5-14-09 Twins 6, Tigers 5

In The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Ford Prefect et al are on a spaceship that transports them to random spots of the galaxy which, coincidentally?, are exactly where they need to be for the plot to advance. The spaceship doesn't have a warp drive, it has an Improbability Drive. When the spaceship transports somewhere, the characters remark that it isn't impossible, it's improbable.

Today's Twins win wasn't impossible, but it sure was improbable.

Scott Baker, again, cruised through the early innings, then, again, imploded. (This season, there's nothing improbable about that.) With two outs in the sixth inning, Baker allowed five straight runs. Granted, we might say that his defense cost him that inning, but he's a fragile pitcher right now, always a pitch away from a meltdown.

How did his defense cost him? Jason Kubel played left today, Denard Span's usual position. With two on and two out, Detroit's Ramon Santiago sent a fly to the left-center gap. Kubel came up an inch short of a great catch. Denard Span's speed would've put the out away pretty easily.

But don't hate on Kubel, Span fans.

With all lost, suddenly down 5-0 in the 7th, the Twins staged an absurd comeback. Here's the play-by-play:

• Joe Crede strikes out. One down, no-one on.
• Brian Buscher singles. One down, runner on first.
• Nick Punto walks. One down, runners on second and first. Bobby Seay relieves Justin Verlander.

Bobby Seay was the left-handed specialist of the Royals last year. A huge part of his job description is to get the Twins' left-handed batter out. Span, Mauer, Morneau, Kubel. All potent. But he's a wierd-delivery lefty. And he gets paid the big bucks to get those guys out. Let's see how he did:

• Denard Span singles. One down, bases loaded.
• Matt Tolbert walks. One run in. One down, bases loaded.
• Joe Mauer grounds into fielder's choice, Denard Span out at second. Two runs in. Two down, runners on first and third.
• Justin Morneau singles. Three runs in. Two down, runners on first and third.
• Jason Kubel ground rule double. Four runs in. Two down, runners on second and third. Zach Miner relieves Bobby Seay.

Mr. Seay failed. But he left with two outs and the Tigers still had the 5-4 lead.

• Michael Cuddyer walks. Two outs, bases loaded.
• Joe Crede singles. Six runs in, runners on first and third.
• Brian Buscher flies out. End of 7th. 6 Rins. Five Hits. No errors. Twins 6, Detroit 5.
  

Not impossible. Improbable.

Also, the victory might have something to do with the arc of the universe bending toward justice. I was listening to the game in my office at school. I packed up to leave with the Twins down 5-0. I went to Heidi's office. There, we heard that the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education voted to retire UND's Fighting Sioux nickname.

This has been a 40-year fight, maybe longer. There's still a ridiculous clause that the nickname can stay if the tribes agree to a 30-year agreement that UND can use the nickname. But asking any government to hold themselves to a 30-year commitment is impossible. (Or highly improbable.) We can barely agree to Anti-Nuclear Proliferation treaties.

But, it's good to hear that this nickname is going away. There are many reasons why it needs to, and just as many why this is a positive step forward. Now, if we can just remove athletics from universities all together, we'll be great!

Game Heroes
Justin Verlander, DET, 6.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 13 K, WP
Craig Breslow, MIN, W, 1.2 IP, 2 H, K
Jason Kubel, MIN, 3-for-4, 2B, R, RBI
Joe Crede, MIN, 1-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 K

Game Goats
Bobby Seay, DET, L, .1 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, BB

AL Central Standings after the game

Kansas City	18-16
Detroit	17-16
Minnesota	18-17
Chicago	15-18
Cleveland	13-22