The Twins - Yankees series is being made out to be some great Moneyball vs Scouting, Big Market vs Small Market showdown. It's just two evenly matched teams built two different ways. When I say evenly matched, I mean evenly matched. TFD seems to be prescient with his "Brad Radke is the key" statement.

I'll question Gardenhire's decision to leave Nathan in for the third inning, but I love the way he's handled Johan Santana. Someone please explain to me why the usage patterns we're seeing in the playoffs - short but more frequent starts, firemen not closer - can't be used in season.

Josh Lewin pointed out the Homer Hankies may take away from the noise level in the Dome. Scott McCauley's been pointing this out as well. As noisy as the Twins fans can be, I'm not sure Yankee Stadium won't be just as loud if there's a Game Five.

The Red Sox look tough. They'll go with the same rotation in the ALCS - Curt Schilling, Pedro Martinez, Bronson Arroyo, and maybe Tim Wakefield. Neither the Yanks nor Twins get good matchups. I *think* that if the Twins win, we could get a Martinez vs Santana matchup in Game Two.

I'm glad I don't have to make a decision that Phil Garner is facing. Roger Clemens on short rest or Peter Munro? I think I'd go with Munro. Clemens would be well set up for Game Five with Brandon Backe moving to the 2 slot for the NLCS (assuming they make it, Braves fans.) Roy Oswalt, then Backe and Clemens still gives the team their best pitchers in Games Six and Seven. If they're down 3-1 in Game Five, obviously all bets are off so it wouldn't matter that Clemens wouldn't be starting.

You've voted in the Internet Baseball Awards, haven't you? If not, get over to BP and do so. You don't have to be a paying subscriber to vote and there's some very interesting categories. My suggestion to give a trophy to second place in the NL didn't take.

I'm sorry for Jay Jaffe and Jon Weisman. The Dodgers will likely get swept out tonight in LA. I thought that the Cardinals would be vulnerable in a short series but eight runs of support per game renders any pitching weakness moot. A Cards-Astros series will be interesting in the "good pitching beats good hitting" sense.

Eight seems to be the magic number in these playoffs. Five teams have won, scoring eight runs in a game. There's been a couple nines as well. It looks to me like runs are up in the playoffs, but it's obviously a small sample size.

Why aren't commercials in HD? You'd think this would be a great opportunity for some products to stand out, to look bolder and brighter, especially for things like laundry detergent or cars.

Since they cheered him when they thought he was retiring, what might the reception of a burnt-orange Roger Clemens be in Boston? Add in Jeff Bagwell and Red Sox Nation will be dealing with a lot of karma if that series happens. (Long way before we get there.)

Would a Game Seven of the World Series factor into the election? I'm not sure who it would benefit, but with only one day between the end of the Series and Election Day, I'm not sure it's not a big deal. If the Sox win the World Series and Kerry makes the White House, I'm buying a "Manny Ortez" jersey.

Enough thoughts.