Here Kitty, kitty kitty.....

[buzzsaw]

Thanks to Joe stack for the title.... it seemed fitting!

So now that were all high on the Twinkies, whats the prediction for the three game tilt at home? We toss Liriano, Radke and Santana at those guys and they won't have either of their two winningest pitchers hurling.. Rogers and Zoolander. I'd say we take two of three.

[Spinner1]

Two to one, Twins.

[RJ]

I'll be pleased if we win one. That would only be a one game change in the standings. Unless one team sweeps, nothing changes. Doubt you beat Bonderman. Both teams are playing well. Around here, we judge greatness by our '84 tigers winning 35 of 40. Aren't you guys about there? It should be fun. Good luck to you.

[Jarrod32]

Quote:

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Around here, we judge greatness by our '84 tigers winning 35 of 40. Aren't you guys about there?

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Almost, but not quite...34 of the last 42...

[RJ]

Luckily, we've played almost as well.

[Bobby Bass]

A different Twins team here. I may be the only one but I see the Twins taking all three!!!!Going to sit back and enjoy the games... Were going to win Twins were going score...

[soldoncass]

The FUN continues!!!!! I checked the top AL teams remaining schedules. Wow, it seems like they are all playing each other most of 2 months, so whoever is hottest will take WC........or they all will knock each other off enough for somebody else to sneak in . It will be fun to watch.

[buzzsaw]

Quote:

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Luckily, we've played almost as well

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Not luck, solid team this year! Pitching, hitting, coaching....

[vikingtom]

I think the twins r going 4 another 10 game wining streak. That mean sweep the tigers. That would be great.

Go Twins

[Dahitman44]

I think we will get two of three. The Motor City Kitties might chew up Radke.

[RJ]

I’m 53 years old. Been a Tiger fan for all of ‘em. I used to look forward to the Tigers being on the west coast. Great time to fish for Walleyes, listening to Ernie Harwell on the radio. This has been a fun, fun, year. Fans, I am probably one of them, have almost expected trouble at every turn of the season. We just are not used to being on top, and I’m not sure we know how to handle it. What is great is that every time this season things start to quiver, even a tiny bit, someone steps up. Tuesday, Kenny Rogers has an absolutely horrible outing. Seven runs in before he gets an out. Couple innings later, we’re down by a run. We lose the game. First two games were bad baseball. Here comes the quiver. Next day, rookie Verlander pitches great and we get control back with a 4-1 win. Indians are a high scoring team, and we hold them to one.

We have done that all year long. Truly a magic season, so far. It is far from over, but I do think we are far enough in front that the race is for the wild card spot (I hope I don’t regret saying that). As long as our guys keep going after it one inning at a time, we’ll be fine. Leyland insists on battling hard for nine innings. I like that. Players have bought it, and often talk about it.

Here’s to a good series and rest of the year. Good luck!!

[colonel42]

We have made it this far why stop now!!!!!!!!!! Twins sweep the Tiger will be the Monday morning news head lines. The chances are looking good with the Twin league leading home field record. The main beef of our pitching staff heck what more can someone ask for. Best record since the all-star break. Gitter done!!! Let's see I have Friday off, Pay day, forecast is calling for 90 degrees and our Twins are hot as the weather!!!!!!!! Life is good

[SledNeck]

Why talk wild card?

Lets start talking Division title!

[joe_stack20]

I think he is nervous about the "Kitty's" coming to the

Dome!!! I sense some nervous tension....as you should be nervous!! Especially with our Home Record!!!

[Reynolds]

How about that breaking ball Nathan threw in the dirt Tuesday to strike out Konerko? That was a nasty pitch. He made Konerko look foolish.

[Dahitman44]

No Twins game to watch tonight -- I'm starting to get the shakes.

[soldoncass]

RJ,

Great to see your common sense post. The tigers have had a magical early part of the year for sure. The Twins have had a magical run also after a terrible start. That is what makes this series so appealing. Two great teams meeting while both playing well. The series will give some clues as to the possible division winner, although there is a long way to go. The team that is hot at the end of the year probably will win it. The team that is hot at the end of the year also is the one that wins the w.s. usually. I personally like the Tigers team, so wish them well. I just like the Twins better. As long as we both go to the play-offs and leave a couple undesireables home whining ,I'll be very happy. GOOD LUCK TO YOU.

[joe_stack20]

Anyone else cant stop thinking about this series??? I cant even i am so distracted. This is going to be a great sereis...in whiuch the Twins need to prevail!!! I think the ChiSox are going to have a tough time with Baltimore.

[buzzsaw]

By Mark Simon, ESPN Research

The Twins have worked their way back into the wild-card race, and now they're on the verge of working themselves back into the AL Central hunt, with three big games at home against the Tigers this weekend.

The matchup pits a great home team against a terrific road squad and will feature some of the best young pitching talent in baseball. Detroit is 7-2 against Minnesota this season, but most of the damage was done early in the season when the Twins were floundering. With their top three hurlers on the mound, the Twins will have as good a chance as any to continue a run in which they've gone 34-8 in their last 42 games.

TIGERS AT TWINS: WEEKEND PITCHING PREVIEW

Friday: Zach Miner vs. Francisco Liriano

A great matchup of rookies. Liriano is 5-1 at home with a .163 BAA. Opponents are hitting .133 against Liriano with runners in scoring position. Amazingly, entering Thursday, that wasn't even the best in baseball (minimum 50 AB). You could probably take 50 guesses before coming up with the one pitcher who is better: Yankees reliever Ron Villone (.125 BAA). Miner has struggled in his last two starts (10 runs allowed), but is 4-0 on the road with a 2.10 ERA.

Saturday: Nate Robertson vs. Brad Radke

Radke is one of those guys who answers the bell down the stretch on a regular basis. He's 14-5 in August and September over the last three seasons. The Twins are 8-1 in his last nine starts, and he's 5-0 in that span with a 2.70 ERA. Robertson has struggled in his last four starts, going 1-3 with a 5.65 ERA.

Sunday: Jeremy Bonderman vs. Johan Santana

This is about as good a pitching matchup as you could get. Bonderman is 6-0 with a 2.67 ERA in his last 10 starts. He's come a long way since 2003, when he went 0-4 in four starts against the Twins; Minnesota hit .477 against him. Santana is 33-3 after the All-Star Break since 2003 and has shown every indication he's headed for a big finish. He has an 8-2 career record against the Tigers.

[Mr.Seaguar]

Ready for the Kitties to go home yet?

[SledNeck]

We need someone (by trade) to bat for Cuddyer or we will be going nowhere come october.

[34inwalleye]

Quote:

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Ready for the Kitties to go home yet?

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They can leave now

You Tiger fans have lots to look forward to. They are playing great ball.

As for Cuddyer... He doesn't have great stats, but he has came up with many big hits this year. What we need is some more pop in the line up. Either a left fielder or at 3B. Doesn't have to be Soriano but anyone would be an upgrade of what we have.

[AndyMan]

Quote:

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Thanks to Joe stack for the title.... it seemed fitting!

So now that were all high on the Twinkies, whats the prediction for the three game tilt at home? We toss Liriano, Radke and Santana at those guys and they won't have either of their two winningest pitchers hurling.. Rogers and Zoolander. I'd say we take two of three.

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You kill me Buzz...

It takes mote than 2 pitchers to have 70 wins at this point in the season (plus another sweep of the Twins but 2 of 3 is alright with me)...you should know that, but then again, that's all the Twins have at this point, 2 pitchers...How's Windy been? Don't get on here much anymore, don't bother reading these posts either, but I bet he's been quiet!!!!

So now the Twins must seriously consider mortgaging the 'Dome and go after Alfonso Soriano. After all, it's your last chance. The Tigers are no longer interested in his services mostly because they don't want to part with pitching prospect Humberto Sanchez, which is who the Nationals want, besides the fact that Soriano is a free agent at season's end. You're just renting him for 3 months...no thanks...Signing off now. -- "BackHerUp"

[34inwalleye]

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We need someone (by trade) to bat for Cuddyer or we will be going nowhere come october.

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Why should he not be in the line up???

Cuddyer got another game winning hit. He's 2nd on the team in RBI's.

[RJ]

Great series. Sunday's eighth inning was tough to sit thru. Twins were certainly not tearing the cover off the ball. Guillen never should have thrown that ball to start it. Think we had a month's worth of bad baseball in the eighth. Santana should have given up 7 or 8 runs. We left far too many on base to win. 32 come from behind wins for the Twins.

As for the series, talk here is the Tigers were P O'd. Came in with an eight game lead and all they heard was that they were the second best team in the Dome. We'll be happy with two. On to Tampa. Gotta forget that eighth inning - some how.

[buzzsaw]

Give credit where credit is due... the Twins were the hottest team in the majors, had the best home record and BAM... the smackdown was handed down at the homer dome! The kitties are rollin', they just have to hope they can win when it matters.... in the playoffs and World Series.

[Spinner1]

Classy post Buzz. And what a fun division to watch. The Twins are solid. I stated here a good while back that I was convinced the Kitties are for real. I don't see anyone taking the division from them now. There isn't any doubt in my mind the two best pitching staffs just faced off in this series. Bonderman is just dominant. But I was so impressed with Santana too. He clearly didn't bring his best stuff to the ballpark tonight, and he fought through it. It could have been 6 or 7 to nada when he checked out of the game. He showed a lot of courage out there tonight.

Both of these teams could make postseason without a trade IMO.

[Bobby Bass]

From a baseball standpoint what a great series for a fan to watch. I think it gave the Twins a good look at how much improvement they have made from the beginning of the season. Just got to keep winning and things will take care of themselves. Detroit, what can you say a very complete team and right now the best team in baseball lets see what shakes come October..how many people sat through all three games and did not give up on the Twins???? I watched.

[soldoncass]

I thought it was a great series. I didn't get to see much of today's game, but it was obvious Santana didn't have much today (he was missing with everything), but he gutted it out and kept the team close. The first two were so close one big hit would have changed the outcome. The only difference I could really see between the two teams were in the basics. The tigers didn't miss one chance at a sacrifice, and the twins bunted hard to the third baseman about 20 feet away. A LOT of training in some of those basics need to be in the twin's future. Anyway, the best team on those days won. The best team also won the third game today. Extra outs usually make a difference with 2 good teams playing each other, and they did today. It ain't over yet! The Tigers could stop getting all those "seeing eye" grounders in the first play-off game and be out in 4. Long way to go....it'll be fun to watch.

[eyepatrol]

If you're a true baseball fan, you had to enjoy watching that series. There was some great pitching, great defense great hitting and great strategizing out there for the 3 games. Some errors, yes, but I don't think they overshadow the fact that two of the hottest teams in the majors were playing neck and neck.

The Tigers really quieted the Twins bats this series. I thought we would have slapped the ball around a little more, but the starters and bullpen for the Tigers did a fine job, as did the Twins with the exception of Radke IMO. Some people really like Radke, but I'm not one of them.

At any rate, it was a good measuring stick for the Twins this weekend. Personally, I thought the teams were just about equal, with a little bit of an edge going to the Tigers. Can't wait until they meet again!