I am a Yankee hater through and through, but I just look to CC's post season stats to have all the hope in the world that they implode!

15 walks/16 hits in 14.2 innings and an era of 6.14. One can only hope he duplicates those wonderful numbers!

Pete--As you may recall from the picks sheet I sent you in April (surely you keep it on you at all times and refer to it each day) I picked the Minnesota Twins to win it all this season.

So, though I think it more likely now that we will see the Angels beat the Cardinals in the World Series, I have to keep rooting for those fascinating overachievers, the Twins.

OK, I have to admit, this was the same picks sheet that listed Wang to win the AL Cy Young.

And I picked the Orioles fourth.

And hope I shall

Pete,

I wrote this to Roch to see what he and others thought about this and want to get your take.

Roch doesn't have a problem with it, but I think that the O's need to jettison the Babe Ruth statue at the yard. I makes me crazy to have to see a statue dedicated to a member of our most hated rival when I walk into the yard.

I understand that he was born here - So what!? HE WAS A YANMEE! It is asinine to have a statue of someone that is mostly identified with the Yankmes, and who never played an inning for our team at the entrance of our park. Everytime I see it I just want to p!$$ on it.

It's not like we haven't had our own great players that would be worthy of a statue in their honor. Brooks or Cal - HELLO!

It should come down and be replaced with a statue of an Oriole - preferrably Brooks. I think it is our "curse of the Bambino", and the sooner it comes down, the better.

I wish the guys that stole the 8 would have done us a favor and taken that damned statue too.

Roch says that he remembers John Steadman wanting to name the yard after Ruth. What a travesty that would have been! What do you and everyone else think about it? I can't possibly be the only one that feels this way.

..............................................................................................
Pete's reply: I wish I could be more help, but I like the statue and consider Ruth to be a Baltimore icon...as well as a great Yankee. I think he can be both and we can appreciate him for his Baltimore roots. Remember, the stadium was built on top of the spot where Ruth's father owned a saloon and Ruth played ball in the streets. Seems appropriate to me.

Tom C - I respect your point and your Yankee hatred.

Tom C - I'm with you, Brother. It's embarrassing to see anything related to the Skanks polluting Oriole Park. Let them have the Ruth Museum/Birthplace. That is appropriate. He was born there. Oriole Park is our house. Skanks be gone! Here's hoping they go down quietly in the playoffs. Go Twins! (or anyone else playing them).

It is not abnormal to celebrate the birth place of the famous. It happens all over the place. Go to Johnson City, Tennessee and you will see a sign that says welcome to Johnson City, home of Ed Whitson. On the Eastern shore of Maryland there is one for Jimmie Foxx has a statue and there used to be a museum in the old pharmacy on Kent Island. Really this is not a problem, and the reality is the Babe was born and did play ball professionally in Baltimore. Who knows where baseball would have been without him.

With that being said, GO TWINS!

I got this terrible feeling about a week or so ago that the Tigers just weren't going to make the playoffs. Imagine how deflating that must be to a team that was in first place in their division since when Mark Eaton was still hurling for us.
I have tremendous respect for the Twins organization. It seems that every other year they sell or lose to free agency a quality major leaguer, yet they remain competitive every year. That wizard Ron Gardenhire wrings every possible ounce of talent out of each player. It's an amazing thing.
Are you paying attention, Mr. MacPhail? Can that winning, hustling attitude be replicated here?

The Tigers are my 2nd favourite team so I was disappointed they choked down the stretch. Leyland has to shoulder some of the blame, particularly the way he handled his pitchers.
Case in point-why take Procello out so quick and then compound the issue by leaving Minor in way too long(or why chose him at all?). Then he uses closer Rodney for 50 pitches when there were other arms down there like Perry/Robertson.
Maybe he's somewhat overated as a manager.

ryan franklin remind you of anyone?

nice way to lose a game

even in 99 i don't thnk the O's lost one that way. Holliday has 1 error all yr, and boots the 3rd out.

Think Torre is living right?
Manager of the Year!!

Well Pete the Twins have no shot at building on their game 163 victory ...but it was great that they (and their fans) gave all of us Metrodome lovers at least one more contest in the dome. With those hanging speakers and baggies for walls it doesn't seem like it would be a place you'd see great baseball ...but that's what's been happening there since 1982.
Meanwhile, I love Matt Holliday as the new O's DH. After that E 7 today the National League will pass on him as a fielder ......spend those bucks AM !!!

..............................................................................................
Pete's reply: I'd take Holliday, but where are you going to play him?