One On

The Metrodome was the scene of jubilee for the Minnesota Twins yesterday. It was a contrite venue for the losing Detroit Tigers after 12 innings of bloodbath baseball sent the visitors home without an entry into the playoffs. The Bronx-bound Minnesota bats begin a best-of-five series in New York against the AL East’s elite Yankees. The never-say-die Twins are the underdogs to the trendier men in pinstripes. But don’t throw your peanuts all on New York just yet. If history proves anything in this wonderful game, it’s that the hottest team heading into the playoffs has an edge. Winners of 17 of their last 21 games, culminating with yesterday’s tremendous victory, the Twins mark their return to the ALDS. Granted, the Bombers are equally as ardent as the snappy sluggers in Minnesota. The Twins took initiative by defeating the Tigers in a mini one-game playoff. Not only did they win in extra innings after relinquishing their small lead, but they never let the game slip away despite spotting Detroit an early 3-0 advantage. Minnesota knocked the Tigers out of contention 6-5 yesterday. Today they try to slay a bigger dragon in the Bronx.
The reward for overcoming a seven game deficit in the AL Central means the Twins play the best team in baseball in a short series. The Twins may be exhausted after surviving the 12 inning epic game with Detroit, not to mention the past three weeks of the playoff push. The Tigers’ bullpen squandered safe leads to spell Detroit’s demise. The Yankees, with Mariano Rivera the highlight of relief pitchers in the pen, should not be expected to suffer the same fate. Rivera’s career 0.77 ERA in the playoffs is one reason, and it’s a big one, the Yankees will take this series. New York captured seven of the seven games against Minnesota this season. The Bombers’ offense set a franchise record in homeruns and the rotation is well rested. The Twins can’t claim a rested rotation or bullpen, and are without hit machine, Justin Morneau. You can argue Minnesota won games without Justin in the lineup for a month, but the other players will have to step it up two notches against the seasoned Yankee hurlers. The Twins have only an average rotation and a vulnerable bullpen. Mark Teixeira hit .483 with four homeruns against Minnesota pitching in 2009. C.C. Sabathia takes the hill in game one Wednesday. Southpaw, Brian Duensing will toe the rubber in his 10th game opposing the former CY Young winner and the potent New York batters. Duensing, a rookie, carried the rotation down the stretch of the season. Sabathia is 13-8 with a 3.05 ERA in 28 starts against Minnesota. Everybody knows those statistics mean virtually nothing come October.
Game two pits 13-9 A.J. Burnett of New York against 11-11 Nick Blackburn. Both pitchers boast almost identical ERAs just above 4.0 this season. Former Yankee, Carl Pavano is slated to throw in game three, with veteran Andy Pettitte on the mound for New York. The Bombers outscored the Twins 41-25 this season, so it’s vital Minnesota contain the offense and prohibit their runs early in the series. Light-hitting backup catcher, Jose Molina, will start game two with Burnett. The longtime Yankees star will likely sit the bench during A.J.’s starts as Hideki Matsui gets the nod at designated hitter. The lineup Rod Gardenhire will throw at New York starters is lead by MVP, Joe Mauer. The low-key player has a sweet swing and already has three batting titles to his young resume. Mauer continually leads the league in on-base-percentage. The team’s early inconsistency this season stemmed from lack of offense from the bottom third of the lineup. The Twins will need to be a full-force lineup in order to advance to the next round. Jason Kubel, Michael Cuddyer, Nick Punto and Orlando Cabrera are all capable of game-changing at-bats, along with Mauer. Cabrera is the Twins’ sparkplug, with his leadership qualities, incredible defense and big bat. This team has nothing to lose and they have proven when they put their minds to it, can oust any other team in the league. If the Twins’ hitters get the better of Sabathia, Burnett or Pettitte, the Yankees will need to use their relievers resourcefully and strategically. That’s where manager, Joe Girardi’s, effective decision-making becomes essential. Tonight is the first post-season berth of the first-year Yankee manager’s career.
It’s now an hour before game time. New York is a 5 ½-1 outrageous, heavy favorite to win the series. The Yankees are the most illustrious franchise in major league sports. However, the Twins score early exceedingly well. They never surrendered hope and are a venerable bunch of professionals. The tired team may have expended too much energy to match the Yankees on this October evening. The weather in New York is windy and in the upper 60’s. The temperature is supposed to drop to a chilly 50 degrees. The 35-40 mph swirling wind could play a major factor in pop flies. The Twins are in town after their taut thriller on Tuesday. Alexi Casilla, a .202 hitter for Minnesota, clubbed the game-winning RBI against the Tigers. The single to right field scored Carlos Gomez from second base. The Twins also got a big boost from the shortstop they acquired at the July 31st trade deadline. Cabrera has been more than payoff in helping the Twins become division champions. He finished the regular season with a 16-game hitting streak, stroking .411 over that span. The Twins have some men that can burn around the bases, including Cabrera. The Yankees’ outfield arms are not up to par if the Twins choose to run tonight. Sabathia and his $181 million contract will be tested. The Yankees and Twins are both back in the playoffs after a year hiatus, but the expectations for New York far exceed their opponents’. The 29 year old Sabathia ranked fourth in ERA and innings pitched in the AL this year. His post-season past is nothing to write home about but the Bombers are still confident with their ace on the mound. This year, C.C.’s workload was less taxing than other years leading up to October. The Twins scribbled in 12 pitchers for this series, leaving infielder, Brian Buscher, off the roster. Mauer is the best hitter in the Twins’ lineup, but he has struggled against Sabathia throughout his career. Girardi will probably instruct his hurlers not to pitch to the power hitter. It may become a concern if the bullpen has to contain him. Mauer will serve the ball to any part of the field when give even one opportunity. The southpaw has limited more than just Mauer. Cuddyer, Cabrera and Delmon Young have also been stopped in the past by C.C. The Twins will take their swings with diligence. Kubel and Cuddyer are having spectacular years, and present a dangerous left-handed power threat. But, the stacked Yankee rotation should be able to shut down their foes. The Minnesota magic must be torn tonight.

Parting Points: Braylon Edwards was traded from the Cleveland Browns to New York. The problem is, he went to the wrong NY football team. Good move for Gang Green, despite the receivers’ dropped pass problem.