Two Italians who I had never met ran around in my front yard with me screaming their heads off and drinking champagne. Never gets old!

20 of 23 playoff series the Sox have been in have either ended up in a sweep or gone the maximum number of games.

If this trend continues, here’s hoping no brooms are involved.

Direct quote from Orlando Cabrera after last night’s game.

Really, Orlando?  Have you forgotten Games 4 and 5 of the 2004 ALCS already?

Quibbling aside, that was an all-timer last night.  Seemed like the wind was taken out of the Metrodome baggie when the Tigers put up that 3 spot, but they sure fought back.  What didn’t that game have?  Clutch home runs, great defense, all the drama you could ask for…

So are the Twins merely a sacrificial lamb for the mighty Yankees?  Probably…but maybe they have a little ‘2007 Rockies’ in them.  They enter the playoffs hotter than a pistol; maybe the momentum from last night combined with Sabbathia’s usual playoff performance and the Twins could possibly take 1 of 2 in the Bronx.  I think they have a shot if they can go back to Minnesota with a split.

I’ve had a soft spot for the Twins for a long time…as many of you know, the former Red Sox AA team in New Britian, CT became the Twins AA team in 1995.  I’ve seen a lot of these Twins play in the minors over the years, so I’m definitely pulling for them regardless of the fact that they are playing the Yanks.

Actually, I’m not a huge believer in past seasons having too much affect on the present…but you have to admit, Angels/Red Sox playoff history is probably recent enough to play on the minds of some in the Angel dugout. Can they get the Sox monkey off their back?

I don’t think so.

Unless Beckett, Lester, AND Buckholz spit the bit (sure, he had a rough last outing, but I’m willing to average out how the year finished for him), I don’t see this series going more than 4 games.

And there is no doubt in my mind that the Yankees win their first playoff series since beating the Twins in 2004.