Do the Twins Want This?

John Danks and Fransico Liriano both had rough outings on Friday but one of them will be pitching in the biggest game of their regular seasons.

Well, tonight is the make or break game for the Twins.  If they make the playoffs I like their chances against the Rays but I agree with La Velle and have a hard time picturing them making it that far.  In true Twins fashion I just don't feel like we want it bad enough.

Nick Blackburn should not be pitching this game.  This will be the third game in a row the Sox have trotted out a pitcher on three days rest.  Ozzie wants this pennant and is willing to stake the readiness of his pitching staff on an all in move, and the Twins should be playing to win as well.  John Danks is arguably the Sox' number two pitcher behind Gavin Floyd and bringing him out is absolutely the right move against a Twins team who traditionally has had trouble at US Cellular field.  It's especially a good move considering Blackburn has had a tough time of it against the Sox and a terrible stat line there in Chicago where he's given up 13 runs in 15 innings pitched over 3 starts.

The problem is that starting our (#2?) ace Liriano on three days rest is fairly risky - a gamble with just as many postseason repercussions as Guillen's.  First, there's Liriano's performance on the 26th - 85 pitches over 4.1 innings against a Royals team that smacked him around the park for 6 runs on 11 hits.  So while his arm shouldn't be tired, there's a mental worry there - how well and how quickly can he bounce back?  There is some comfort in that argument, however.  While Liriano was getting pounded by the Royals Danks was getting stomped by the Indians to the tune of 7 runs in 4.0 innings over 80 pitches.  If anything, Liriano's potential shakiness could be rivalled only by Danks.'  I think the real issue is the health of Liriano's arm and a worry on the Twins' side that short rest is going to do some damage to a great second-half recovery story.  I can't think of much else besides that as a reason for why we can't put all our chips in and let Liriano take us to the bank.  It can't be because we're afraid of the Rays.

Tampa has limped in to the postseason dropping 3 of 4 in Detroit.  They are a team that we've split the season series with.  Their ace, Scott Kazmir has struggled with his control and hasn't pitched more than six innings in a game since July 21st.  This is already a team that's tired, inexperienced and frankly, one that either the Twins or Sox could handle considering the veteran talent on both teams (extremely veteran in the case of the White Sox).

I understand that to even be this close to the postseason is far and above any expectation anyone had for this team after we traded Santana but now that we're here, why not take advantage of this thing and run with it?