More photos » by Duane Burleson - AP

about 1 month ago: Minnesota Twins' Delmon Young (21) throws down his helmet after being hit with a pitch from Detroit Tigers' Jeremy Bonderman as home plate umpire Angel Hernandez, second from left, ejects Bonderman and catcher Gerald Laird, left, in the ninth inning of a baseball game on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009 in Detroit. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, right, comes out to calm Young. The Twins defeated the Tigers 8-3. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

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Which, of course, means any combination of Twins defeats and Tigers wins leading to two equals see ya next year.

I'll keep this short because I'm writing something for tonight, and Adam is more than welcome to add to this if he so chooses later on, but here's the big deal for today's game:  TWINS WIN.  SEASON NOT OVER.  NOT YET.

Already I've been getting flack from friends for not "just admitting it, already", but there's a good reason for that.  It's only three games, but stranger things have happened; just go back to 2006 and ask the Tigers, who lost the division crown to a team that had recorded the final out of their own season an hour prior.  Like I've said to my friends--I'm just dealing with reality as it comes.  I'm not setting myself up for disappointment, because I know exactly how the odds are stacked.  But there's no point in saying it's over when it's not, and you know why?  Because it's not actually over.  It's like asking a Pirates fan to admit they have a zero percent chance of doing jack squat in 2010.  Sure, it's probably true, but why take the chance of having to eat your words?  [Expletive deleted] happens.

Yes, I put the [expletive deleted] in there.  I've already cursed enough for one day.  Just check the overflow thread.  Which, of course, brings me to my next point.

Jeremy Bonderman needs his clock cleaned.  That's my point.  Let's go back to the beginning, shall we?

In the bottom of the eighth inning, it looked pretty clear that Jose Mijares was, for some inexplicable reason which may have a history from earlier in the series but that's still no excuse, anyway, that Mijares was trying to bean Adam Everett.  Yes, the same Everett who, if hit by a strong wind, will dissipate into nothing more than a cloud of dust.  Only his shoes would remain.  But yes, Mijares was trying to hit him.  And he failed.  Home plate apprentice umpire Angel Hernandez warned both benches, something we've seen before.

Out comes Jim Leyland, and good for him because I'd be just as ticked as he was if I was being warned for something that, thanks to Jose's inability to hit the broad side of a barn (or toothpick as the case may be), hadn't even happened.  Leyland gets tossed.  Top of the next inning, very first pitch, Bonderman throws at Delmon Young.  Not just at Delmon, but as his knees.

Delmon?  Angry at Mijares for starting it in the first place.  Bonderman?  Tossed.  Laird?  Tossed.  And for what?

NOTHING.

Listen, I said this in the overflow thread and I'll say it again:  I don't blame Bonderman for throwing at Young.  That's his action to take and his call to make.  But I do take issue with Bonderman throwing at Delmon's knees.  You want to defend your players after both teams have been warned?  I'm fine with that, I get it. Getting hit is a part of the game, and it’s not like the Tigers were about to come back and win the game. But you throw at somebody’s knees you’re getting serious; you're playing with somebody's career.

It's over now, and that's fine.  I hope it's done with.  It sounds like Gardy might be a little upset with Mijares as well.

Twins win, 8-3, and pull back within two games of the Tigers.  Well done, boys.  Too bad we couldn't get those hits on Tuesday night, but that's the way it goes.  All you can do is come out and win tomorrow.  If you can, try not to make an error every time you touch the ball.