Twins sweep the White Sox, take half game lead in the AL Central.

by VORP is too nerdy on Sep 25, 2008 9:04 PM PDT

I just wanted to open up a thread about the exciting race going on in the AL Central. I have a particular interest in thw Twins because their history is somewhat similar to the A's. That is, they're a relatively low budget team that has been consistently successful over the last few years. Secretly, I always root for the Twins to be successful, except when they play the A's.

On the other hand, I have always disliksed the White Sox, particular since Frank Thomas left Chicago. I've been a huged Big Hurt fan my entire life, and I was sickened by their treatment of him in Chicago. I'm also sick of the offensive antics of Ozzie Guillen, A.J. Pierzynski, and the ridiculous homerism of Hawk Harrelson. Nick Swisher is the lone bright spot in the vortex of suck that is the Chicago White Sox.

The last game was especially ridiculous because Hawk Harrelson spent the final 2 innings doing nothing but complaining about the umpires throughout the series. It was totally unprofessional.

The Twins just swept the White Sox to take a half game lead in the AL Central. In the last series of the season, the Twins will face the Royals, and the White Sox head to Cleveland to face the Indians. Undoubtedly, these matchups are in the Twins' favor.

Unfortunately the A's season is almost over, but some exciting playoff races are just heating up. Any thoughts or predictions?

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LETS GO OAKLAND!

by HRH on Sep 25, 2008 9:35 PM PDT reply actions

WE CAN STILL TAKE THIS THING!!!

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Sep 25, 2008 9:47 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah!

Go Raiders!!!!!

by mrod on Sep 26, 2008 12:14 AM PDT up reply actions

I think the A's have a better chance of making the playoffs than the Raiders right now

by thejd44 on Sep 26, 2008 12:06 PM PDT up reply actions

No, the Raiders do, they are not mathmatically eliminated yet.

by mattman on Sep 26, 2008 1:41 PM PDT up reply actions

Trouble with sarcasm? LOL!

"If I've got baggage, he's got a whole set of Louis Vuitton." ~ Milton Bradley on Barry Bonds

by UncleLeo on Sep 26, 2008 3:56 PM PDT up reply actions

the raiders have been mathematically eliminated for years

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Sep 26, 2008 5:18 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm reverting to my childhood team

We’re gonna win, Twins, we’re gonna score!
We’re gonna win, Twins, watch the baseball so-OAR!
Knock out a home run, shout a hip-hooray!
Cheer for the Minn-e-sot-a Twins to-DAY!

Don't blame me, I voted for Bill King.

by Englishmajor on Sep 25, 2008 10:05 PM PDT reply actions

I can’t stand the White Sox. Mostly because of Ozzie Guillen.

by chri5 on Sep 25, 2008 10:07 PM PDT reply actions

I like Jermaine Dye

by OaklandSi on Sep 25, 2008 10:14 PM PDT reply actions

me too

"I talked to Paul this morning and asked if he could acquire some chemistry from another GM whose team is out of the race. But I'm concerned chemistry might not clear waivers."
--Beane

by DyeLongJustice on Sep 26, 2008 7:51 AM PDT up reply actions

We could see two makeup games on Monday and two one-game tiebreakers

on Tuesday. Wouldn’t that be fun?

[Crosby] "Guy that has driven in some big runs for the A's over the years" - Vince Cotroneo

by WaddellCanseco on Sep 25, 2008 10:47 PM PDT reply actions

I suppose it's still mathematically conceivable that the Astros might tie the WC

but… not going to happen.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Sep 25, 2008 11:23 PM PDT up reply actions

I meant due to rainouts in NY this weekend

But your way works too.

[Crosby] "Guy that has driven in some big runs for the A's over the years" - Vince Cotroneo

by WaddellCanseco on Sep 26, 2008 12:36 AM PDT up reply actions

Go Twins

I’m with ya – I’m rooting for them too (with Oakland eliminated)

by gbtmOAK on Sep 25, 2008 11:21 PM PDT reply actions

epic night of baseball

NYM, Brewers, Twins – WOW

Children, until we have taught them better, will be perfectly happy with a seasonal round of games in which conkers succeeds hopscotch.

by salb918 on Sep 26, 2008 5:19 AM PDT reply actions

Agreed.

I’m going to have my hands full tonight with the NYM/FLA, MIL/CHC, MIN/KC, and CWS/CLE. Luckily the A’s will most likely be playing after all of these games are almost over.

by VORP is too nerdy on Sep 26, 2008 5:43 AM PDT up reply actions

exciting

This race between the Twins and White Sox is something else. I am pulling for the Twins here. Really can’t stand the White Sox much. Ozzie gives me a headache…and I like that Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer!

by ilovegregsmith on Sep 26, 2008 6:38 AM PDT reply actions

Ozzie

doesn’t bother me as much as he does others. I really have indifferent views when it comes to these teams, but I can’t deny how exciting the race has been, especially when you consider that this division was supposed to have gone to either the Tigers or Indians. I’m pretty much over the 2002 ALDS, and I don’t have the displeasure of listening to the Sox announcers. If I had to to choose one over the other, I’d have to say I wouldn’t mind seeing Swish in the playoffs. The more ex-A’s there the better, IMO.

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Sep 26, 2008 7:03 AM PDT reply actions

I've always been an A's fan first

a Cards fan second, and the Twins as my second favorite AL team. I took a liking to them when they were talking about contracting the Twins, only to have them get out of the cellar and start playing well. I really miss Torii on that team though simply because his defensive plays always looked spectacular, and he played an exciting brand of baseball. Also, agreed and not liking the White Sox, I’m not the biggest fan of Kenny Williams, nor most of the roster, and I HATE Pierzinski and Ozzie.

I think the playoffs this year will be more entertaining than some of the recent years, especially since I don’t have to worry about the Yanks making it to the World Series (though the Red Sox are in it, and I don’t want them to make it either). I’m personally hoping for a Rays-Brewers World series just because the Rays would have the most historical turn around ever, and they are a quality team.

"I talked to Paul this morning and asked if he could acquire some chemistry from another GM whose team is out of the race. But I'm concerned chemistry might not clear waivers."
--Beane

by DyeLongJustice on Sep 26, 2008 7:58 AM PDT reply actions

Plus Gagne bought fans 5000 free tickets for fans

and I just think that’s downright cool, so I have to root for the Brew Crew out of the NL.

"I talked to Paul this morning and asked if he could acquire some chemistry from another GM whose team is out of the race. But I'm concerned chemistry might not clear waivers."
--Beane

by DyeLongJustice on Sep 26, 2008 8:00 AM PDT up reply actions

I want to see that World Series too. I would love to see the Rays walk away with a WS victory. That team really deserves it and it’s hard to not pull for so many young guys!

by ilovegregsmith on Sep 26, 2008 9:31 AM PDT up reply actions

By the time the Brewers reach the World Series...

C.C. won’t have an arm anymore.

by mattman on Sep 26, 2008 9:32 AM PDT up reply actions

I can't find anything on it

but I recall that after the A’s clinched the American League West, they played a series in Minnesota, who at the time was the defending World Series champion and still in the same division as Oakland. In a rare and classy move, the scoreboard at Minnesota flashed a message that said something to the effect of, “Congratulations Oakland A’s on winning the AL West. Let’s keep the World Series title in our division.” The message was greeted with applause. The A’s, of course, didn’t honor it, falling to LA in the Series.

But still. Pretty cool stuff.

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Sep 26, 2008 8:44 AM PDT reply actions

Man, screw that

Go Sox! Beat the Angels!

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Sep 26, 2008 11:39 AM PDT up reply actions

Oh, I agee with you there

I was in no way implying that I root for teams in our division to excel in the playoffs; quite the contrary when it comes to the Angels. Just something I remembered and thought it was cool at the time.

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Sep 26, 2008 11:49 AM PDT up reply actions

Too bad the Twins

couldn’t turn on the marine layer at the Coliseum when the Dodgers were hitting, and turn it off when the A’s were up. Always seemed to help the Twinkies.

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Sep 26, 2008 1:13 PM PDT up reply actions

I watched the last part of that game...

…and it was very exciting. I have a soft spot for the Twins, and hate the Sox, so that helps of course. Watched the Twins broadcast, and after the game Gardenhire gave major kudos to the fans for staying with them and pumping them up. Very classy on his part.

"If I've got baggage, he's got a whole set of Louis Vuitton." ~ Milton Bradley on Barry Bonds

by UncleLeo on Sep 26, 2008 12:18 PM PDT reply actions

Really? I thought their fans were whining and griping about how they "gave up"

when they traded Johan Santana.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Sep 26, 2008 4:47 PM PDT up reply actions

He was speaking in reference to that specific game.

"If I've got baggage, he's got a whole set of Louis Vuitton." ~ Milton Bradley on Barry Bonds

by UncleLeo on Sep 26, 2008 9:53 PM PDT up reply actions

I was griping about that too. I still think that contending this year was a pleasant surprise to them.

What they got back was roundly panned, and hasn’t turned out any better than the critics suspected. I also griped that they left Liriano in the minors too long, probably for service time or some such stupid reason. Twins management just got lucky with both those moves — so far.

[Crosby] "Guy that has driven in some big runs for the A's over the years" - Vince Cotroneo

by WaddellCanseco on Sep 27, 2008 2:36 AM PDT up reply actions

But the only reason they contended were the collapses of Cleveland and Detroit

I still don’t think the Twins or White Sox are very good. I really believe if the A’s were in the AL Central, they’d be in first place right now.

by thejd44 on Sep 27, 2008 9:55 AM PDT up reply actions

Not sure I buy that.

The A’s have such a bad offense I don’t think they could win any division except for the NL West.

by VORP is too nerdy on Sep 27, 2008 11:19 PM PDT up reply actions

How about the blowouts over the last two nights?

Twins get blown out by the Royals on Friday night, Sox get blown out two nights in a row by Cleveland.. Wow.

It all comes down to tomorrow, sort of.

Do you guys know who won the series between the Twins and Sox? If they result in a tie, do they have a one game playoff, or do they go with the season series winner?

by VORP is too nerdy on Sep 27, 2008 11:21 PM PDT reply actions

I have 10-8 in favor of the Twins

in terms of the season series.. Twins won 6 out of their last 7 games against the Sox.

by VORP is too nerdy on Sep 27, 2008 11:23 PM PDT up reply actions

Season series results are only relevant for seeding purposes

When it’s a question of which team will actually go to the playoffs, it’s always a playoff game.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Sep 28, 2008 10:14 AM PDT up reply actions

LET'S GO TRIBE!!!

I want Twins in playoffs.

Come on Ozzie. Put in Boone Logan. Put in HoRam. Put in Lance Broadway. Put in Clayton Richard.

Now with 100% more Canuck.

by Blicks on Sep 28, 2008 12:15 PM PDT reply actions

Results are coming in

White Sox and Brewers win. Twins are winning 4-0, Mets losing 4-2 in the late stages. Right now it looks like the WS will be playing a makeup game with Detroit tomorrow (and if they win, hosting the Twins Tuesday), while the Brewers will take the NL Wild Card by a game.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Sep 28, 2008 1:55 PM PDT reply actions

I'm actually rooting for the Sox tomorrow.

I just think a 1-game playoff between the Twins and Sox would be really, really exciting.

by VORP is too nerdy on Sep 28, 2008 10:49 PM PDT up reply actions

Me too

Game on TV > no game.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Sep 29, 2008 1:42 AM PDT up reply actions

Most definitely

But how would you like to be the Tigers right now?

(Well, at least they can say they played in one “playoff” game this season.)

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Sep 29, 2008 6:30 AM PDT up reply actions

Eh.

I’m sure some players on the Tigers were not thrilled about the game, but it gave the rookies a little more experience. Also, Freddy Garcia was probably more excited than anyone else not on the Twins/Sox.

The Tigers played like their hearts were in it, I think. Actually, they seemed to play better than they did in the WS a couple of years ago. The lop-sided score doesn’t tell how close it was the first 2/3rds of the game.

by VORP is too nerdy on Sep 29, 2008 9:50 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah

I wasn’t implying that the Tigers wouldn’t act like professionals, and just give in to Chicago. I was basically referring to the hoopla surrounding them before the season, and how ironic it was that the only game they played after the regular season ended was to decide the fate of another team.

And to try to keep them out of last place. Of which they failed.

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Sep 30, 2008 5:33 AM PDT up reply actions