We all agreed that the white-hot pace we'd set couln't go on forever, and that's true. Not that I wasn't frustrated today--some embarassing outfield plays, some really sad strikeouts (and a lack of patience at the plate), Johan not being Johan, etc. But the rally cap worked yet again, and we have some momentum going into tomorrow. Not the prettiest win, but at least we were out-uglied by the Tigers--4 errors, wow. Great defense, indeed. And Jeremy Bonderman will have trouble sleeping, I'm sure.

And I hope everyone who trooped out of the Dome at the top of the eighth feels very foolish. Apparently beating traffic is worth missing out on the possibility of a fabulous rally. No faith. SHAME.

Way to be tenacious, boys. A morale-boosting and much-needed victory.

I think the Yankees panicked to some degree - they go get a big-name outfielder with a massive contract when they already have Sheff, Damon, and Matsui on the books. Abreu has been rather dreadful this year, and I'm not sure Yankee fans need another debatable pressure situations guy. Still, Cashman can say he did something.

It's a very large risk - if Abreu doesn't get hot he's going to get crucified by the fans and media.

Maybe that's the idea - an expensive cross-bearer so that the peeps will get off A-Rod's ass.

(pardon my Yankeeism) :)

We took our nephews to the game, and they were wondering what was supposed to be fun about baseball for most of the game. That was before they saw the home team bat ten, score six, and cap it off with a triple. That they learned what a balk is along the way made it edutainful.

Thanks, Twins. You saved the game of baseball for two impressionable youngsters.

I like that theory, TD. Bobby Abreu, Yankee martyr.

Kurtis, I had some first-time youngsters sitting near me as well. Seeing their reactions to the eighth inning made me happy I was a Twins fan at the Metrodome.

Also...

I feel that such a great come-from-behind victory today means forgiveness should be granted to those who need it. Therefore, absolution is granted to Josh Rabe for his fielding sins. Go in peace and miss the cutoff man no more.

The balk was just about the funniest thing ever. It was like, "what did I do?". Well, son, taking your hand away from your glove in the windup without going in to your motion is one thing if youre winding up with nobody on base... but with men on, thats a balk... and you should have been taught that about the time you were 12.

Carmen, Im not quite so forgiving. I would amend that to "Go in peace back to Rochester and work on hitting the cutoff man and not being such a dunce and we'll see you again in September"

Soriano is not worth what the Nationals are asking for him. He's very ordinary, or a little bit worse than ordinary, against RHP. Add in his attitude and defensive woes and the disparity intensifies.

What can I say? Tenacious rallies in the eighth make me benevolent. (And that'll probably be his fate anyways.)

As a Tiger fan, I was surprised Leyland left Bonderman in. But the pen has worked hard recently and maybe Leyland wanted to see what Bonderman would do in a tight spot.

With what Leyland has done with this team, he's entitled to some questionable moves.

I never dreamed we'd be 36 games over .500. I still keep waiting for the roof to collapse and for us to become the Tigers again. But after this weekend, I'm not sure that's going to happen in the regular season.

And, while it may seem sacriligous to Twin fans, I now feel a whole lot better about our young arms should they be fortunate enough to see Liriano and Santana in the post season. The Tiger kids aren't as spectacular, but they can hold their own.

PS -- Is it sacrilegious to spell sacrilegious wrong?

Who was the male Batling at the game today with a blue-sleeve softball jersey-type shirt with the batgirl URL on the back? (I didn't see what it said on the front.) Saw you briefly in the crowd as I entered!

Smitty

JMMA--First, you are clearly a Classy Tigers Fan. Well done.
Second, I was surprised Bonderman stayed in as well. I thought he was going to come out for sure when Mauer came up in the eighth. I have sympathy for him--he pitched a great game.
And third, if an uppity, silly, non-Catholic woman can grant absolution of sins, you can misspell sacrilegious.

Word Smith -- we saw him too, and wondered who he was, so you must have been sitting near us.

I just want to make one thing clear. I am not panicking and "jumping off the bandwagon." I am a true fan and believe they have a chance, but I also think they showed what they are capable of (in a bad way) when playing a tough team in a pressure situation.

From a Twins perspective, I can argue both ways about Soriano. A week ago I was telling one of my buddies that "I don't want that punk on my team." Fact of the matter is, I have heard some very positive things about him lately and, although his fit when asked to go to the OF was regrettable, I certainly can understand someone who considers himself a 2nd baseman not wanting to move to the OF. That's quite a jump. All in all, I believe his presence in the lineup would be invaluable at this point in the Twins year. He may be average in certain situations but, good grief, you don't get the numbers he's compiled by being average!

Bottom line--I don't think the Twins have a chance. I think that Garza would be required and I don't want to give him up any more than the rest of you. I just refuse to underestimate the boost Soriano would give to our team. Think of the protection for Mauer and Morneau! I can dream, can't I? I mean, I heard the Nats were wanting to trade him straight up for Lohse! ;0)

And other than Soriano, I don't really see anyone that would really boost our lineup that much. That is why I keep harping on him and will continue to dream about it (until tomorrow when I read that he went to the Angels or Mets.)

As far as the Yanks go, they can have Abreu. However, people overlook that they got a decent pitcher too. That is a place they need some help. I will say (one last time) that the Twins have two missing puzzle pieces--one more bat and one more starter. I truly believe that with those pieces they would no longer "just have a chance." As it stands now, they are a good team, exciting, and they do "have a chance."

Please don't think I'm panicking. I thought the Twins had a chance to sweep the series. I just don't think that, after this series, we can think we are as invincible as we thought a week ago.

I am not that impressed with a pitcher with an ERA at almost 5 in the NL.

Great heroes must overcome great obstacles. That is, after all, what makes them great heroes. The Twins are simply setting the stage for an incredibly dramatic finish, sort of like when you skipped that Intro to Social Science class for days at a time and then had to borrow all the notes from all the lectures you missed but your friend scribbles in heiroglyphics or Sanskrit or some other undecipherable script, and you can't make heads or tails of them, and then you had to research and write that 20-page term paper in just two days and then pull a massive all-nighter, and eighteen hours and three or four No-Doz and a six-pack of Jolt Cola later you take the final as little caffeine bugs crawl around under your scalp and miracle of miracles you ace the sucker and pass the course and life is good again, even though you could use forty winks but the chances of falling asleep are pretty slim. Like that, only better. Much better.

Soriano is a fefensive liability without Dome factor, will not sign with a small market team next year, and I'm not a huge fan of unloading bigtime prospects for a 4 month rental.

Bowden is trying to rebuild the Nationals with multiple prospects while saving up to make a free agent run to bring Soriano back should he deal him. I don't think Terry Ryan wants to touch that situation with a 10 moose antler pole.

JimCrikket you are absolutely right on the 12 year old remark. My kid has played AAA travelling baseball since he was 10. That's 5 years now about 250 games. I doubt I have seen more than 10 balks called during the entire time. When they were 10 and 11 they did one warning.
Broker

I agree with you, TD--that's why all my ramblings are just wishes and dreams. I would do the same thing as TR in that position--absolutely nothing. I'm just arguing what that bat would add to our line-up. You know, it's not unthinkable that many posters talk about the negatives with Soriano because the chances of him being a Twin are slim to none. However, if we woke up tomorrow and saw that by some weird lucky happenstance we ended up with Soriano, very doubtful if these same posters would be kicking their cats saying, "Rats, he's got a bad attitude and can't play defense--we're going down the tubes now."

Think back to those wonderful years '87 and '91. If you recall, we had a wonderful bunch of young guys, but we also added key veterans that were integral (Morris, Blyleven, Chili Davis, etc.) There's a lot to be said for adding one or two guys from elsewhere. I suppose that White could be the one for us this year.

I am a positive thinker for the most part. And I do highly agree with twayn--should we win with the concoction we have now--victory would be wayyyyy more sweet.

OK, enough of that. I love talkin Twins, and I don't want you to think that I'm being argumentative. I'll chat Twins all day, and now that I found a whole site full of Twins "nuts" I feel I have found Twins heaven! A HUGE thanks to Bat-girl for her terrific site that gives an outlet for us all! I love her posts, and reading the nicknames, BOD stories, and comments are all fun.

My hat is tipped (Twins cap of course).

hrbekfan, with all due respect, you seem to have some internal struggles as you're dealing with the current state of Twindom. On the one hand, you say "Im a true fan and believe they have a chance", then start the 2 paragraphs later with, "Bottom line-I dont think the Twins have a chance".

TR is not going to panic over things and give away a potential third 'staff ace' in Garza. Not for a guy who he has no chance of signing beyond the end of this year. If Bowden comes down in his expectations Monday, and is willing to accept something reasonable, ya never know.

This was an interesting series. An EI loss, a second loss where a rally fell just short, and a come from behind win. Not bad at all against the Tigers and let's just see what happens this week.

Sorry, Jim, for the misunderstanding. My "they don't have a chance" refers to signing Soriano. I believe the Twins have a cchance to win the whole thing, and all of my posts will back that up. I just worded that one awkwardly.

I think Hrbekfan meant that the Twins don't have a chance on aquiring Soriano.

I hope we add a bench bat, whether it fits my third catcher fantasy smackdown or not. We need someone who can play a couple times a week in a few holes and give the ball an occasional ride. A guy who gives Gardy extra options helps too - seeing Redmond and Mauer play together today just steeled my pointless resolve on the matter.

I am so not worried about losing two to the Tigers. If we has won 3 of 4 at chicago and 2 of three against the Tigers, we'd be celebrating two series wins in a row. A win is a win and we get more than our share. Let's get the next guys!

Thanks, Grace! :0)

ah... all management shenanigans regarding trades and lineups and post season go-for-its, today was just a baseball game that started out pretty crappy for my team but ended up pretty damn good.

My two youngest brothers got to experience the rollercoaster of emotions that cheering for your home team can bring and Mr. Neshek (whatever his nickname may end up as) cemented himself very firmly as the boyfriend of an 11 yo boy who is sure to follow his career in perpetuity.

There were many many high fives, a lot of laughing, a bit of sit on the edge of your seat nail-biting and so much screaming that thank god I can TYPE my comments because I don't have much of a voice left.

ahh.... Twins baseball. This is a great game and I intend to enjoy it in it's solitary existance one game at a time.

Hey, It could've been worse. We could've been swept by LAST year's Tigers team.

I love him.

Michael -thanks for keeping the promise you made to my mom =)

Hurrah for DJ Cuddles =)!!!!!

Much Love
Wonder Woman

First, I am in no way arguing with BatGirl -- that's just not done -- i'm just puttin' in my $.02. Second, my $.02 are admittedly biased.

That said, I vote Justin for BOD of the weekend. That unbelievable stretch to pick up the throw from LNP? Oh, Canada! That was hott. And when things weren't going so well on Saturday and he decided to take matters into his own hands, snag a foul ball for an out and then come back and hit a dinger in his next AB? Nice. Then he was the one who started the Bonderman Implosion on Sunday.

It's okay, though. Cuddles needs love, too.

Carmen:

Thanks for the kind words. :)