An exciting NL Wild Card race notwithstanding, the 2009 pennant races seriously lacked intrigue; that is until the Minnesota Twins sprang out of their coffin right before the last nail was driven in. The Twins came from 7 games behind in early September to beat the dysfunctional Detroit Tigers in a classic extra-inning one-game playoff (or if you're John Church, just some game back in October you keep trying to forget ever happened). It was the conclusion to a thrilling pennant race that could've been even more exciting had the Chicago White Sox not played such uninspired baseball from Mark Buerhle's perfect game on.
Despite the lost season, Kenny Williams made a move at the deadline that should bring the pale hoes better fortunes in 2010, acquiring Jake Peavy to add to a rotation that already boasted Buerhle, Gavin Floyd, and John Danks. By no means are they the favorites though, as the Twins return basically the same team that won the division last season. For all their off season activity, the Tigers may still have enough to contend in a division this weak.
As for the Royals and Indians, they didn't compete in 2009 and it's not likely they do this year either. Nonetheless, the prospect of another three team race going into the trade deadline should make for an exciting year of baseball in one of the major's most unpredictable divisions.
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