Two questions:
No. 1: Did anybody record the Twins-Yankees game on Sunday night?
No. 2: If so, can you send a copy to Hawk Harrelson?
The team that never, ever beats itself did just that for the second straight night.
Few things give me a greater sense of schadenfreude than when Nick Punto unsuccessfully dives into first.
One item to add to that select list: Nick Punto unsuccessfully diving headfirst back into third base ... after blowing through a stop sign ... as he represents the tying run ... with zero outs ... in the late innings ... of a playoff game ... and an elimination game. That's not merely schadenfreude -- that's a wet dream on plastic grass. And when it helps bring the baseball career of the Metrodome to a close, all the better!
Meanwhile, Ron Gardenhire learned what Ozzie Guillen went through in 2007, when he had to use four pitchers in one inning after three different relievers walked the bases loaded. Capping it off, a huffing, puffing, sweating Joe Nathan gave up a pair of hits to put the game out of reach -- including one on a misread by Jason Kubel. The kind of defensive miscue the Twins never make.
In all honestly, I don't think this game has a chance in hell at denting the popular theory of the Minnesota Twins as some sort of fundamental superteam, but it's nice to dream.
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Some Sox-related notes:
*Jim Thome says he would like to return to the Sox:
''I'll be honest, I would still love to come back,'' Thome said, tightening the blue batting gloves on each hand. ''I still care about the city. I mean, we're going to live there. Chicago's very fond in my heart. The time that I spent there, [chairman Jerry Reinsdorf] treated me great. I guess we'll deal with that when this is all over with.'' [...]
"Chicago is a great city. It's a great ballclub. The people there were great. If anything, I thank them for putting me where I'm at right now, giving me that opportunity.''
At the time of the trade, I said this move might be a way for the Sox to position themselves as a friendlier organization after numerous instances of trashing outgoing players. This quote could go on the media guide cover.
*The Charlotte Knights will have a hitter-friendly home for the next four years, as they re-upped with York County to keep the team in Fort Mill, S.C.
I'm guessing it's a reluctant renewal, as it seemed like they didn't put a lot of work into making Knights Stadium a fan-friendlier home. But in this economy, getting a stadium closer to downtown Charlotte probably can't be accomplished.
