Playoff Talk!!!

[Durango53]

Three reasons why the New York Yankees should fear meeting Minnesota in the best-of-five American League Division Series: Johan Santana would start Game 1 for the Twins at Yankee Stadium, the Twins have baseball's best home record (50-24) and the best bullpen.

[Durango53]

The Twins, baseball's best home team at 50-24, have the luxury of playing baseball's worst team the next four nights.

Just go ahead and put the champagne on ice.

"I've been sitting up at night talking about it with my kids and friends and family," veteran slugger Phil Nevin said of the playoff berth. "It's hard not to think about it. It's an exciting time."

Nevin joined the Twins in late August after a trade with the Chicago Cubs. So he hasn't been around for most of the dogfight the Twins have been engaged in since they were buried in a double-digit hole in the standings and on the fast track to nowhere by late May. But he has been engaged in a longer fight. The 12th-year big leaguer has never been to the playoffs.

Nevin has been constantly asking teammates if they're going to celebrate when they clinch a playoff berth, even if the Twins still have a chance to win the Central Division title. They remain 1½ games behind front-running Detroit in the divisional race.

For the past few days, manager Ron Gardenhire has been debating what to allow. He reiterated Sunday that the division title remains the highest priority, but he's not going to be a party pooper.

"I guarantee you, if we clinch a playoff spot, something will go on," he said. "It may not be an all-out party, but I'm not going to deny these guys an opportunity to celebrate."

[Durango53]

The Twins could have a lot more to celebrate this week:

• If they win the division, they would have completed one of the greatest comebacks in major league history. Minnesota was 12½ games back on May 27. Only five teams have recovered from being 12½ or more games out to finish in first place, recently Seattle in 1995.

• Joe Mauer is making a bid to become the first American League catcher, and just the third in major league history, to win a batting title. The St. Paul native leads the majors with a .347 batting average.

• Johan Santana is expected to put the finishing touches on his second Cy Young Award season Tuesday night. That likely will be his final start of the regular season so he can be ready to pitch Game 1 of the divisional series. Santana is 11-0 at home this year.

• First baseman Justin Morneau can strengthen his candidacy for AL most valuable player. He ranks second in the league in runs batted in (126), fifth in batting average (.323) and 11th in homers (33).

[Toy Cannon]

Go Twins.

I love a team that has no quit in them.:thumbsup:

[Durango53]

It is a great story to come back from where they was to this point now!!! I just wish they had that one more pitcher to get in the rotation but they still have some good ones and Silva has looked good the past few starts now again!

[Durango53]

Twins Magic number is 2!!!!

[Durango53]

As the Twins approach the final seven games of the season, they look to not only secure that spot in the playoffs, with their magic number sitting at two, but to continue their attempt at winning the American League Central title as well.

[Durango53]

Monday: RHP Boof Bonser (6-5, 4.36 ERA) vs. LHP Jorge De La Rosa (5-5, 6.66)
• Bonser vs. Royals: 0-2, 7.56 in two starts
• De La Rosa vs. Twins: 0-2, 8.38 in three appearances (two starts)
• Twins vs. LHP starters: 33-25
• Keep an eye on ... Bonser, who has been one of the most consistent starters for the Twins of late. The 24-year-old has recorded quality starts in four of his last six outings. A strong performance here could earn him the No. 2 spot in the playoff rotation.

Tuesday: LHP Johan Santana (18-6, 2.79) vs. LHP Odalis Perez (6-8, 6.06)
• Santana vs. Royals: 2-0, 4.05 in four starts
• Perez vs. Twins: 0-1, 10.61 in two starts
• Keep an eye on ... Santana, who now is 12-4 with a 2.44 ERA in September over his career. With the Cy Young Award within his grasp, look for another strong performance from the lefty.

Wednesday: RHP Carlos Silva (10-14, 5.95) vs. LHP Mark Redman (10-10, 5.83)
• Silva vs. Royals: 1-1, 2.70 in two starts
• Redman vs. Twins: 1-1, 4.50 in three starts
• Keep an eye on ... Justin Morneau is 4-for-8 off Redman in his career with two doubles and three RBIs. Against left-handers, Morneau is hitting .322 with 12 home runs and 44 RBIs.

Thursday: RHP Scott Baker (5-8, 6.37) vs. RHP Luke Hudson (7-6, 5.49)
• Baker vs. Royals: 0-1, 3.86 in one start
• Hudson vs. Twins: 1-1, 4.32 in three appearances (one start)
• Twins vs. RHP starters: 59-38
• Keep an eye on ...Joe Mauer has been outstanding against right-handed pitchers this year, batting .360 with 10 home runs and 55 RBIs. With the AL batting title appearing to be a race to the finish, look for Mauer to try and take advantage of Hudson.

Weekend series vs. White Sox: Once looked at as a series that might decide the Wild Card, instead it appears that only the Twins hopes for a division championship will be on the line when these two meet. If that's the case, the Sox would love nothing more than to ruin any chance of the Twins earning that title. The Twins have taken seven of the nine meetings between the two since the All-Star break and lead the overall series 9-7 this season.

Friday: RHP Matt Garza (3-5, 5.32) vs. LHP Mark Buehrle (12-13, 4.99)
• Garza vs. White Sox: first career appearance vs. Chicago
• Buehrle vs. Twins: 3-1, 3.38 in four starts
• Keep an eye on ... Buehrle, the last time he pitched at the dome he gave up seven runs in the first before settling down. Buehrle has struggled recently, allowing no less than three runs in each of his past five starts.

Saturday: Bonser (6-5, 4.36) vs. RHP Freddy Garcia (16-9, 4.65)
• Bonser vs. White Sox: 0-0, 5.06 in one start
• Garcia vs. Twins: 2-1, 4.58 in three starts
• Keep an eye on ... Torii Hunter has had Garcia's number over his career, hitting .405 (15-for-37) with three doubles, four home runs and seven RBIs off the pitcher.

:thumbsup: Sunday: RHP Brad Radke (12-9, 4.46) vs. RHP Jon Garland (17-6, 4.37)
• Radke vs. White Sox: 2-2, 6.08 in five starts
• Garland vs. Twins: 1-1, 4.85
• Keep an eye on ... Radke, who despite troubles against the Sox this season holds a 16-15 record with a 4.73 ERA lifetime. Knowing that this could be the final regular season start of his career, Radke surely will want to put on a great performance.

[LesPaul]

:banana: :woohoo WHOO HOOO!!!! Playoffs here we come!!!!!!!!

[Durango53]

"We were all sitting there thinking that this game is too close, 3-1," backup catcher Mike Redmond said. "Then Torii hit that home run and we're like, 'It's over now.'"

Hunter received a curtain call on the historic achievement.

"Personally, it was an emotional season for me," Hunter said. "From Kirby Puckett dying earlier in the year, to dealing with my ankle injury, to worrying in the second half that I was going to be traded, it's been a lot of ups and downs. But tonight made everything worth it all."

[Durango53]

But clinching a playoff berth didn't seem to be enough for the Twins, who shouted throughout the clubhouse that they still have a division title to compete for.

"I may be getting drunk tonight, but I'm still going to be playing tomorrow, and I'll probably have my best game ever," Hunter shouted to his teammates.

The first stop may be to secure a division title for the fourth time in the past five years, but there are aspirations that clearly go beyond that.

"Pitching and defense is what takes you deep in the playoffs," Michael Cuddyer said with a bottle of champagne in hand. "And we feel pretty good about that around here."

[Durango53]

His eyes reddening with every word, Gardenhire summed up the 2006 Twins.

"From where we started out to where we are now, it doesn't get much better, boys," Gardenhire said. "It's all because you got behind each other, you pulled for each other, you cared for each other. Congratulations!

"It's a wonderful feeling watching you guys play the way you have. Continued success. We're not done, boys. We're not even close to done, boys. Let's go!"

[>TC<]

I've heard that Brad might try to pitch Thursday night. He would be on a 50-55 pitch limit, with his next start being up to 70-75. The thought is that if he does okay Thursday, they would have to set him up for any slot in the playoff rotation



TC

[Durango53]

Man I hope just for Brads sake and the Twins fans that stuck by the Twins just like he did that he can play a HUGE role in getting a Twins a WS win. How great would that be. The guy that stuck by them all this time and never left and threw the ball until his arm fell off and did it in a WS win??? Man oh man that would be a story that you would only see in the movies.

[Durango53]

Santana had been scheduled to start Sunday's regular-season finale against the White Sox. ... Boof Bonser will start Game 2 of the playoffs for the Twins. Brad Radke, who will return to the rotation on Thursday, could start Game 3. If Radke's injured pitching shoulder does not allow him to go after Thursday, Carlos Silva or Matt Garza will get the nod.

[PissedPrincess]

Go Twins. :smokin: I'll be waving my Homer Hanky TC sent me.:thumbsup:

[redsfan]

Go Twins. :smokin: I'll be waving my Homer Hanky TC sent me.:thumbsup:

I forgot all about the homer hankies. I used to have one. I got on the Kirby Puckett bandwagon. That was a great world series. If the Reds don't make the playoffs, I will be pulling for the Twins again. They have several players that I like.

[Durango53]

Go Twins. :smokin: I'll be waving my Homer Hanky TC sent me.:thumbsup:

THE TWINS ARE UNSTOPPABLE!!!!!!!! WE HAVE PP!!!!!!!!!

;) She rocks!!

[Durango53]

The game was extra-special for Radke, who made a successful return to the mound for Minnesota, and likely earned himself a postseason start.

"Game 3 looks good for me right now," he said.

Johan Santana and Boof Bonser are scheduled to start the first two games next week, and Radke, Carlos Silva or Matt Garza are expected to fill the other two slots.

[>TC<]

Glad you kept it around, PP! The Twins can use everyone cheering them on.

This should be an exciting battle.


TC

[Chisox73]

I forgot all about the homer hankies. I used to have one. I got on the Kirby Puckett bandwagon. That was a great world series. If the Reds don't make the playoffs, I will be pulling for the Twins again. They have several players that I like.

I got homer hankies from '87 and '91.

[Durango53]

The Twins' division championship has left the Vikings in an uncomfortable scheduling conflict that should be resolved today. If necessary, Game 5 of the Twins' Division Series against Oakland would be played Oct. 8 at the Metrodome. The Vikings are scheduled for a noon start against Detroit the same day, and it takes more than four hours to convert the Dome from football to baseball. A spokesman said the team would announce its contingency plan today. The most likely scenario always has been moving the Lions' game to Monday, Oct. 9. The game would be televised by ESPN, probably locally in the Twin Cities and Detroit.

[Durango53]

Twins first baseman Justin Morneau, who was a hockey goaltender as a youngster in Canada, switched jersey numbers from 27 to 33 this season because, he said, his boyhood idol, famed goalie Patrick Roy, wore No. 33.

[Durango53]

There's a strong chance that Matt Garza, who gave up eight hits to the Chicago White Sox in 2 2/3 innings Saturday, could be replaced on the Twins' postseason roster with another rookie, former Gopher Glen Perkins, if the Twins end up facing the Yankees. That would put Perkins, 23, in line for a possible start. It makes sense because Perkins, a left-hander from Stillwater, has pitched well since his promotion from the minors nearly two weeks ago, the heart of the Yankees' batting order is left-handed and the Yankees haven't yet faced Perkins, so he would be providing a new look.

[Durango53]

The Yankees have had four scouts at the Metrodome this week watching the Twins. Most teams use two playoff advance scouts.

[Durango53]

Among the 46,219 spectators at Saturday's Twins-White Sox game was Jesus Santana, father of Twins left-hander and likely Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana. The elder Santana, 54, still plays amateur baseball as an infielder in Merida, Venzuela, where his batting average generally ends up about .290, he said.
Well hang around and watch a game that your son is going to pitch on Tuesday!!!!!!!!:thumbsup:

[Durango53]

Twins player Nick Punto was married without fanfare last week at the Hennepin County Courthouse, as was teammate Matt Guerrier. Punto's wife, Natalie, was a classmate of Punto's in 1996 at Trabuco Hills High School in California. The pair will honeymoon is Jamaica next month and attend the wedding of teammate Michael Cuddyer there. Guerrier and wife Dejie plan a ceremony next month in Florida. Twins pitcher Jesse Crain was witness for both teammates' weddings simultaneously. Guerrier and Punto now will be allowed to have their wives accompany them on the Twins' charter flight to the playoffs.

[Durango53]

"I had a feeling we were going to Minnesota," said Oakland designated hitter Frank Thomas, who hit his 39th homer on Sunday. "No one's in a hurry to face Santana in Game 1; he's the best pitcher in baseball.

During the regular season, the Twins won six of the 10 games between the two teams -- including Santana's only start against Oakland. The final three games came less than a month ago at the Metrodome. The Twins won the first two in that series before losing 1-0 in the finale to A's starter Dan Haren.

And then there's the Metrodome, the building where the Twins went 54-27 in the regular season.

"The Metrodome is never fun," infielder Mark Ellis said. "We played there in '02 and it was loud and with the roof and everything."

Said Thomas: "It's one of the most intimidating home-field advantages in baseball. They definitely have a home-field advantage in that place, and they're tough to beat in that place."
Lets get the Homer Hanky waving and the place ROCKING!!!!!!!

[Durango53]

To date, Twins players receiving full playoff shares can expect about $30,000 apiece from the revenue pool this season. If the Twins advance beyond Oakland, they can expect about $110,000 apiece. Full shares this year for winning the World Series are expected to be in the range of $325,000 a player, with nearly $200,000 apiece for the World Series losers.

[Durango53]

Pat Neshek figured, like just about everyone else this weekend, that the Twins would face the Yankees in New York today in the playoffs. So the rookie reliever bought airline tickets to the Big Apple for his fiancée and brother. Neshek bought the tickets Saturday after the Twins lost for the second straight day to the Chicago White Sox at the Metrodome. Sunday afternoon, it seemed that Neshek had made the right decision. At 3 p.m., his fiancée, Stephanee, and his brother, Paul, were at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, preparing to board a jet for New York. At the time, the Tigers were leading the Kansas City Royals 7-4 in Detroit. A victory by the Tigers would mean the Twins would open the playoffs at Yankee Stadium. The final boarding call for the plane was made. Stephanee and Paul got aboard. Then Kansas City scored two more runs. It was 7-6. The plane left. When the pair arrived for a stop in Chicago, the Tigers-Royals score was 8-8. Soon after, Kansas City won 10-8. Stephanee and Paul ended up canceling the rest of the flight to New York. They rented a car in Chicago and drove back to Minneapolis, arriving at 1 a.m. Monday. "I told them," Neshek said, "that I would pick up the cost."

[Durango53]

The Twins have an option on Torii Hunter for $12 million next year, or they can buy out his contract for $2.5 million. Nobody knows for sure whether the great center fielder will be back in a Twins uniform. "It was on national TV. You've just got to go out there and take it on the chin," Hunter said. "Actually, I thought I was going to make that catch. And at the last minute it cut on me. So, it's tough, it's tough to say. I could sit here and say it all day. It's the same."