Thursday (ALDS Game 1 thoughts) edition: Wha' Happened?

Let's start with the big picture: *Four ALDS series. Four times when the Twins had the Yankees in a vulnerable position: 2003 after winning Game 1 in NY; 2004 after winning Game 1 in NY and going ahead in extra innings of Game 2 (and taking a big lead into the late innings of Game 4 before losing); 2009 when taking a lead into the ninth inning of Game 2 in NY; and last night, leading 3-0 in a game the Yankees needed badly with their ace on the mound.

Four times, the Twins let the Yankees off the hook. The first three series are, of course, over and done. There is still time for the Twins to regroup in the fourth. This was not a best-of-one. But as we stated yesterday, it carried perhaps even more importance than a normal first game of a short series. We honestly think Minnesota would have swept had they won last night. We clearly think the Yankees have the upper hand now. This game, more than any other with the possible exception of Game 2 in 2004, could haunt.

What about the sixth inning?

*Did Ron Gardenhire leave Francisco Liriano in too long? Yes and no. Yes, because Liriano is the type of pitcher who can fall apart fast. He was leaving pitches up after being "filthy" for five innings, in Mark Teixeira's words. No, because he got a big strikeout of Marcus Thames and came within two inches of getting out of the inning on Jorge Posada's liner just over Orlando Hudson's glove. After that hit, his night probably should have been over. But ... the lefty warming in the pen was Jose Mijares. We know the sixth inning isn't Brian Fuentes' role, but the postseason is different. If it could have been reasonably expected that Curtis Granderson's at bat could be the game-turner, Fuentes should have been the lefty up and ready. Because if you're not going to pull Liriano there, why bother having Mijares up? Liriano has good numbers all-time vs. Granderson (4 for 22 coming in), but again Liriano was getting pitches up. However, since Mijares was the only option ready, Liriano was by default the right choice. And we all know what happened next.

The bullpens?

The Twins have nice depth, but the Yankees still have Mariano Rivera -- the single greatest postseason edge they've had over the Twins and pretty much every other team. "I wish they hadn't brought in that alien with the big ears. He looks like a robot. He's mean," the RandBall Better Half -- who now watches playoff baseball by herself -- said after we got home. And by that she meant, "Mariano Rivera's cutter is the most devastating pitch of our generation, and he's a gentleman off the field. It's like he's from another planet. I sure wish we had him because if he pitched for the Twins everything about him would be endearing."

How was the crowd?

*The crowd was angry -- anti-Yankees almost as much as pro-Twins. Fans were unusually uptight about every close pitch. There wasn't an air of electric confidence. There was a vibe of cautious paranoia. It was weird. It was loud when things were good, but it was way too quiet when things were bad. It's a fan base that badly needs one victory to start feeling differently about the playoffs. We'll see if that comes today with the Pavstache on the hill. It's a 5 p.m. start, which means we're aiming for an 8:30ish finish, which means win or lose on a gorgeous Thursday night you should expect to raft home down First Avenue on a rivulet of booze and beer once the Twins fans (happy or very sad) have their way with downtown.