Posted by
Mike on Friday, October 06, 2006 2:39:46 PM
Playoffs 06.01
Later this afternoon, the Oakland Athletics have the opportunity to advance to the American League Championship Series – they are one win away having swept the Minnesota Twins in two games in Minneapolis.
Twins manager Ron Gardenhire has announced that, should the Twins stave off elimination today, he will start Cy Young favorite Johann Santana on Saturday on short rest and at least one national correspondent has taken issue with this decision. Why not save Santana for Game 5, he says, you have to win them all anyway, why not have Santana on full rest in Game 5.
Let me say before anything happens in Game 3 that I think Gardenhire is making the right call. Look, the Twins need a sweep and they need Oakland to cough up a 2-0 lead in games, which the A’s have done before. How could the Twins possibly pressure Oakland, who has a 2-0 lead and is going back home for Games 3 and 4 if necessary? Here’s how you pressure them – you tell them, “You’re gonna see Santana in Game 4 if we win Game 3.” You make the team with the big lead and advantage all of a sudden think to itself, “It really would be good if we win today!” And they might – I’m not slighting Oakland at all – they just might win today. But if they don’t, look out. Santana tomorrow and, if he wins, back to Minnesota on Sunday. And anything can happen in a final game in that crazy Metrodome. I’ve seen Minneapolis in the fall and it’s lovely, but I guarantee you the A’s don’t want to see it anymore in ’06. Gardenhire is making the best decision to give his team a chance, I think. Wouldn’t it be wild to see it unfold?
And speaking of wild doings, how ‘bout them Cardinals?
A week ago today, I sat in the stands Branson High School’s new football stadium during the homecoming game and one of my fellow classmates from ’76 said, “Mike, what about our poor Cardinals?” The Cards were in freefall at the time and on the verge of an historic collapse, as we all know. Then came Sunday and Houston lost and St. Louis “backed in”. (Is it really backing in if you’ve got a better record than everybody in your division?) Meanwhile, the Padres were good and strong coming down the stretch. I don’t think anyone was hoping for much from the Cardinals in this series.
Well.
Folks, we are on the verge of sweeping the Padres and what fun it is! It is more fun because it’s so unexpected. Whatever they win in October is gravy, because I wasn’t sure they’d make it this far. What’s more, in a flawed National League, they’ve got about as good a shot as anybody of going to the World Series. I’m not kidding.
Enjoy the ride.