One of the benefits of growing up in Oklahoma before there was any hope of major league sports was that I was a free agent allowed to pick whatever team I wanted as a favorite.  While most of the kids I played little league with sided with the Cubs or Braves because all of their games were broadcast here, I was not even shackled there as a result of my parents boycotting cable until I was in high school.  Instead, I became a fan of the Minnesota Twins.

This was mainly because I had family that moved to Minneapolis during 1987 and bombarded me with Twins World Series paraphernalia since they knew I was a baseball fan.  More than that, though, the Twins were a relatable team.  The Twin cities were as close to Oklahoma City demographically as any other baseball town, and they were led by Kirby Puckett, a guy who looked like he should be batting cleanup for a team out at Boomer rather than patrolling center for a world champ.  Plus, since most people in Oklahoma hardly realized the Twins were a Major League team, I was an exclusive member of their fan club, my own little secret.  Only I knew that the #14 I adopted while playing first base for the Stonegate Sluggers was an homage to portly Kent Hrbek, and I was fine with that.

Twenty years later, I have stuck with the team through the lows of threatened contraction and the highs of their improbable 1991 series win and early-millenial dominance of the American League central division.  This year was supposed to be one of those lows, though.  After their two highest profile players (Torii Hunter, Johan Santana) exited to bigger markets for richer contracts, Minnesota fielded a team of inexperienced youngsters expected to be beaten up on while they got accustomed to the big time.

Then something remarkable happened.  Whether they were too talented to need experience, or too cocky to be effected by the big leap, the team with an average age of 27 stayed in the AL Central hunt all year.  Going into the final week of the regular season, the Twins were a substantial, but not insurmountable 2.5 games behind the Chicago White Sox for the division title and a spot in the playoffs.  Thanks to the heroics of three Oklahomans helped them to overcome the deficit, the Twins actually had a half game lead after former Oklahoma State pitcher Scott Baker shut out the Royals in team’s final regular season game.  Unfortunately, the White Sox won a makeup game against the Tiger the next day, and forced a tie.

That leads us to this.  The tie would be broken with a one game, winner-take-all playoff.  With the Twins tabbing Nick Blackburn, an Ada/Del City native to pitch the most important game of the season for my favorite team, I had to keep a journal of what happened.  Would Blackburn, a rookie who barely made the team out of Spring Training, have the ability to come through in a high pressure environment?  Would team manager Ron Gardenhire, who grew up in Okmulgee, make the right moves to get the team into the post season?  After the jump, watch with me. 

Pregame:

The TBS studio show has two Major League Hall of Famers at the desk.  Cal Ripken, the former Orioles shortstop, has not been treated too kindly by time since his retirement.  He now looks like someone who ate Cal Ripken.  Former A’s closer Dennis Eckersly, on the other hand, looks no different than when he retired over a decade ago.  Part of that is because he still hasn’t changed the hair style he had when pitching for the Yankees in the late-70’s.  Anyway, I bring this up because these two point out that the Twins 3-4-5 hitters have blistered the Sox starter (John Danks) this year.  The three batter have combined to hit .580 when facing Danks.  Hopefully, that keeps up.

The assessment of the studio is equally dire when it comes to Blackburn.  They point out that he is basically starting by default.  Gardenhire may have preferred to use Kevin Slowey in this situation, but he was hurt in his last start.  That meant the only other option would be to go with Francisco Liriano on three days rest, but doctors tend to frown on using a guy who just came back from Tommy John surgery without alloting the full amount of time for recovery from his last start.

Top 1st

Denard Span leads off with a walk.  Gary Ward would be proud.  Unfortunatly, when he tries to steal second base, Alexi Cassilla chooses that moment to line out to third base for a simple 5-3 double play.  AL batting champ Joe Mauer takes his .777 batting average against Danks and quickly strikes out.  Three up, three down.

On another note, Harold Reynolds is one of the game announcers for TBS.  It’s nice to see that Reynolds, who got fired by ESPN for sexual harrassment, landed on his feet.

While this is happening, the ClarkPupp munches happily on the Happy Meal we got him so I wouldn’t have to cook for him while his mother is out.

Bottom 1st

Before the game, I talked to a guy I used to work with who played with Nick Blackburn on the Ada Tigers.  I asked him if Blackburn was good in big games in high school.  His response, “Yeah, he was pitching in the state tourney when he was a freshman… The media made it sound like he didn’t pitch that much in h.s… But he was the go-to guy for sure (‘till he moved to Del City his sr. year) He did have some shoulder/knee problems occasionally though; shin-splints too.  Oh, and my sister made him cry too when she broke up with him…hope that doesn’t resurface tonight!” Well, the injury history was nice, but I’ll worry about that when it comes time for a long term contract. Tonight I’m just hoping Nick is on good terms with his new wife.

This is actually the first chance I’ve had to watch Blackburn in action this season since the Twins are rarely televised here unless they are playing the Rangers on Fox Sports.  It’s nice to see that he and his catcher Joe Mauer have grown identical mutton chops.  That should really help their symbiosis when it comes to pitch selection.

Blackburn’s first pitch over the plate is promptly lined into left field for a single.  This could be a long night.

The next batter, however, kindly grounds into a routine 4-3-6-3-6 double play.  After that, Jermaine Dye terrifies me with a hard hit foul ball before lazily flying out.  Maybe it won’t be a long night after all.

Top 2nd

The highlight of this frame is ClarkPupp spilling his Hi-C orange and me missing Morneau (and his .400 average versus Danks) strike out on three pitches, followed by Michael Cuddyer (batting .580 versus Danks) doing nothing.  Delmon Young, who has only been adequate against the White Sox’ pitcher flies out to end the inning.

Bottom 2nd

Jim Thome, who I must admit terrifies me because he’s one of those old school players who looks washed up but for some reason becomes re-invigorated when he plays Minnesota, walks to lead off the inning.  While I’m reading ClarkPupp “Stars and Stripes”, a propaganda book with classic lines like “The American flag stands for me and you; We wave it to celebrate our country’s holiday’s too”, Paul Konerko shows warning track power for the first out.  Then comes Ken Griffey Jr.

For the same reason I tremble at Thome, Griffey scares me, too.  Plus, there’s the whole thing about him being the guy who killed the Twins in their last one game playoff.  Sure, it was a fictional movie, but that bothers me nonetheless.  Currently, Griffey strikes out when Blackburn fools him into chasing a slider that is way off the plate.  Nice pitch.

Next up is Alexei Ramirez who was the hero that got the Sox in position to play the Twins tonight.  He hit the fourth grandslam of his rookie season to put away the Tigers.  Now, he takes a walk, the second issued by Blackburn this inning.  Nick is usually great with his control, so that’s disquieting.  While Ramirez jaunts over to first, ClarkPupp demands to color on the notepad I’m using, so we fight over that.  Luckily, the only thing I missed before the commercial break was A.J. Pierzynski swinging at the first pitch and grounding out to end the inning.

Top 3rd

My child is placated when I give him a “color with water” book to keep him busy.

I had wondered why this game was being played in Chicago considering that the Twins easily won the season series with the White Sox.  Harold Reynolds asked the same question for me, and learned that the Twins lost a coin toss.  He, like Katie Couric grilling Sarah Palin, asked the follow up question of who called “heads” when “tails never fails” and the Twins assistant GM threw his five year old son under the bus in explaining the call.  Apparently, the son told his dad to call heads, which is why ClarkPupp will now never be consulted when I have a bid decision to make.

Nick Punto, facing Danks who is pitching on only three days rest, has an epically long at bat before finally being issued a walk.  Again, Gary Ward would be proud.  By making Danks throw 11 pitches and still getting on base, Punto is setting the table for the rest of the team to face a worn down pitcher.

Punto messes with Danks’ head while over at first.  He keeps feignting to make Danks think he’ll steal and forcing the guy on the mound to waste energy thinking about the runner.  Meanwhile, my son begins eating the paintbrush I gave his for water painting as his dessert.

Unfortunately, all Punto’s efforts go for naught as the next three batters do nothing.  You know what else wears down a pitcher?  Getting hits off of him.  Danks has just finished three innings and hasn’t allowed a runner past first base.

Bottom 3rd

Between innings the studio analysts rave about Blackburn’s pitching.  I guess they missed the two walks he issued in the second inning.  Eckersly points to Blackburn throwing a sinker, which apparently is something he hasn’t shown before.  Personally, I probably wouldn’t pull out a new trick during the biggest game of my life, but if it’s working for Nick, keep it up.

The first two batters for the White Sox ground out to the left side of the infield.  While this is happening, the ClarkPupp waves to me, says “bye bye” and tries to climb inside the entertainment center.

Ron Gardenhire is being interviewed from the dugout by the game analysts.  Can’t they see he’s busy?  Apparently, he’s not because he drones on about something I can’t make out because he’s talking about as loud as the soft talker on Seinfeld.  The only thing I did catch is that he refers to Blackburn as “Blackie.”  Isn’t that a racist term?  Maybe the pitcher should ask for another nickname.  Maybe they could call him “Little Nicky” after the Adam Sandler classic.

DeWayne Wise pops out to third and the inning is over.  Blackburn looked much stronger that inning.  Too bad his manager didn’t get to see it.

Top 4th

ClarkPupp is reading “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.”  I offer to read it to him, but he doesn’t need me.  He just jabbers and turns the pages.  His interpretation of Paul choosing Albert Moyo as his best friend is better than mine, anyway.

It looks like Alexi Casilla needs to get some hitting lessons from Gary Ward.  He hacks at the first pitch and makes life really easy for Danks by lining out.  Joe Mauer does better by working a full count, but he ends up striking out for the second time of the evening, which is odd because he rarely strikes out at all.  Morneau, the AL RBI champion, follows the Casilla school of hitting and fouls out on the first pitch.  Danks gets out of the fourth inning with just eight pitches.

Bottom 4th

ClarkPupp plays with his musical turtle and kicks ass at the game of picking out shapes.  When he tires of dominating this game, he demands a snack.  Luckily, Mrs. Matthews arrives at this point.  Mrs. Matthews notices I’m taking notes on the game, deduces that I’m writing a game diary for my website, and calls me a “dork”.

Of course, when Jermaine Dye leads off with a single, I’m wishing I had been in the kitchen.  Thome follows him by check swinging on a full count.  He heads toward first, but Mauer appeals to the third base umpire who rings up Thome.  Sit down!  ClarkPupp celebrates by chewing on the sucker he got as a snack and bouncing on his baseball glove reading chair.  This is becoming a busy inning for him.  The next batter, Paul Konerko, grounds into what should be a 5-4-3 double play, but Casilla throws high to first pulling Morneau off the bag long enough for Konerko to be safe.  I am rapidly growing to hate the Twins second baseman.

Now comes Ken Griffey, Jr.  Sure he has a bigger paunch than the guy who robbed Lou Collins of the game winning home run and scored the Mariners only runs in Little Big League, but he’s still the same guy…except now he just pops up to the third baseman to end the inning.

Four shutout inning for Blackburn.

Top 5

During the commerical break, ClarkPupp dances wildly to the “This is Budweiser” commercial.  I think the sucker may have been too much sugar.

Michael Cuddyer opens the fifth inning with a double to break up Danks’ mounting no hitter.

ClarkPupp comes into the room with his stepstool that he places on the coffee table and hits the stool with a cymbal.  The sucker was definitely too much sugar.

When Delmon Young flies out to center, Cuddyer advances to third base.  Griffey’s throw isn’t close.  Perhaps there have been too many miles added to Griffey and his glass hamstring.  Back in the late-90’s when he was winning gold glove awards every year, Cuddyer wouldn’t have even considered tagging up.  Now, runner on third, one out.

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen tlaks to the announcers now.  He’s much louder than Gardenhire, but I can’t understand a word he’s saying either.  My inner Randy Terrill is telling me to make fun of his accent, but I’ll pass.

Brendan Harris, the Twins shortstop, is down in the count 0-2 when Danks tries to get him chasing a ball in the dirt.  A.J. Pierzynski, the Sox catcher blocks the ball, but attempts to fool Cuddyer into believing the ball rolled to the backstop.  Cuddyer ignores the ploy, probably remembering what kind of jerk A.J. was when he played in Minnesota.  Harris hits the next pitch to shallow center.  Griffey comes on to make the catch.

“Don’t do it Cuddyer!” I yell at the screen, but Cuddyer does it anyway.  Off he goes toward home where Griffey’s perfect throw beats him by two steps.  The only saving grace of the inning ending double play is that Pierzynski gets leveled on the play.  It’s a moral/hollow victory.

Bottom 5th-Top 7th

My mom calls from Atlanta to talk to ClarkPupp.  It’s a good diversion, especially since he was toying with the idea of climbing on top of the step stool which is still on top of the coffee table.  He cries when Mrs. Matthews finally wrestles the phone from him.

As for the game, it can all be summed up this way:  The pitchers keep cruising.

Bottom 7th

ClarkPupp dances to a “Viva! Viagra!” commercial.  I start worrying that we’ll have trouble getting him to bed tonight, until he follows the dance by laying on the floor and pretending to sleep.  It would be much more convincing if he didn’t keep saying “Sleep.”

Thome leads off for the White Sox.  Blackburn makes a mistake pitch that stays over the middle of the plate and Thome launches an absolute bomb to centerfield.

After getting Konerko out, Griffey follows with a double that, itself, nearly left the yard.  Gardenhire calls for Alexi Ramirez to be intentionally walked to set up a possible double play.  That looks like it will be it for Nick Blackburn. 

Truthfully, Blackburn was fantastic tonight.  He did everything the Twins asked of him in an incredibly difficult situation and performed wonderfully.  It’s unfortunate that there is no way he can be the winning pitcher of record after giving up only one run (so far-the runners on base belong to him) in 6 1/3.

The White Sox dugout is having a party.  They are doing everything short of popping champagne corks.

Replacing Blackburn is Pat Mijares.  Mijares ERA is really good, but I’d be a lot more confident if the guy had pitched more than nine innings in his entire major league career before being inserted into a game expected to stop the bleeding in a one run game.  He induces A.J. Pierzynski to ground out to Morneau.  Unfortunatley Morneau was not able to make it a double play.  This does not matter since Juan Uribe lines out to end the inning.  But the damage is done.

Top 8th - End of game

It’s time for ClarkPupp’s bath and with Blackburn out of the game I won’t bore you with the rest of the details.  The Twins never get any offense going, and the final score is 1-0.  Poor Nick Blackburn takes the loss in probably the most well pitched game of his career.