By Soxman
Tip your cap to those scrappy Twins. They became your 2009 AL Central Division Champions in one of the best baseball games I’ve ever watched. 12 innings of exciting action, where neither team would go quietly into that good night. As I watched the game closely, I could not help but marvel at how much of an impact the Chicago White Sox had on this game. Confused? Well then, read this break:
1. The Chicago White Sox won four of the last six games against the Tigers to essentially force them into the tie-breaking game.
2. Miguel Cabrera, who was almost traded to the White Sox in 2008 for Josh Fields, Aaron Poreda and others, homered in the game. He also played on the Marlins when Ozzie Guillen was the third base coach.
3. Former White Sox right fielder Magglio Ordonez, singled in Curtis Granderson, a Chicago native, whose favorite team growing up was the Sox. Ordonez also hit a crucial HR in the 8th to tie the game.
4. Orlando Cabrera, a member of the 2008 AL Central Champion White Sox, give the Twins the lead in the 7th.
5. Matt Guerrier, a 10th round draft pick by the White Sox in 1999, nearly blew the lead by walking two and giving up a run in two thirds of an inning.
6. Jon Rauch, a 3rd round pick by the White Sox in 1999 pitched two thirds of a scoreless inning in the 7th.
This Twins team also has to draw some comparison to the 2005 Chicago White Sox as they are a team built primarily on speed and defense, and relying on smart baseball to win. They also lost one of their best power hitters for the season in Justin Morneau, who interestingly enough was passed over by the White Sox in 1999, in favor of Jon Rauch. In 2005, we lost Frank Thomas to a broken foot and were forced to use Carl Everett in the DH spot.
In 2005, we had to rely on a “rookie” push down the stretch to fill critical holes. Bobby Jenks stepped in at closer for the injured Dustin Hermanson, just as Brian Duensing filled in as a starter in place of probable staff ace, Kevin Slowey, who broke his wrist earlier in the season.
Regardless of your hatred for the Twins as a Sox fan, you have to respect what they have accomplished, given their injuries and payroll. They now face their biggest test, defining the biblical identity of David when they face the Goliath New York Yankees. On paper, this should be a fairly easy victory for the Yankees right?
After all, the Twinkies haven’t won a game in New York in over two years. They are 0-7 in the regular season against the Yankees as well. For those who claim that the post season is a brand new season, history is not on your side. In two previous playoff series against the Yankees, the Twins are 0-2.
So why not be optimistic about beating a team whose collective salaries are more than triple your payroll? How about the phrase “Fear most those who have nothing to lose?”
You could also argue that momentum is on the Twinkies side. Despite the Yankees having the best regular season record in baseball, the Twins ended the season, 17-4- acting as baseball’s hottest team when it mattered most. Four intensely emotional games of baseball, 7 if you count their last series against the Tigers, extra innings, a tired bullpen, and a 3:00 a.m. touchdown in New York to play a 5:00 p.m. game: the Twins would not have it any other way.
If ever there were an underdog to love, it is the 2009 Twins. My competitive hatred will resume after this season ends.
