That Time of Year

2009 October 06

by Tyler

You might remember last year when I shared about why I love October. This October is shaping up to be one of the best in recent memory.

Of course it helped when the Vikings beat the Packers last night and the fact that it is supposed to be sunny all week.

At about the same time last year my Twins were busy losing to the White Sox in a sudden death tie breaker game. They lost 1-0.

One year later they’re playing in the same game. This time against the Tigers and this time it is at home. If they lose, it will be the last Twins game played in the MetroDome (I was there just over a month ago). If they win they’ll have the privileged of hosting the Yankees for at least one game.

Every October when the Twins play I always think back to 1991 (yes I was alive then despite rumors that I’m 16 years old). And I think back to Kirby Puckett’s walk off homer in game 6, and Jack Morris going 10 innings in game 7. I’ll recall all those memories this afternoon while rooting for the Twins to do the improbable…win the Central after being down 3 games with 4 left.

Question: Who is your pick to win the World Series?

I’ll take the Cardinals.

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http://seth.heasley.net/blog Seth

I have a hard time not picking the Yankees in spite of the fact I don’t *want* to. But I could see the Cards taking it, too. I just think Ryan Franklin will turn out to be Ryan Franklin at a few key moments.

I love October, too, but it means baseball is almost over. And that makes me sad. But at least the M’s had a better year this year. One fewer win than the Twins. But not playing any more games. I’m not bitter or anything…it just pays to be in the AL Central sometimes…
http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com Kyle Reed

That is what I am talking about. Glad to see you picked the Cardinals
Being from STL I am pretty excited about the fall classic and hoping that our pitching and offense hold up and is on full display.
I will let the team know you are backing them.
http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com Kyle Reed

Don’t forget about a guy named John Smoltz. He could play a huge part in the bullpen in the playoffs.
Mike

Why do we have to go through this every year Ty? My Phillies repeat, as I’ve said all year long…
secondchair

It’s interesting that various similarities in our backgrounds. Minnesota is responsible for most of that having lived there most of my life. So I am a Twins & Vikings fan. My wife grew up in Nebraska so we always cheer for the Huskers and we lived in St Louis in the early 80′s during their repeat performances at the Fall Classic. So I’m cheering for the Twins today – would love to see the Dome host a playoff game before the move to Target Field next year and I would like to see the Cardinals in the Series, too.

Seth, it was a great year for the Mariner’s! Got to see several games this year and looking forward to next season, too.
Lauren

Dodgers shock the world…and this lifelong fan…to win it all.
http://pberry.wordpress.com Paul Berry

They don’t call it Rocktober for nothing! The Rockies will take care of business and win this thing, with every game going to 17 innings.

Not sure if you saw it, but I had a nice post about why I love your boy Brett Favre back in August: http://pberry.wordpress.com/2009/08/18/in-defense-of-brett-favre/ Now he’s proving me right. If you can’t watch him and not love what he does on the field, then you don’t enjoy football.
http://justlivingthelife.com Jay

Well I am a Yankees fan, so I am going to say the Yankees.

This is not just me being a homer, but the fact that the Yankees simply are the best team in baseball right now. Their lineup is just downright awesome. Unlike the teams from 04-08 which would drive in lots of runs, this one has a more balanced attack. They drew more walks than anybody in the majors as team and were 26th in the league in strikeouts. They don’t have the most stolen bases amongst playoff teams, but they do have the highest success rate. The Yankees can and will run. They will play small ball if they have to. Unless a team like the Twins or Red Sox can get to guys like Nathan or Papelbon, then those teams are in trouble.

On the pitching side, the Yanks achilles heel is the back end of their rotation. Will Andy Pettitte be effective and what will the Yankees get from Joba? Nobody has a better bullpen than the Yankees either. Long term relief is solid and Phil Hughes has become the set-up guy the Yankees have missed for the last 4-5 seasons. Mariano Rivera is the best. He’s 39 years old and he pitched this year almost as good as he did last year. 2 blown saves all year.

This quite frankly, I don’t think there is any team in the National League that is strong enough to beat any of the American League teams. My pick is the Yankees, but if I had to go with somebody else I would say the Angels.
Janaki

As a Red Sox fan I WANT to say they’ll win it. BUT… while we’ve had good luck in the playoffs against the Angels, I don’t know if we can beat the Yankees this post-season (I hate to say it).

That being said, if the Red Sox can’t win, I’d love to see the Dodgers take it.
Benjamin Davis

I am with Janaki, being a Sox fan I want them to win.But, I actually think they will beat the angels.

If not them then the Dodgers and then Phillies. But in the end… anyone but New York.