Boofda

Make sure you order your Ghost buttons. Hopefully 34 will be haunting that dome through october.

Overheard at the Dome

"Come see the other twins after the game."

Girl handing out strip club passes

"Twins Win
Twins Win
Twins Win the Stanley Cup
Twins Win the PGA Tour
Twins Win the Super Bowl
Twins Win and I keep my job
Twins Win
Nice tie buddy"

Guy doing some free form drumming/singing before the game.

Central Division Champs

Zito  vs  Santana tuesday.

Buster Olney breaks down some of the ALDS matchups.

2. The Oakland bullpen vs. Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau
Mauer batted 23 points higher against right-handed pitchers this year, and Morneau's OPS against right-handers was 42 points higher. Oakland could use a great matchup left-hander in this series, but the Athletics don't really have that -- left-handers have batted .321 against Ron Flores, .333 against Joe Kennedy and .317 against Brad Halsey. The Athletics will just have to trust their best right-handers -- Justin Duchscherer and Huston Street, in particular -- against the Minnesota lefties.

7. Johan Santana vs. Barry Zito
Santana is widely considered to be baseball's best pitcher, the front-runner to win the AL Cy Young Award. Zito, a Cy Young winner himself, was perhaps the AL's best left-hander before Santana arrived and he's poised to make a whole lot of money this offseason as a free agent.

But Zito could drive the bidders into a frenzy if he were to go toe-to-toe against Santana and win in this series. He has pitched pretty well in the Metrodome, allowing just 10 hits and striking out 27 in 24 innings there since the start of 2003, while losing two of three decisions. Watch to see, in the first few innings, how well Zito is able to command his fastball; that is usually a telling sign.

8. The Oakland defense vs. the Metrodome turf
The Athletics have had one of baseball's best defensive teams this year, from their superlative outfield to third baseman Eric Chavez to the ability of second baseman Mark Ellis to turn double plays; Oakland finished in a tie for third for fewest errors, and ranked sixth in double plays. But in this series, the A's will play on baseball's version of a pool table -- the Metrodome's artificial surface -- and the outfielders must combat the effects of the light-colored ceiling on fly balls. It's a whole new ballgame.

Insider Twins Notes

Rob Neyer goes over ESPN's Pre Season win predictions. The staff was off by +11 for the Twins.

I'd like to depart from the script for a moment and discuss not the players, but instead the writers. Us. I believe "we" paid too much attention to what the Twins did in 2005, and not enough to what they did in 2004 and 2003. You know, the Twins probably should have been even better this season than they were. If they hadn't messed around with Tony Batista and Juan Castro in the spring, right now they'd sport the best record in the American League.

Buster Olney goes over the  20 best postseason weapons.

7. Johan Santana's changeup   
When Santana casually carries a baseball in his bare hand, he always does so while using his changeup grip. He has a tremendous fastball and a good slider, but his changeup is what separates Santana from other pitchers. This is not a straight change, either; Santana can make it move away from right-handed hitters and he can make it move into right-handed hitters, to the point that Twins pitching coach Rick Anderson sometimes has to ask him whether he threw a slider or a changeup.

Notes 9/27

Nick Coleman writes a fluff piece about the Twins post season, fall and blizzards. I guess it get's cold in October and we should be happy to have the dome. Honestly, I have no idea what he's writing about. Is it good ore bad to be in  the dome?  All in all it's an awful piece, but he does mention Boofda.

So, bring it on. We have the M&M boys, Mauer and Morneau, we have Johan and Boof-da, we have a shot and we have all winter to savor it.

Off The Baggie has the rules on How to Watch The Playoffs With Your Girlfriend.

1) Point out Joe Mauer, Derek Jeter, or Johnny Damon on a Regular Basis: This will occupy your girlfriends attention for considerable amounts of time if utilized correctly. Say things like "Man, Joe Mauer has big arms", and watch your woman swoon. Make sure to mention them when they're on offense and defense, and anytime they show a candid shot in the dugout. Avoid mentioning A-Rod (too pretty, she may want you to start waxing), Randy Johnson (too tall, she'll be afraid), or Justin Morneau (too canadian).

Radke makes his comeback/final start tomorrow night. I will be at the dome to cheer him on regardless of what happens.
As it stands tonight, Santana will not pitch again and start Game 1 of the playoffs, Boof will pitch on Friday and then start Game 2. Game 3's Pitcher is still up in the air. After Silva's performance tonight it may be Baker, Garza or Bradke. Here's hoping Brad can pull it together tonight and pitch through October.

Rally Monday

The Twins released info on the Rally that is planned for this monday on Peavey Plaza from 5pm-8:30pm on Monday October 2. Ice Cream, Soda, Beer and Pizza will be provided.

The BoDeans and GB Leighton will be performing and 500 Homer Hankies will be given out to the first 500. There is no word yet if Papa Johns, who is a sponser of the Rally, has a problem with GB Leighton (who does the new Pizza Hut theme song) performing.
I'm glad to have the Homer Hanky back. I hope that they Star Tribune goes back to the old school design for the Hanky as opposed to a newer version.
Peavy Plaza is on  11th Street and the Nicollet Mall

Rally Monday set for Peavey Plaza in Downtown Mpls.

Hangovers are the best

Sounds like the Twins had quite the party after clinching last night:

The party continued an hour after the game. Several players ran down from the clubhouse to the field, crashing a Hopkins youth baseball game. The young players stopped their game and swarmed around the Twins, and everyone cheered. Infielder Luis Rodriguez ran around the bases and hopped on home plate as Juan Rincon, Dennys Reyes and other Twins jumped up and down with him.

"We still have to win a division title," Hunter said. "I've been drinking, but I'm playing tomorrow. I may have my best game tomorrow ... hung over!"

Don't give your buddy a piggy back ride until you make the playoffs.

Write-offs to playoffs. Star tribune.

Playoff bound

Torii hits #30.
MVP hits #34.
Boof is awesome.

Radke could pitch this week

Bradke, who had another bullpen session on Monday said he feels better than the last time he threw the ball. If he feels good when he shows up on Tuesday it's quite possible he could pitch on Thursday.

   "I know that if you have Brad Radke and he goes out and pitches before the playoffs and throws the living fire out of the baseball, I think you'd want to really look at that to see if he could help you out," Gardenhire said. "Chances are he probably could, just knowing Brad Radke."

If he does pitch well, Radke could have a place in the rotation for the playoffs.
Bradke feels good.

Rep the Ghost

Get your 33 and Puck's Ghost buttons over at the Boofda Cafe Press Store.