Minnesota Twins

Minneapolis is a modern Mudville tonight. Gloom hangs like the first snow snow clouds of a bitter upper-midwestern autumn over shell-shocked Twins fans. A mere three outs from stealing the New York Yankees' home-field advantage in their American League Division Series, and holding a seemingly comfortable two-run lead as closer Joe Nathan entered to begin the bottom of the ninth inning, Minnesota blew its golden opportunity. A Mark Teixeira single, followed by a game-tying two-run opposite-field home run by Alex Rodriguez, sent the game to extra innings.

You have to hand it to the Yankees—they are exactly who we thought they were.

Brian Duensing didn't pitch poorly by any stretch of the imagination, but it is not difficult to surrender runs to this potent New York offense. Early on, Duensing was locked in, sprinkling his fastball in among his great breaking balls. He was getting ahead in the count and kept the ball on the ground, doing everything possible for his team.

The Land of 10,000 Lakes, (really, it's closer to 15,000) has decided to declare it's top icon of all time—no, not Prince, Tiny Tim, Bob Dylan, or Jesse the "Mind" Ventura.

You might be thinking, "I know, it's Brett Favre!" Well, you're getting warmer, but no.

"A.L. post season expert, Orlando Cabrera?" Almost there.

"Wait, you're not talking about that crappy old Dome are you?"

Yeah. You got it. That crappy old Dome. After the last 48 hours, I think you can agree, with just cause.

For the last 28 years, Minnesota has called the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome it's Metro-home.

After 162 games, it was only fitting that the 163rd needed extra innings to decide the AL Central champion. 

In a game full of bloopers, bombs, diving plays, headfirst slides and power strikeouts, it was a solid RBI single by Alexi Casilla that gave the Twins a 6-5 win and a date with October baseball.

What was supposed to be a swansong for the Metrodome turned into a classic back and forth contest where you never knew which team was going to win until the final pitch.

It took 163 games, extra innings and a win-or-go-home tiebreaker, but Joe Mauer and the Minnesota Twins can finally breathe easy—at least for one more day.

The Twins claimed the eighth and final playoff spot on Tuesday night, coming from behind twice to beat the Detroit Tigers 6-5.

Jason Kubel and Orlando Cabrera hit big home runs and Alexi Casilla drove home the winning run in the bottom of the 12th inning on a base hit to right field.

In knocking off the Tigers, they stamped their ticket to the Bronx to set up a showdown with the Yankees in the ALDS on Wednesday.

The Minnesota Twins are on the threshold of an unexpected berth in the postseason, and it may have more to do with someone other than the guy you'll be thinking about for MVP.

Yes, yes.  Joe Mauer has been spectacular this year, putting up huge numbers while playing the most physically demanding position in the game, and missing the first month of the season.  A .364 batting average, 28 dingers and 96 RBI are stellar, but there may be someone more deserving in that lineup.

Ron Gardenhire is generally regarded as a good manager. He is a likable man and a likable manager, but that doesn't mean he isn't second-guessed.

Yesterday, in both games of a crucial doubleheader, Gardy made some questionable decisions. From an ill-advised suicide squeeze to not bringing in Jose Mijares to face a lefty, Twins' fans are split on Gardy.

Most like the man, some can't stand his managerial tactics.

Things can hardly seem to go right for the Minnesota Twins lately. For every win over Roy Halladay, there’s a near sweep at the hands of the punchless A’s. Often, when things finally seem to be headed in the right direction, the Twins either find themselves no better for their effort because the Tigers, too, have improved, or soon find their good fortunes have faded away.

So it was on Monday.

The Minnesota Twins' fading playoff hopes took another hit Tuesday when it was announced that All-Star first baseman Justin Morneau will miss the remainder of the season.

Morneau has been battling back pain for weeks, but a CT scan and an MRI on Monday revealed that he has a stress fracture in his lower back.