We Are The Hecklers

I've never tried this kind of live-blog during sporting events (a la ESPN's The Sports Guy), so here goes. Final day of the MLB regular season schedule, and the Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins are tied atop the division. Thanks to the beauty of modern technology, I'll be able to follow both games live on my television.

1:15 - First pitch in Detroit, where Justin Verlander is on the mound against the White Sox's John Denks. Advantage - Detroit.

1:29 - Detroit took the lead on a one-out bases-loaded walk, but failed they only managed to score that one run. For a team that has lost the last two games while scoring a total of only one run, failing to get a big hit in that situation could be a problem. 1-0 Detroit.

1:34 - Verlander looks good through two. One run might not be enough to get the job done, but he's going to give Detroit a chance to win this game.

1:39 - Ryan Raburn hits a bomb to left field with a runner on. Denks is either disinterested in being a spoiler or he just doesn't have it right now. He's thrown more balls than strikes, and that was a terrible pitch to a guy without a lot of power. Tigers won't complain I'm sure. 3-0 Detroit.

1:56 - Neither team did much of anything in the third. Denks might have settled down, but Verlander has a three run lead already and he's been almost untouchable so far. If he wins this game, you have to at least consider him for the Cy Young. I know, I know, Zack Greinke has practically been anointed already, but JV leads the AL in strikeouts (and has over 20 more Ks than Greinke). His ERA isn't as good, at 3.45 before today, good for sixth in the league. And, unlike some of the other top contenders for the Cy Young (Greinke, Felix Hernandez, Roy Halladay), his team might be in the post-season, which has to count for something.

2:05 - They're getting ready to tee it up for (maybe) the last time at the Metrodome. The announcers are giving a tour of their very cramped press box and reminiscing about some of the good times they have seen there. Before the week is over, they might have one last memory to add to the list. Also, the local commercials on the Minnesota FOX network are hilarious, mostly due to that ridiculous accent everyone up there has.

2:14 - The game is moving right along in Detroit. Denks misplayed a bunt that gave the Tigers a great chance to add to the lead in the fourth, but some smooth defense from Gordon Beckham bailed him out. Detroit still in front, and the Kansas City-Minnesota game is underway.

2:21 - Verlander is in total cruise control. He's allowed one hit in five innings and used just over 60 pitches. Meanwhile, Carl Pavano got the Royals out 1-2-3 in the first. I wonder how Dave (and other Yankee fans) feel about Pavano being this close to pitching the Twins into the play-offs?

2:22 - Magglio Ordonez hit his first home run since August 16 (only his eighth homer of the year). What happened to him this year? How good would Detroit have been if he had an average year? 4-0 Detroit.

2:27 - It might be early, but it looks like we are headed for a one-game playoff on Tuesday night. After a couple of walks, Jason Kubel clears the Hefty Bag with room to spare and Minnesota has three runs before Kansas City can even record two outs. Two batters later, Delmon Young makes it a four-run lead with a solo shot to left. The Royals finally get out of the inning, but that was exactly how you want to start it off if you're the Twins. Minnesota 4-0.

2:40 - Royals have something cooking in the top of the second - runners on second and third with one out - so now we'll see what Pavano can do with a nice lead in a pressure situation.

2:45 - The answer: a couple of harmless pop-ups from John Buck and Alex Gordon to end the inning. Meanwhile, Raburn goes deep for the second time today. With that kind of a lead and Verlander on the hill, its hard to imagine the Tigers losing their fourth in a row. Detroit 5-0, Minnesota 4-0.

2:48 - As dominant as Verlander has been today (just recorded another perfect inning in the seventh), you can't help but think about what he could do in the postseason. Even with having to pitch today, he can come back in Game 2 of the ALDS on Friday with full rest. That puts a lot of pressure on C.C. Sabathia to win Game 1 for the Yankees, or they could find themselves down 0-2 and heading to Detroit. And Sabathia doesn't exactly have the most spectacular postseason record (2-3, 7.94 ERA).

3:00 - Commentators in Minnesota are talking about how load the Metrodome is today, and how loud it has been during big games in the past. I'm sure the new stadium will be nice, but I feel like the Twins are giving up a big home field advantage. The combination of the noise, the artificial turf, the white roof, and the quirky dimensions make that one of the toughest stadiums to play in.

3:02 - Kubel goes deep again for another three-run homer to put Minnesota way out in front. He's now got six RBIs (and two curtain calls), which pushes him over 100 ribbies for the season. The Twins just keep bringing up these talented players. Minnesota 7-0.

3:08 - Hold the presses in Detroit. Chicago has strung together four consecutive hits with one out in the eighth, which is twice the number of hits they had off Verlander in the previous seven innings. The tying run is at the plate. Detroit 5-3

3:14 - Scott Podsednik pops it up for out number two, but then Verlander walks Jayson Nix on four pitches and that's going to be the end of his day. Fernando Rodney comes in to face Carlos Quentin with two runners on and two outs in the eighth. He's usually the Tigers closer, so this looks like a four-out save situation here. This will be the biggest of those outs, if he can get it.

3:15 - Curtis Granderson makes a diving catch on a dead run in shallow center field to end the inning and keep Detroit in line for a date with the Twins on Tuesday afternoon. That's the play of the game right now. Detroit 5-3.

3:19 - And now the Royals are making a little move as well, with some help from the Metrodome's roof. Orlando Cabrera lost a simple pop-up in the vast whiteness of the Minnesota winter, er, I mean the roof of the dome. Kansas City has a run in with two guys on base and only one out in the fourth inning. Minnesota 7-1.

3:24 - Pavano pitches out of the roof-created-jam by striking out Gordon and Luis Hernandez to end the inning. Both teams have faced pressure situations and both still lead. Detroit had a chance to add to their lead, but Gerald Laird was gunned down at home after Chicago catcher Ramon Castro held on despite a HUGE collision at the plate. Going to the ninth, Detroit leads 5-3.

3:28 - Rodney is staying in the game to shut the door for Detroit. He has only blown one save the entire year (out of 37 opportunities).

3:32 - Alex Rios grounds into a double play to end the game. Detroit wins, and the Tigers will finish the day either as champions of the AL Central, or getting ready for a one-game playoff in Minnesota on Tuesday (The Twins will be home because they were 11-7 vs. Detroit this year). Detroit Wins 5-3.

3:40 - We're through four innings in Minnesota, meaning that the Twins are 15 outs from extending the life of the Metrodome for one more game (and maybe more). By the way, Tuesday's pitching match-up would be Rick Porcello (14-9, 4.04 ERA) against Scott Baker (15-9, 4.36 ERA).

3:47 - Final line on Verlander for the game today: 7.2 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 Ks, 120 pitches. All three runs and four of the hits came in his last inning of work. That's what an ace is supposed to do in a must-win game.

3:50 - Young hits his second homer of the game for Minnesota to pad the lead a little bit more. In other news, that was the most painful in-game fan-interview I've ever seen. Maybe no one in the state of Minnesota should ever be allowed to speak into a microphone. Minnesota 8-1.

4:00 - Kansas City is determined to make this interesting. Alex Gordon hits a solo home run with two outs in the sixth, and that was after they had already scored a couple of runs earlier in the inning. Pavano is getting pulled after 5.2 innings, in favor of Bobby Kepple. Pavano gave up four runs on seven hits while striking out seven, and he is in position for the win. Minnesota 8-4

4:05 - Kepple give up two hits and gets pulled without getting an out. Despite being so far behind since the first inning, Kansas City actually has twice as many hits as the Twins (10-5), and now the tying run is, incredibly, in the on-deck circle.

4:09 - Ron Mahay is the new Minnesota pitcher. He promptly plunks Mitch Maier, and that's going to be the only better he will face. Here comes John Rausch, the fourth Minnesota pitcher of the inning. Bases loaded, two outs, and the tying run is at the plate.

4:10 - Its not just the people, or the accents. The commercials in Minnesota are hilarious too.

4:12 - Rausch strikes out Billy Butler to (finally) end the inning and keep the Twins lead at four. That was a huge out, but you get the feeling that Kansas City is still going to put together at least one more threat. I'd expect Rausch to come back out next inning. Minnesota 8-4.

4:22 - Clutch two-out hit by Orlando Cabrera that scored Denard Span all the way from first. That will make the fans in the dome feel a little bit better. Minnesota 9-4.

4:30 - Is Joe Mauer the AL MVP? I think so. He's going to win the batting title easily (and that's not easy in the same league as Ichiro), he's also got the league's best on-base-percentage and the best slugging percentage. Defensively, he's one of the best catchers in baseball. Most importantly, there is no way that the Twins are anywhere near the AL Central championship without him. In my opinion, that makes him the MVP.

4:47 - Matt Tolbert (who I saw play in Rochester this summer!) tacks on a run for the Twins with a big two-out double to right. After the Royals got back into the game a few innings ago, the Twins have added on two runs and retired Kansas City in order during the top of the seventh. With that run, I'm ready to declare this game over. Minnesota 10-4.

4:53 - Minnesota is bringing in their sixth pitcher of the game, Jesse Crain, to begin the eighth. It hasn't been as pretty as Verlander's domination of the White Sox earlier, but it's going to be just as effective. And, since the play-off game won't be until Tuesday (thanks to the Brett Favre show), why not use everyone out of the bullpen today?

5:00 - Right on schedule, the Royals aren't ready to go away just yet. They have two on with one out here in the eighth, trailing by six runs. They still have more hits than the Twins, but Minnesota's four home runs gave them the edge. Crain gets a strikeout and a pop-out to avoid any serious trouble, and Minnesota is three outs away from getting an extra home game.

5:10 - One thing is for sure: The Twins are big fans of unbalanced divisional scheduling. This year, they are 44-27 against the AL Central and only 41-49 versus everyone else. They had a winning record against all four of their divisional opponents too. So whatever happens on Tuesday, Minnesota was the best team in the division this year. Meanwhile, they added on another run in the bottom of the eighth, meaning this is really over. Minnesota 11-4.

5:12 - Now the Twins are piling it on, as Michael Cuddyer hits a long bomb to left field that gives him 94 RBIs on the year. Minnesota has five homers in the game. Minnesota 13-4.

5:15 - The Twins are three outs away from becoming the first team in baseball history to play a one-game playoff in two consecutive years. They're hoping they don't also become the first team to lose a one-game playoff in two consecutive years. Francisco Liriano is into the game for the final inning on the mound.

5:21 - Mark Teahan grounds out to second, and the Twins have forced a one game playoff on Tuesday night in the Metrodome. If they win, they will be the first team ever to come back from three games out with four games to play. Jason Kubel hit two home runs to power Minnesota to victory here. I'm not sure how they do it, but they seem to find a way to win everyday. The Twins are 16-4 in their last 20 games, but they will need to be 17-4 in order to make the post-season. The Metrodome will live on for one more game, and maybe more. Minnesota Wins 13-4.

AL Central Standings

Detroit 86 76 -
Minnesota 86 76 -

- Eric.
www.WeAreTheHecklers.com

www.WeAreTheHecklers.com

Starting this week, I will give a sentence or two for how all 32 teams can win. Each game will not be 'picked' but every team will have their game explained.

The order of the games is done by the ESPN Power Rankings (top to bottom).

The Winner	ESPN.com's Power Ranking	The Loser	Why the winners will win
	1		The Browns have absolutely NO offense, and this should be an EASY win for the Ravens, and should the Browns learn how to play football, the Ravens can always lean on Joe Flacco.
	2		The Giants are starting to finally get their ground game going, and should be able to run all over the Bucs - also, they will give Leftwich hell with their defensive line, even if Tuck is out.
	3		The Colts HAVE to stop Kurt Warner and Boldin/Fitzgerald or else they are pretty much toast. Peyton Manning should do just fine, but they need to control the clock too.
	4		Falcons can win this thanks to Matt Ryan and his arm. Tony Gonzalez can go through the middle and if the O-Line can contain Wilfork, the Falcons should come away with a W.
	5		The Vikings should take advantage of superior talent and their defensive line. Containing Frank Gore, who had a monster week last week, will be what it takes. AP vs FG. Heck of a RB matchup.
	6		If the Steelers can survive sans a running game, it'll be easy pickings for Pittsburgh. Don't sleep too much, keep aggressive on defense.
	7		The Saints should just let Drew Brees do whatever the heck it is he does because it seems to be working. Make sure, however, the mediocre defense doesn't give up too much to the Bills.
	8		The Jets will win this game because they are simply playing better. The defense can stop the Titans running attack. The Titans just don't have the right offense either.
	9		Michael Vick this Michael Vick that! It doesn't matter if the Fridge was playing the Chiefs, this is the biggest mismatch of the week. Eagles will run all over the Chiefs.
	10		The Patriots should be able to bounce back, especially with Tom Brady having faced a vicious defense, and Wes Welker being back. The secondary had a week to gel and should do well against Matt Ryan.
	11		The Chargers have a fantastic running game. So do the Dolphins. However the Chargers have Rivers, and the Fins have Pennginton. The Chargers have Merriman...Chargers win.
	12		How do the Packers win this game? Easy. Just show up.
	13		If the 49ers can control the clock and get a good managed game from their QB, while letting Frank Gore run well, it'll be a good game. I also think Vernon Davis has his break out weekend.
	14		The Seahawks just don't have that great of a pass defense, or anything else. Although, this game will really be determined by the QB play of BOTH teams. Uncertainty for the 'Hawks, and Cutler for the Bears? Edge - Cutler.
	15		The Cowboys are lucky to be playing the Panthers on Monday night. Romo can study this teams defense, and with his talent, if he just has extra time to prepare he'll do that much better. The Panthers playing horrible football is another factor.
	16		The Titans will come into this game angry and upset. Chris Johnson can bounce outside, take advantage of the over-aggressive Jets Defense, it'll work out for Fischer and the new Titans.
	17		Houston should dominate this game. The Jags have a very low talent team outside of MJD.
	18		The defending NFC Champs can take out the Colts by running the ball with Hightower and Wells. That will allow Warner to throw the ball all day long to a depleted Colts secondary.
	19		San Diego's defense is facing an amazing rushing attack and the way Pennington runs his offense is enough to outdo the once stellar Chargers defense. Also, the loss of LT as a premier RB is a big deal.
	20		The Broncos can seriously expect a slugfest with the Raiders, but I expect (as do most) this game to come down to confusing Russel more. This could be a low scoring game.
	21		This Bills team could be the most underrated team in the NFL, as they are a knee away from being undefeated. Their defense certainly does the right things. Just get constant pressure on Brees, and DON'T TURN THE BALL OVER.
	22		The Seahawks are starting to surprise a number of people, but they need to run the ball effectively. Also, expect this to be a lower scoring game.
	23		Washington will easily take this game if Haynesworth can stop Jones, Johnson and Stafford. Portis HAS to win this game for the Redskins. I simply don't trust Campbell to win this game for the 'Skins.
	24		Pittsburgh's injured defense (okay, it's just Troy) can be susceptible to Carson Palmer's great arm. Now Coles and Ochocinco can work all in unison for the first Bengals win in the re-emergence of Palmer. All they have to do is stop Ben.
	25		Another week, another big game for Jones' Cowboys. The Panthers still have some big names on offense but Delhomme is failing this offense. Expect Romo to finally come up big. Next week's headlines in Dallas will either shay that Romo is a legend or he should lose his job...
	26		I honestly think the Raiders can win this game, and heck many games. Their corners are stellar, Seymour gives them a force at D-Line, and they have great potential in the backfield. All they need is a DECENT game from Russel.
	27		The Jags still have Maurice Jones Drew and that might be all they need to keep the high flying Texans off the field.
	28		The only conceivable way I see the Bucs winning this game is if the Giants fumble the game away.
	29		If the Ravens turn over the ball a lot, the Browns have a chance to win. However, we've yet to see Brady Quinn succeed - perhaps Quinn to Edwards is a good combination? We'll see Sunday...
	30		This seems like another sure bet in the wrong way for the Chiefs, however, with the unsure status at QB could prove to be an advantage for KC.
	31		I can easily see the Lions winning this game. A great running game, a fantastic receiver and a great WR.
	32		To beat the Pack, the Saints really need to run Jackson all the way, and Bulger needs to take advantage of his veterans. Most importantly, they cannot let Aaron Rodgers win this game.