Strange...Ortiz talks on and on how "they can't play that BS anymore, just because your team didn't make it", but then when asked about who he would vote for if he couldn't vote for himself, he said "All depends on who makes the playoffs".

At least he doesn't pretend to teach logic. Eh, I just hope that was misreported, I'm sure it wouldn't be the first time.

I love how he challenges others to come and hit in that lineup. Yeah, hitting in front of Manny makes life really tough for you. Yeesh.

Also, I will hunt down and destroy Scott Sauerbeck for hitting The Chairman in the back. Watch your back, Scott.

The updated AL leaders in dumbass comments:

1) Guillen, CWS
2) Ortiz, BOS
3) Pierzynski, CWS
4) Hunter, MIN
5) Bradley, OAK

"...the most daring thing they do is play extreme cribbage, a game closer Joe Nathan invented.."

Thank goodness it wasn't Redmond..

Hitting one of our Joes -- cmon on now!!!!!!!!!1
Thats just asking for a loss

From the Yahoo article:

“Twenty years from now,” Punto said, “no one will remember about the piranhas.”

Now, now, LNP. If the Twins even make it to the World Series, then the Piranhas will be immortalized. If they haven't already.

A little bit of a nailbiter at the end of the game last night, wasn't it? Did anyone else have trouble picking up the game in full screen via MLB.TV Mosaic? I called customer service to gripe about it,but after 15 minutes of listening to Handel, I gave up.

Allow me to add my voice to the Batlings' overall general discontent about the plunking of the Chairman last night; to this point, I don't think I've ever seen such a look of disgust on Mauer's face.

Here is a link to a nice piece on Liriano's night of pitching with the Red Wings:

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060910&content_id=130830&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp

Thank you, Winston!

I like it when the Twins win. I really like it when Carlos Silva pitches quite well.

As for Ortiz, since he doesn't play a position, he skips over that part of the game. To me, MVP needs to cover all aspects of the game (not that Ortiz--or any DH--can't win it: if his bat alone can make up for someone else's bat and fielding, then he deserves it).

Almost spewed coffee over the 'puter with that "fantasy" line [GET IT THE H*** TOGETHER]. There's been many a time I'd loved to have reamed out some player. ["What the f--- are you doing? You're better than this!"] Thanks for bringing some joy to my morning.

thanks BG! when Elliot suggested the entry, i was hoping that you would include something about Carlos & Rincon's close (platonic?) relationship. now my life is complete - until his next start, that is...

actually, i think my life would be complete when he wins BOD - okay, & then after we win the ALCS - ok, & then when...

ok, i admit life is a work in progress. go Carlos! get that groove on!

JustBeth, good point! People don't like voting pitchers as MVP as they only play once every 5 days. I think DH's should be docked a bit since they are also one dimensional.

David Ortiz is perhaps only after Jeter in having no right to complain that he just doesn't get the props he deserves.

And to give him credit where credit is due, Jeter never whines about stuff like that.

Hey, if Angela Bassett can throw strikes, I say we give her a look.:)

“I’d rather just lay low and stay under the radar,” Punto said.

Awww...bfLNP is subtexting BOD angst.

Winston is my new hero.

I knew I'd own the dome last night. I add my props to Mikey C. and Carlos J. Thanks fellows.

Also want to say it was great fun watching Torii "Shell of Himself" Hunter yesterday. In the second, he tried his dangdest to get home on the White hit to center - and I'm still not sure he didn't make it. Then in the fourth he bounced hard off the wall trying to catch the Thomas homer.

So far so tough. But then in the sixth he paid back the Big Hurt with a beautiful running catch for the third out. I watched him smiling and high-fiving in the dugout, then pop out the back door and on the on-deck circle, just before he hit one over the center field fence for the Twins' fourth run.

Even with a broken foot, he's still the sweetest.

I'm really lost. "Platonic-question-mark"? Elliot? Angela Bassett?

Whatever's going on, I say "Welcome back, '05 Carlos!" And if dripping-wet muscle-bound pool boys are what this team needs to get through September, then by all means, bring 'em on.

Dear Mr./Ms. C,

Please refer to the movie "How Stella Got Her Groove Back," based on the book by Terry MacMillan, staring Angela Basset as Stella and Taye Diggs as how she got her groove back.

Sincerely,
Batgirl

I got it BG.

What arrived Saturday, though – this was different than the box of CDs from the day before, the one that was trucked by Jason Bartlett, who helped himself to some old R. Kelly and new OutKast, and Jason Tyner, who grabbed Christina Aguilera and Usher, who said they were for his wife, only for Nick Punto to check him quickly: “Don’t lie. They’re for him.”

hehe

Does this mean - I have to break up with Boo??
If it helps Carlos - I guess we can take a 'break' =)

As for the retaliatory HBP - I don't see Shaggy plunking anyone tonight- maybe if Carlos had stayed in the game he might have made a few A's dance at the plate.

Just reading SI -PowerRankings - the Twins are 3rd and Todd Jones is waiting to exhale =)
Todd see what happens when you mess with our mascot!

Much Love
Wonder Woman

hmm... I think I need to go to Jamaica.

Does Santana know that Carlos is cheating on him with Rincon?

I thought Silva and Santana were closer. There was even something in the media about how Santana's friendship is why it is very unlikely that Silva is going anywhere this winter.

Hey Wonderful Woman,

What did Jones do to TC? I must have missed that.

Much Love,
Looking to be enlightened

Not a lot of love in this ESPN piece:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=schwarz_alan&id=2583174

"Their rotation behind (Johan) Santana is all smoke and mirrors. They virtually have no margin for error with their rotation. If they somehow pull it off and make the playoffs, they would be one of the greatest miracle stories of all time." - Gary Gillette

Yeah... smoke and mirrors that are going to kick your ass.

"...People love to hate Jeter and say that he is overrated. Hopefully, he is able to hold off Joe Mauer and win the batting title to shut everybody up." - Anonymous

I think Jeter is a good shortstop but I really hope Mauer holds on to win because where was Jeter's batting average earlier? The Chairman has been consistant and deserves the batting title this year. Maybe people don't like Jeter because he's a Pansy-ass.

Beeg--

Yet another movie I've never seen. But Taye Diggs, you say?? Hmmmm....

Intrigued-ly,
Ms. WC

The smoke and mirrors thing didn't bother me. I think it is sort of a compliment. Honestly, aren't we all scratching our heads and wondering how the hell this is happening?

But I'm a bit puzzled by the phrasing of Jeter being able to "hold off Joe Mauer" and win the title. Don't you usually need to be the one in front to "hold [someone] off"?

Boy, it's fun to go to the Leaders page on MLB and see all those Twins faces smiling at you.

Dearest Cal -

Todd Jones threw sunflower/pumpkins seeds at TC as he walked to the Tiger bullpen before the start of the game on Thursday -while TC was trying to rally the crowd.
I'm sure Mr. Jones was not trying to feed him - he was promptly booed by those in section 117 =)

WE would never throw things at their mascot -I'm sure of it.

Much love
Wonder Woman =)

I'm no fan of the Evil Empire and am pretty much in the "Jeter is overrated" camp but I have to admit that this guy knows how to play the game both literally and figuratively. He never seems to say or do the wrong thing despite being the topic of someone else's criticism. Recall a few years ago that A-Rod basically said the same thing Ortiz said about Jeter when A-Rod was with Texas. What's impressive is that Jeter never boasts about his "intangibles" which is what everyone else harps on nor does he seem to campaign for himself in any way. Jeter is incredibly fortunate to be playing for the NYY. You have to wonder what kind of career he would have had he been signed by the Royals instead of the Yanks.

Thanks, TD, for pointing out that note about extreme cribbage in the piranhas article...anyone else curious on how that's played? I love cribbage (and Joe Nathan) and can only imagine what their pre-game rituals are...I hope it involves poolboys, or shirtless Santana rescuing firetrucks, or Punto sliding headfirst all over the dugout every time it's his crib.

Funny about the "smoke and mirrors" thing. I don't think that's a harsh criticism at all. I have said for about three weeks now that the Twins have been winning with smoke and mirrors--and I am die-hard. I think the point is that other than the kingpins (Santana, Mauer, Cuddyer, Hunter, and Morneau) none of the guys who are getting regualr playing time are ones that we would have thought could carry the team. I think "heart" might be a better explanation than smoke and mirrors, but either way the result is the same. When you have Liriano and Radke injured, Silva pitching poorly, and a bunch of AAA callups in your rotation, you don't really think you will win much.

I'm fine with the smoke and mirrors that we have had the past month. If we get to the playoffs and Liriano is healthy no one will be talking about smoke and mirrors anymore!

>Yeah... smoke and mirrors that are going to kick your ass.

Dear Ms. Shelley,

Brilliant.

Love,
Batgirl

Any one else find it annoying that they played the president's (an in W.) speach on WCCO? I missed like 30 min. of the game including Cuddy's hr. I was having a Cow. Even if I found the speech moving and inspirational, I would have been mad. If I wanted to hear it I would have tuned in a different station, But I happened to be enjoying the game *ARRG* Oh, sorry I will stop. Loved the post BG.
Love, twin-X

"Mike Redmond told me today, 'No matter how you pitch all during the season, we need you right now,'" Silva said. "'This is the game that's going to count.' And that's how I feel now."
Good old Red-dog.

Oh, and on the HBP thing Grady didn't like it either.
"He couldn't get him out, just had to hit him," Gardenhire said. "I thought it was [garbage]."
P.S. sorry for all the posts. *Blush*

JustBeth, I am with you all the way regarding DH and the MVP. I think an MVP should be a standout across the board, offensively and defensively.

“I’d rather just lay low and stay under the radar,” Punto said.
LNP under the radar? Never. Ever. Someone needs to tell him that flying into first base in a headfirst slide game after game will not keep him under the radar.

Twin-X-- YES. I was also really irritated last night, listening to Bush instead of the Twins. Unless it's something really urgent that we all need to hear, let's keep presidential speeches on the talk radio stations, thanks. And I wish I could have seen the HBP. Sounds like it was interesting...

Fast forward to tonight...let's go Shaggy!!

"If they somehow pull it off and make the playoffs, they would be one of the greatest miracle stories of all time." - Gary Gillette

So very true, Mr. Gillette. Just like the 1969 Mets. Or the 1980 U.S. Olympic team. How unfortunate for everyone that the mainstream sports media is missing out on this one because of their arrogant large-market bias.

Um, Olympic hockey team, that is.

doing it with SOmke and Mirrors? Sounds like an endorsement of Gardy as MOTY!

loved, loved, loved this post. it took me about halfway thru to figure out what was going on. only a pic of taye diggs as winston could have increased my level of enjoyment. thanks, bg!

Gay Twins fanfic. Ha! There is no limit to your brilliance, Beege. Truly, you can do it all.

Beth, I'd also like to know how Nathan's "extreme cribbage" is played.

hehehe MLB slashfic! woo! That was wonderful. Heck even my mom liked it. Granted, my mom just likes BG posts in general. :)