Monday, August 24, 2009

Here Come The Twins - Again

The Twins are sneaking up on the Tigers again.
They may be a below .500 club, and their team-ERA has soared to 4.78, but the Twins have won five of their last six road games, including three straight in Kansas City over the weekend.
Like the Tigers, they had been struggling on the road. Unlike the Tigers, they have actually won some road games lately. The Twins are only 4 1-2 games behind the Tigers. It’s a little too close for comfort, especially given what has transpired between the two organizations in the past. Remember 1987 and 2006?
The Twins are the ultimate party crashers. Count me among those who left them by the side of the road for dead a couple weeks ago. Their pitching does stink. The Twins team ERA is 4.78 - and soaring. But getting Orlando Cabrera has tightened the Twins up defensively and added another solid bat to what was already a pretty good lineup - especially in the middle with Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau.
The White Sox schedule is difficult. At Boston and New York this week. A trip to Minnesota after that. Chicago still has a West Coast trip in September.
Minnesota’s schedule is much less difficult. The Twins have been through the roughest patches.
Not sure if the American League Central race is going to play out like most of thought it would a week or two ago.

Random Thoughts

- Peyton Manning didn’t play in the Lions’ preseason game against the Colts last season. He was out with a knee injury. But he did in 2007. He also played a regular season game at Ford Field against the Lions - Thanksgiving Day 2004. Also in the regular season last season in Indy. In those three appearances. His combined stats for those games: 64-of-84 passing for 787 yards and 10 touchdowns. He wasn’t intercepted. Could be a little rough afternoon for the Lions Saturday.

- Fullback Jerome Felton seems to be an underrated player for the Lions. Not just is he a good blocker and receiver, but he is hard runner, who seems capable of getting tough yardage running inside. He might be the second-best runner on the team behind Kevin Smith.

- Evander Hood, the 300-pound defensive end/tackle from Missouri the Lions passed on to take tight end Brandon Pettigrew with the 20th overall pick in the NFL Draft, has three sacks and two preseason games for the Steelers.

My Column in Monday's Oakland Press about the Lions quarterback situation: http://tinyurl.com/mdxf9o

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