#-1: Twins (Last Week: -1). Until last (Thursday) night's 11-0 turd of a loss to Chicago they had won six in a row. Nevertheless, the Twinkies had a 5-1 week and breathed their lead in the A.L. Central over the White Sox to four games. This could be the first time since 2006(?) where any team, not just the Twinks, win the division going away.
Then again, I now have doubts about Carl Pavano; he was the losing pitcher in last (Thursday) night's game. You're allowed to have a dud of a game, but getting shellacked like that gives me pause. Also, Matt Capps is no longer inspiring confidence in me. He has blown two save chances in the 11 games he's appeared in wearing a Twins uniform -- not terrible, but far from the automatic, Joe Nathan-expect-when-he's-pitching-against-the-Yankees performance people were making him out to have on a regular basis. Good thing the offense seems to be hitting high gear. This week, they host Torii Hunter and the Los Angeles Angels Of Anaheim Angels Of Los Angeles Angels Of Anaheim Angels Of ..., then go to Arlington and play a very intriguing four-game intraleague series against The Bastard Washington Senators v.2.0, aka The Texas Rangers.
#-2: Lynx (Last Week: -2). Well, you can't have a more nail-biting finish to the regular season than the one you have in the Western Conference of the WNBA this year. A 1-2 week keeps them in a three-way tie with Los Angeles and San Antonio for the final two spots in the playoffs still up for grabs.
I was at their only win this week, which was their only home game this week, against the Silver Stars, and I finally saw periods of not just competence, but of good play. The Jynx lost the lead some time in the third quarter, but for the first time in a long time I saw this squad stiffen their spines and come back, and in fact they won going away, 84-78. What a way to end the home portion of their regular season schedule.
Unfortunately, they lost their other two games. They are close, which is a far cry from the blowouts before this month, but still, a three-point loss at Washington last Friday, then a 4-point loss to Seattle Tuesday (they have always been competitive against the Bing, for some reason) put them at 12-20; a tie-breaker would leave the Jinx as the odd team out.
Let us look forward to this weekend, which ends the regular season. The Sparks visit Seattle Saturday night to close out their season; the Silver Stars host co-Eastern Conference leaders Indiana tonight, then host Phoenix in their season-ender Sunday. Quite loseable games for the teams the Lynx are fighting with for those spots ... which makes tonight's (Friday night's) game at ... the Los Angeles Farmers Insurance the most important game of the year. Win that and they may have the step up they need to make the playoffs for the first time in a half-decade, especially since they close out their season at Indiana Sunday, and since the Fever are fighting New York for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, the Jynx are losing that. It is a tall order, but I still have to hope.
Oh yeah, the team just signed Center Jessica Adair for their season-ending three-game road trip. She was signed because the team suspended C Nicky Anosike for refusing to go on the plane. It seems like Anosike is being insubordinate because she's lost playing time, but there are some rumors her swollen hasn't healed as much as it should. This distraction is not good, especially at this time. I kind of want to see if the team just plays while putting this suspension out of their minds, or if there's enough of a mutiny that they'll refuse to play because of Anosike.
#-3: Vikings (Re-Entry!). Yeah, yeah, yeah, he's back. What the fuck ever. Just fucking win the Super Bowl, OK?
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