Twins Sisters

Angels manage to beat the Red Sox and the White Sox defeat Tampa to avoid being swept. 

I watched a good chunk of both games. Torii, Torii, Torii. You are supposed to catch those shallow fly balls and NOT let them drop for 3 run singles. What would have Go-Go done? He would have run like crazy and maybe would have collided with Alexi but we wouldn't have just watched it drop in front of him. I appreciate all the years and great plays Torii had with the Twins but that was just embarassing.

On to the South Side of Chicago.The game started late because of a rain daily and the Sox won.  I thought that Matty Garza pitched pretty well. It is just that John Danks pitched a little better. Someone said, "Danks is pitching on short rest." No he's not! The last time he pitched was last Tuesday when he out dueled Nick Blackburn.  Nick Blackburn is an ace to me. He pitched great under extreme pressure.




It has taken me all this time to fully process that game. I was sad and bummed when Chicago recorded the last out.  In the top of the 7th when Danks only needed 6 pitches to get out of the inning, I felt as though we were done, even though the score was tied at zero. I can't explain it, I just could feel as though the game had slipped away.  Watching A.J. tag out Cuddy at the plate earlier, Joey's 2 strikeouts and then in the 8th when Nicky Punto hit into the double play I knew it was time to hang up my Homer Hankey.

Fear not, Twins fans! We have everything we need for an excellent 2009. Great starting pitching, Sideshow Pat will be healthy and will one again be Joe Nathan's set up man and more timely hitting from everyone! And of course, great defense!

The question is:  What do we do until then? I'm going to find lots of books to read and again get the most out of my Netflix membership.

**Becca**

Another Twins season is over and we are left with 6 months not only to reflect on the season that is over, but to look ahead to what we have waiting in 2009.

I believe the future of this team is bright and we have a lot to look forward to.

I have to tip my hat to Nick Blackburn.  That was a heck of a game he pitched under extreme pressure at The Cell.  His only bad pitch was the one that Jim Thome smoked for a home run.

When Tricia and I first saw him pitch in Kansas City just a little over a year ago, I detected something special. He just seemed calm, cool and collected. 

I'm writing a letter to the Twins front office this weekend to tell Bill Smith just how much I want to them to sign Nick Punto. He won't cost a ton (by baseball standards) and he is a defensive gem. I implore our 6 or 7 regular readers to do the same, for 2 reasons:

**Nick Punto is awesome! 

**If he signs with another team I'm going to spend all next season bitching about it, and I don't think Tricia will want to hear it.

I'll blog from time to time during the playoffs, but not with the vest that I would if the Twins were involved.

I'm VERY happy to say that Tampa is up 2 games to nothing against the evil Bitch Sox. Go Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett. Kick some more ass & shut those arrogant buttheads up!

**Becca**

Actually, I think crying in baseball is perfectly acceptable, even carthartic.  We've all been watching the Twins for 6 months.  Not a single so-called baseball expert gave them a snowball's chance in hell of winning the Central Division this year, but they almost did.   GoGo and Denard were awesome and earned our love here at Twins Sisters.  The pitching rotation defied expectations.  Heck, even Livan pitched a few really amazing games.  Joe and Justin were awesome as usual.   Then the whole season came to an end with one monster home run by the Evil Opponent.  Crap!  What nutty Twins fan wouldn't feel a little bit like crying after last night's game?

I hope the guys all had good cries.  Being stoic just is not the way to go here. 

Phooey.  Pass the kleenex.

--Tricia--

Twins 2  Royals 4

The Twins got in their own way all afternoon long. I think they hit into at least 10 double plays with runners in scoring position. I gave up in the 7th inning once the score was 4-2 because I had dinner plans. 

Chicago also lost today so we are clinging to our 1/2 game lead., so our Magic number is 2. Here are the different ways it could play out tomorrow:

1.  The Twins win and the Sox lose (please!) and the AL Cental belongs to the Twins!
2.  The Twins and the Sox both lose (annoying!) so we keep the 1/2 game lead, and Chicago has to play their make up game with the Tigers.
      If the Tigers won that game, the Twins lead is 1 whole game so we win the AL Central.
      If the Sox win that game we are tied for 1st in the AL Central and we have to play that winner take all game in Chicago on Tuesday. 

I haven't figured out how it work if the Twins were to lose (yikes!) and the Sox were to win (barf!). Do the Sox still make up their game with the Tigers? I think it is only fair that they do. If anyone can clear this up for me I would  greatly appreciate it.

This all makes my head hurt and a little sick to my stomach. Since I'm a total glutton for punishment I'm going to the Twins game tomorrow with Tricia, the Twins Kid and our Mom.

I'm not going to make any predications for tomorrow or say anything negative about Chicago or Kansas City.  The Twins will do their best and if they lose, they will go down swinging. (Pun intended!)

**Becca**

Twins 1  Royals 8

After that off the hook, unreal win on Thursday night, the Twins got kicked around pretty badly by the Royals. It is too bad because the Indians were kind enough to beat the White Sox. I can't blame the Royals or the Indians for wanting to be the spoilers. I would want to knock the crap out of some team trying to get the playoffs if we were going to finish the season in 3rd or 4th place.

I watched last night's game through the end of the 7th inning, hoping for a big Twins rally that was not meant to be. The energy of Thursday night's game may have just zapped their offense. I felt just zapped all day yesterday and I was just there watching it.

Today's game with the Royals got moved to 2:55. Who ever would have thought that Fox would care enough about a Twins/Royals to have a national broadcast?

No matter what happens over the next few days, this season will be one that I will always remember. 

**Becca**

P.S.  A big Twins Sisters congratulations to the Tampa Bay Rays for finishing up in first place in the AL East!  That is truly awesome, something I'm sure no one would have ever thought possible.

Twins 7, White Sox 6 -- 10 innings

The Dome was rocking.  43,000 people were booing A.J. in unison.  43,000 people were hollering, "Let's go Punto!" all together.  I screamed so loud my voice is a little bit hoarse today. 

I'm really at a loss for words here.  I've never been to a game like that before. 

The guys came back from that really miserable top of the 4th that shouldn't have been miserable.  The bullpen pitchers all pitched great.  The offense chipped away at that five run deficit.  GoGo and Denard made up for that snafu in right field.  It was really good to see Cuddy, even though he didn't get a hit.  I was kind of glad that Slowey plunked A.J. even tho' it meant an extra run scored.  Heck, five runs, six runs, what's the difference?

They won!  They SWEPT THE SOX!!

Here are some video highlights.  Watching them is so much better than anything I can say.

Span ties the game!

Gomez makes a great catch!

Alexi's walkoff!

Please don't be complacent tonight, guys!  Go get the Royals.

--Tricia--

p.s.  Lest I seem heartless here, I gotta  say I'm really sorry that Slowey got hit by that wicked line drive.  The good news is that he didn't break or tear anything.  I can't imagine how much that must have hurt. 
 

Twins 9, White Sox 3

That game was all kinds of awesome. 

I am still nervous for tonight's.  I don't dare to state any wishes, dreams, hopes or desires for this one.  I'm not normally a superstitious person, but when it comes to big baseball games, I am.  I'm wearing a shirt I wore to a game last year where the Twins were down a few runs the whole game and came back to win it in the 9th.  I figure it's got a few good vibes left.

Watch the game and cheer until you're hoarse! 

--Tricia--