Thank God for the Twins!

Photo by ConspiracyofHappiness on Flickr

As a Cubs fan, 2009 has been a year of injury and mediocrity. you know it’s not good when one of your highest-paid players is suspended for the rest of the season by management and the Chicago press is looking forward to 2010 with more than two weeks left in the season. As a MLB fan, it has been… well, a bit boring honestly. We basically know who is going to the playoffs. In fact, when I originally sat down to write this post, it was looking pretty bleak for any last minute regular season drama.

Thank God for the Twins!

[I should also be thanking the Vikings and Packers for giving MLB fans one extra day as well!]

OK, so I’m a Cubs fan. I root for the underdog. It’s just boring to watch the Yankees win 100 games with their huge paychecks. Manny Ramirez is good, but he’s not likable and hardly someone to root for. The Phillies and Rockies are much more interesting to watch because they’re far from perfect but manage to keep winning. The Twins, however, would be the undisputed underdogs of the playoffs, but one of the most exciting teams to watch play. There’s a nice balance unlike teams such as the 2005 Padres or the 1981 Royals who had basically no chance of winning a single playoff game, let alone a pennant or championship. The Twins are fighting for their lives since August and you can tell they mean business. They make me wish I’d been paying more attention all season long!

Photo by ConspiracyofHappiness on Flickr

I remember watching the 1991 World Series with Kirby Puckett, although I was young enough to not appreciate the MVP pitching performance by Jack Morris. The game 6 homer by Kirby Puckett seemed so much more exciting. It would be great to see Joe Mauer and Scott Baker in those roles. Even so, I am just glad that they have kept things interesting to the last moment when football is taking over the sports world and baseball might normally seem a distant second.