Tigers: SP Justin Verlander CF Jackson RF Hunter 3B Cabrera 1B Fielder DH Martinez LF Dirks 2B Infante C Avila SS Santiago Twins: SP Mike Pelfrey CF Presley RF Herrmann 2B Dozier LF Arcia C Pinto DH Willingham 1B Parmelee 3B Escobar SS Florimon Things to Think About: 1. The Tigers... Playoff Bound... They can hit and and they can pitch... Fielding is a work in progress but the other two things seems to make up for it. 2. Justin Verlander... He won't be a fun guy for the Twins to face no matter how average he has been... He's not the ace of the staff anymore... Right now you got to put Scherzer over him in the rankings. 3. Think about Cabrera... Miggy is the top hitter in baseball... We used to talk about Pujols the way we talk about Miggy... In a few years we will be talking about someone else and Cabrera will turn into the modern day Pujols... We may have to wait a few years for that. 4. Think about... 1,000 Wins... To pat myself on the back... I said that 1,000 Wins for Ron Gardenhire was a not sure thing back in August... The Twins seemed to be statistically in position to reach the 68 wins this year to hit 1,000 for Gardenhire... However, I thought it would go down to the wire... It looks like it is down to the wire. 7 games left... 3 wins to go... The Tigers and the Indians left on the schedule. Before Oakland it was 3 wins with 10 to go. Getting Swept by the A's... Really lengthens out the odds. 5. Think about a dry sense of humor... I was hanging with an old friend this weekend. He started munching on Animal Crackers and he'd offer me some. I didn't feel like Animal Crackers at the time. Here is how the conversation went: Friend: (Holds out the Box toward me) Have some Riverbrian: Ahh Animal Crackers... No Thanks... I'm good (5 Minutes Later) Friend: (Reaches the box toward me) Are you sure you don't want any? Riverbrian: (Laughs) No I'm sure... It's been years... Not since my Boys were young... I didn't really like them back then. I'm Good... But Thanks. (5 Minutes Later) Friend: Have some... Riverbrian: Seriously... No... I'm good... (5 Minutes Later) Friend: I've almost eaten the whole box. Have the last of them. Riverbrian: (trying a different approach) I can't... I'm a... I'm a Vegetarian Friend: (sincerely) Oh God I'm Sorry... I didn't know... I wouldn't have been flaunting them if I knew. (3 Hours Later... No further mention of animal crackers up to this point) Friends Wife: I didn't know you were a vegetarian Riverbrian: Actually... I'm... (Pause... looking at the table of meatless food prepared by her and thinking of the effort made to prepare it... and then deciding against coming clean) Riverbrian: Well... I don't tell a lot of people. Friend: Good thing you said something... We had tenderloins ready to go. Friends Wife: That's OK... We will have them some other day. I had a Corn Casserole recipe that I've been wanting to try. Friend: How's the vegetarian thing going? Riverbrian: Umm... Good... It's pretty easy... I just stay away from Lions and Bears and Elephants. (They Laugh and it's clear to me that I'm not easily understood)