For You Twins Fans, A-Rod Gets his Dog Day Afternoon, Belatedly

Yes, boys and girls, I realize it's difficult to dredge up the sad past of the playoff futility for the Minnesota Twins vs. the New York Yankees in the decade of the 2000's (or, if you will, the "aughts"?). But as a point of illustration and contrast - oh, hell...I'm posting this to slake the visceral, vindictive satisfaction we Minnesotan's thirst for against the Bronx Bombers - here is Joe Nathan pitching to Alex Rodriguez in the 9th inning of Game 2 of the ALDS* at "new" Yankee Stadium on Oct. 9, 2009:

*American League Division Series

(Sorry, gotta wait out the commercials the boys in the suits put in)

O.K., hit me with a hammer, NOW! Whether it was Nick Punto or that wacky Carlos Gomez pulling bonehead moves on the basepaths, or our closer Joe throwing the ball up on a tee for A-Rod, something always went wrong, in that series, and in the seasons of 2003 and '04. And in '09. And in '10 (sigh!)....You always knew some sick house of horrors was awaiting our little train that could just around the next bend (to wit: see my Twitter post from this morning, re: Juan Rincon, 2004 Game 3).

Let's face it: our little train couldn't, not against this collection of ringers with their deep pocket book.

My God. It's as if we've been living in some spooky poem by Poe, "The Raven," driven mad with frustration and mourning.


So, here's the good stuff...

In your classic "that-was-then-this-is-now", here is the same narcissistic, self-absorbed slugger getting his oats against wacky Detroit Tiger closer Jose Valverde, from Thursday night of last week, at the end of their ALDS. And like the previous post alluding to the 1980's Twins humiliations at the hands of the Detroit Tigers, this is at least gives hope to the idea that one day Minnesota's fortunes will turn.  The Twins beat them in '87...so why not believe a modern edition can't prevail against the latest bully? We can only hope, right?

I must have sat through this video at least 25 times by now, 
drumming my fingers like Mr. Burns ("The Simpsons"),
muttering "Excellent, mmm-bu-HA-HA-HA, simply Excellent."

"Yes, Ex-cellent!"

Is it just me, or do the sad-ass faces of Yankee fans just make you happier than hell? Or as Minnesotans do, smile very privately?

As our old friend at the mic, Mr. Herb Carneal said it: "...And the count rides along." - TT