Centerfield

Story.

The Metrodome always has been a multipurpose building, but Sunday its role in Minnesota sports lore expanded, as the stale old marshmallow became the multimedia hub for one of the greatest celebrations in Twins history.

On the season's final day, Joe Mauer won a historic batting title, the Twins defeated the Chicago White Sox 5-1, and then the players settled in with about 35,000 of their fans for a little TV.

Together, they watched on the stadium's two JumboTrons as Kansas City finished a 10-8, 12-inning victory over Detroit that knocked the Tigers behind the Twins for the first time all season.

The conventional wisdom was that the Twins would need to sweep the White Sox to have any chance at the division title because (1) the Tigers were playing the Royals, a team that had lost 100 games and going into the final weekend of the season had the worst record in baseball, and (2) the Tigers would win the tiebreaker if the teams finished with identical records. Instead, the Twins won just one of three games against the White Sox, but the Tigers managed to get swept at home by the Royals and even blew a 6-0 lead yesterday.

Biggest choke ever? If not, it is damn close.

Posted by: Todd Pearson at October 2, 2006 10:42 AM

Congrats to th e Twins, who did a fabulous job ounce the put Liriano in the starting rotation. Congrats to the Dodgers too, to Bobby.

But what was really at stake anyway? Both teams were going to make the playoffs. What manager would even pitch his best starter under such circumsances instead of saving him for game 1 of the playoffs? So don't get carried away. You're not even close. The Red Sox blew a 13 game august lead to finish 2nd to the Yankees in 1978. (and there was no wild card then!) And we ALL know that the biggest choke is the Yankees losing 4 straight to the Red Sox in the 2004 ALCS. Remember? When they had a 1-run lead in the ninth inning of game 4 and the best closer in MLB history on the mound. We're talking Lazarus-quality here.

I'm wporried that none of the other teams in the AL can match the Yankees now that they have all their hitters back. The Twins lost their co-best starter when Liriano went down, and Brad Radke is pitching on pure guts. Can the Twins beat in the Yankees if they make the ALCS? Maybe if they win both Santana starts or if Santana can pitch 3 games and win them all.

Much as the Tigers are still a great 2006 MLB story, they don't have the bats to keep up with the Yankees, and I expect them to get handled easily by NYY. Now the A's have totally flown under the radar all season. Likje everyone else, I kept waiting for them to fade when the Angels hit their stride, but neither happened. Now if Harden is healthy the A's have possibly the best SP of any team in the AL. Of course Mussina and Wang have been pretty good, but Wang doesn't have me convinced yet. It's extraodinarily rare for a guy to perform as he has this season when he gives up as much contact as he does. And Johnson has been very hittable all year.

I have a hard time seeing any team in the NL as a real threat. The Mets are cooked without Pedro, IMO. The Cardinals are in decline. I like both LA and SD, but not if they have to face the Yankees. Should that come to pass, I'll be rooting for whoever NYY faces.

Posted by: bk at October 2, 2006 02:32 PM

The Dodgers definitely aren't the best team in the post-season-- they're not even the second- or third-best team in the post-season. But then that was also true in 1988, when conventional wisdom dictated that the Mets and A's would be facing each other. The Dodgers had other ideas, and with some help from Hershiser, Gibson, and the unlikely Hatcher, well, we all know what happened. That's clearly what Dodger fans are hoping for again this season-- not delusional notions that we're the best team, but secure in the hope/knowledge that we can win the World Series, regardless.

Posted by: Bobby at October 2, 2006 03:11 PM

Kudos Twins,

As a New Yorka, I was hoping for a Met v Yankee series. I haven't liked either starting rotations for some time and signing Pedro defied convential wisdom. He gave them an initial push, but now pitching is the same NY problem. Yankee bats might overcome weak starting pitching.

The Mets meet Dodgers in an interesting spirit, trying to defy convential wisdom with exceptional performances from their most talented assets. Kind of like Iraq, eh? LAD should have the edge, but Met bats can be dangerous. Both are clearly looking to beat the odds.

So bravo to the Mets and the Dodgers. I knew they would end up facing each other, but not in quite the same condition.

Doesn't look good for the Mets.....

Posted by: Maxtrue at October 2, 2006 03:45 PM

After 2 ALDS games, nothing more to brag about so far. (:

Posted by: Todd Pearson at October 4, 2006 05:55 PM

I'm with you, Todd. I really hoped the Dodgers could have pulled out the first game in New York, but our first inning Drew-follows-Kent-off-the-cliff-at-home-plate" seemed to have derailed that one early. Still, the Mets are going to have some pitching depth problems during this first series, so if we can hit Glavine hard tomorrow, we may still be able to come out of this okay. It's going to be tough, though.

Posted by: Bobby at October 5, 2006 12:32 AM