The Twinkies

Minnesota was seven games down to the Tigers on Sept. 6. They finally caught the Tigers yesterday to move into a tie for first place in the American League Central. As I have said before, I am not the REAL fan in my house, but it's hard not to get swept up in the excitement. The Twins are a team of journeymen players with the exception of Joe Mauer (batting average .364 & beauty in a catchers mask) and Justin Morneau ( who has missed the latter part of the season with a stress fracture in his back). They develop sound ballplayers which then tend to migrate to major market teams because the Twins cannot match the money. Their pitching is only adequate except for closer, Joe Nathan. In baseball parlance they are "scrappy". They play "small ball" with speed and sound fundamentals. White Sox coach, Ozzie Guillén referred to them as the "Piranhas". He said they aren't like sharks that attack you, they are like piranhas that slowly nibble you to death. We Twins followers are viewing the upcoming one game playoff with Detroit on Tuesday as only a technical formality. Then they will face the Yankees and no doubt get blown away. But it's a short series and who know? Though I suppose they ought to deal with the Tigers first.