Does anybody remember the first week of April? Because that's the last time we were this close to the division lead. What a long, strange trip it's been. A long and winding road. An incredible journey. A fantastic voyage. I'm running out of pop culture references. And I can't wait until tomorrow. Gwynn may be the guardian angel, but Santana is the manna.

This team reminds me of the 91 team in the sense that both teams have/had several legit stars and a whole bunch of overachievers. Instead of the "wily veterans" of the 91 team, though, we've got the "rookies with heart" this year.

I just posted this in the last bod entry, but it must be said again...

We are a team of destiny

Amen.

The St Tony statue looks a little thin to be St Tony, don;t you think ?

Mark: "rookies with heart"? Sounds like '87 to me.

When the Tigers were leading the division by 234309 games in June, did any of us believe it would be a three-way race--that included us? This year has been incredibly fun.

That statue is a little to thin to be St Tony Gywnn isn't it ?

this team is very much like the '87 team. a lot of high scoring games and great home record.

I am a displaced life long Twins fan here in Arizona. Just announced today by the Diamondbacks, they will not be bringing Luis González (Gonzo!) back next year. They are going in a different direction... as a baseball fan and yes, a Diamondbacks fan, except when they play the Twins, I am in shock!

How can an organization let go of a guy like Gonzo, one of the good, even great guys in baseball. He had even said that he would take a considerable pay cut to finish as a D-Back.

Please tell me that I am not alone in thinking Gonzo would make a GREAT DH\backup outfielder next year in a TWINS uniform.

Could we get the 2001 Gonzo, or does MLB test for that sort of thing nowadays?

My little brother's friend once sent a letter to Tony Gwynn asking for an autograph, in which he said: "Ever since I was a little kid, I've called you Tony Friend."

Could we get the 2001 Gonzo, or does MLB test for that sort of thing nowadays?

Seriously, I'm tired, and this made me laugh way too much. Now I'm awake. Damn you.

Okay, now I'm thinking back to Opening Day at the Park Tavern with Batgirl and Twinsgeek and Frightwig and Aaron Gleeman...it really sucked losing to Toronto and having Batista (despite the ding) and Castro and White in the lineup.

Not Thursday's White, mind you.

But I am really amazed. I told anyone who would listen that the Twins would be out of it by the end of July (though TR would hang on to Hunter because he wouldn't think being seven games behind would be "out of it."). I still think I'm right about the "giving up" when down that far, but I should qualify it now as "out of it," assuming the Twins were losing ground or treading water.

I didn't expect them to basically sweep June and July and then especially not gain any ground. This is the most excitement I've ever seen for the Twins (inc. 87 and 91), and I'm very happy to have been the very first person to lay down about $6000 for bonus tickets for the playoffs. It will be very interesting to see what the priority will be for being first.

The great this is that one can honestly look at this team and know they're going to be good for a while to come.

Young and good breeds hope !!!!

I loved the fact that last night it seemed like the whole line up worked to get Joe another at-bat to try and get a hit and stay on top of the batting race. That's team work right there.

I think Crain must have been doing some serious praying to St. Tony because somehow he ended up with the win.

Isn't that slightly worrisome, Batpriestess? I've actually seen a pitcher's arm fall off. Be careful, Brad.

"A huge BatCongratulations to Mr. Michael Brent Cuddyer for getting his 100th RBI tonight. Who the heck saw that coming?"

Me.

Thanks Tony Gwynn

Sandee

"A huge BatCongratulations to Mr. Michael Brent Cuddyer for getting his 100th RBI tonight. Who the heck saw that coming?"

I don't even have to answer that one, now, do I?

Poor Tony - should I pull the head off of my mom's Brad the Barbarian bobblehead - will that help -I mean if Tony's arm fell off and we still won............

Michael - congrats - I'm sure that's not really how you wanted to get rbi 100 but hey it's an rbi!

Little Nicky Punto - nice glove work - maybe an outside shot for a gold glove?!?!?

Wohooo Rondell and Torii!!

Jesse - I have no comment

From the Strib- confirms what Dan said last night on the radio:

Out of uniform

Imagine Gardenhire's surprise Wednesday night, when he looked up at dinner to watch the Indians and Royals on TV, only to see Twins pitcher Matt Garza watching the game in a lime green bikini.

Twins veterans had forced the rookies to don garish costumes as part of a rookie hazing ritual that started hours earlier at the Metrodome.

Besides Garza, there was Chris Heintz in an Elvis get-up and Pat Neshek in a purple witch's costume complete with fishnet stockings.

Apparently, the team plane landed in Cleveland early enough for the party to spill over to a local tavern ... and then to the ballgame. Thursday's Cleveland Plain Dealer sports section also has a picture of the costumed rookies at the game.

"Perfect," Gardenhire said. "The problem is some of them liked their outfits a little too much. That's the scary part."

Happy Friday EVERYONE!

Much Love
Wonder Woman

PS -could someone savvy enough find that photo?!?!?

Love the blog and I'm enjoying your Twins on the dish. What a story. Beat those Yankees in the Divisional Round!
Not to nitpick, but since it was Liriano that went down, should not Tony's left arm have fallen off?

hey wonder woman: click me.

here's the link to Cleveland-dot-com sports:

http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/photos/

Boof was on KARE-11 11 questions this morning:

http://www.kare11.com/video/player.aspx?aid=33823&sid=134488&bw=hi&cat=

k-bro

Congratulations Michael! Oh, and I had faith for him to do well. *nods*

Perhaps the Twins should honor Radke with a similar action figure. BRadke: The Black Knight Edition.

Keep on keepin' on, boys!

WC, thanks for that pic.

Does anyone else feel like our team is just FULL of guys you'd just want to hang out with? Just a bunch of goofs that it would be fun to go out and play some pool and chill out?

And I am TOTALLY in agreement with the 'team of destiny' statement.

Dearest WC -
Thank you!!!

Shaggy - he kind of looks like he's checking out Garza ass =)I wonder if Matt was cold - Willie looks pretty comfy in his policeman's outfit and I can't believe Pat kept that hat on!
Too bad we can't see all of Boof! Just the righteous 'fro!

Good to know none of the boys are too tense - I think keeping them loose helps!

Ohhh geesh -last night when I was watching Fox9 they showed a clip of Brad in the lockeroom Wednesday - and right behind him walked a NAKED TWIN!!!! EKE!
Brad's head was in the way so you really couldn't see too much - but there was a flash of a naked bum -couldn't tell who it was since I have never seen any of them naked.
Brad was fully clothed

much love
Wonder Woman

As my brother said this AM,

. . . there's nothing I like more than hot buttered popcorn and back to back jacks . . .

I had forgotten all about Gwynn and his help last year. I'm glad to see his Radke'esque determination of fighting with essentially one arm. The hand holding the bat with the ball on it is an inspiration to us all.

By the way, I didn't know Michael's middle name was Brent. That makes me feel better about myself. Go, DJ Cuddles! Best 100th RBI EVER!

Little Nicky Punto *can* fly! Click my name to see how!

That pic is just *screaming* for a Photoshop job.

Here are links to probably the best play Punto made last night. He is in top Tiny Superhero form!

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/060915/483/2a0d285955c044338e7652e42fa379d5

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/060915/ids_photos_sp/r2745014367.jpg

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Tiny Super Hero!
(thanks to AG and SBG for the links.)

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/060915/ids_photos_sp/r2745014367.jpg

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/060915/483/2a0d285955c044338e7652e42fa379d5

Guess we were on the same wavelength, Kris. LOL

E-6 too! LOL

And Kris beats E-6 by a nose!

*kicks dirt and mutters, "stupid remedial typing skills..."*

Ah, LNP. I think he needs a shiny gold glove for his Tiny Superhero HQ.

And Nora, too! Very funny. Our comments were backed up like planes at La Guardia. And LNP is coming in for a landing.

I read an average of 10 Twins articles and columns a day. I scour ESPN, FoxSports, national newspapers, local newspapers, ESPN television...anything I can to quench my thirst.

By and large, analysts, even in the Twins Cities, are short-sighted and idiotic when it comes to our Boys. They don't place enough faith in The Godfather - Terry Ryan.

That said, BatGirl is probably my *favorite* site to check for Twins info, because she keeps it light and makes me laugh.

BatGirl, you're my BOD! Well, co-BOD, The Godfather has a permanent place in my heart...

In fashion news, LNP is totally rocking those "skinny-fit" / "Audrey" baseball pants in those links.

I KNEW there was a reason those are (purportedly) coming back in style!

Pat has some interesting pictures of the hazing on his blog.

LNP, dude, I heart you. Yesterday was a prime example of why. Amazing stuff, definitely worthy of a Gold Glove nod. Those are great photo links, kids. Thanks.

The hazing outfits were great this year. Neshek was workin' it, yo. Also, I don't know anybody who could pull off Garza's tube top look. That thing was little.

"Does anyone else feel like our team is just FULL of guys you'd just want to hang out with? Just a bunch of goofs that it would be fun to go out and play some pool and chill out?"

Yes, definitely. They seem down-to-earth and not completely full of themselves like other teams. I absolutely feel like our boys are just a bunch of cool guys.

As I have said before, I have a heterosexual pal-type mancrush on LNP

"A huge BatCongratulations to Mr. Michael Brent Cuddyer for getting his 100th RBI tonight. Who the heck saw that coming?"

I saw it coming for about the last two weeks (:) One of the thrills of this season has been Cuddles (my NSMC) having a break out year.

Torii has a slim shot to get to 100 RBIs--have the Twins ever had 3 100 RBI hitters in the same year?? Sounds like a car soup.com email question...

At the end of last nites game I asked myself has there ever been a season like this??? This Twins team is definitely a team of destiny. I then answered myself (approaching senility...I guess) YUP--the 1969 New York Mets. I have been watching baseball for 50 summers!!! (again approachign senility...) This is the most fun team to watch since the 1969 Mets and Seaver and Koosman and Cleon Jones (with the shoe polish in the series). Both teams believe in themselves and play the game right and enjoy playing it. The 1969 Mets even made a run against the Cubs they way the Twins have made theirs against the Tiggers and Bitch Sox.

I just hoped I havent jinxed it...

DAM

Apologizing for going off topic.

Based on discussion last week, check out this link out on Jim Kaat:

http://www.yesnetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060911&content_id=1408948&vkey=8

DAM

With the Tribe sending a rookie reliever named Fausto Carmona to the mound it would be a tragedy if BG couldn't write tonight. Santana will certainly bedevil the Tribe and Tony willing the equipment guy will put out the right bats tonight.

From fsn.com
Worst AB of the Season?
Poor Jason Michaels. Has a guy ever gone 0-for-2 in one plate appearance? The Indians left-fielder went up to bunt with runners on first and second and nobody out Thursday night against the Twins. He bunted at a high fastball out of the zone and fouled it. Then he bunted through a pitch right down the middle. Then he swung and missed at a breaking ball a foot outside. Once back in the dugout he might have learned that the official scorer had changed his mind about an earlier Michaels' infield hit, switching it to an error. Michaels also fanned on a pitch out of the strike zone to end the game, capping his 0-for-5.

I wonder if that had anything to do with the rookies dressed up in drag heckling him the night before

Gwynn's position as patron saint and guardian angel of the Twins presumably went with Jonesy to the Cubbies, since Tony has known Jacque since he was a little leaguer in San Diego, and whatever he did for us, he did for JJ.

But the question remains, what happened to Tony Gwynn?

The glove hand on my Torii Hunter mini-bobblehead broke off, and I haven't got around to gluing it back on. Think that might explain his fielding problems lately? To see the man on the basepaths, you'd think his feet can't be bothering him so much, right?

Btw, I did have Cuddyer as the starting 2B on my fantasy team when the season began, and only had to cut him a few weeks later because Gardy wasn't playing him and I needed a regular in my lineup. I believed he was primed for a breakout year, even when Gardy had no faith.

E-6, your action figure comment just killed me. Somebody should so make one of those and send it to him as a keepsake, so by the season's end he'll at least have something to remember his arm by. Or at least something outside of his world series ring...

Kurtis--Tony Gwynn is the head coach of the San Diego State baseball team, his alma mater. Coincdentally, SDSU plays their home games at Tony Gwynn Stadium. His son Tony Jr. (CF) was a September call-up for the Brewers. Thank-you, Google.

Glad you laughed, Spyder.

And a ring would look awfully nice on that detached arm...

I

the way i heard it, jacque's mom worked at KFC and once gywnn came in - she asked him to help her kid out.

*used to date a padres fan*

I've always wondered why, according to Tony Gwynn's Prayer, he "art most likely at Wendy's." Is that a reference to the KFC connection, or is there something else?

Sure coulda used his divine guidance last night...

BG and company-

What the hell happenend Friday night? For my own part in the loss, well, I thought the game could be taken to the bank what with supernatural as bank manager. Overconfidence has been my personal downfall. From a Norwegian (Swede, Finn) family we all learned to not get TOO FULL OF OURSELVES. I, for one, forgot a family rule. Ok, tonight (Sat.) Chubby Cheeseburger guy is pitching. I will just say I hope for the best.

Sincerely,

kal

To be honest I can't exactly remember why I used Wendy's. I think it *may* have been because of the Tinkerbell thing got me thinking about Peter Pan's Wendy.

Several people have mentioned the KFC thing with JJ's mom, but I don't think I knew about that at the time I wrote it. I've tried several times to think of a way to rework the line to use some kind of JJ/KFC link. Nothing really feels right to me. I was already not real thrilled with the line because it breaks from the rythym of the original.

*shrug*

Already more info then anyone really cares about ;-)

HELLO! Fellow Batlings, it feels like I haven't written a comment in ages. I missed you all very much. I love those rockin' pictures of LNP. He CAN fly! I love him SO much. If it wasn't for Jason Bartlett being so darn adorable and simply irresistible (so much so that I just wanna snuggle him), LNP would be my boyfriend (although I saw a camera shot of him looking pretty sad last night and I wanted to give him a big hug just then). ANYWAY, I was cracking up when I saw the rookies get all dressed up for their hazing. Will E. Eyre's is by far my favorite...ha ha!

Much love,
TwinsPrincess

::Waves to TwinsPrincess.:: :)

Bitches loses and Twins win. THAT's more like it!

Looks like Tiny Superhero took a bite out of Capt. Cheeseburger.