Not Again

How many times?

Seriously.  How many times?

A 3-0 lead.  A 4-4 tie.  A 6-4 loss.  Yet another defeat at the hands of the Yankees.

This is not a team that is being thoroughly dominated, that is outclassed by a far superior opponent.  This is a team that just can't figure it out.  I can't figure it out.  There's no explanation.  At some point it has to end.  The Yankees, quite simply, haven't been that much better than the Twins in the past, and there's a case to be made that the Twins are actually the better team in 2010.

But, as of right now, it's just another disappointing game.  A game in which the Twins went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.  J.J. Hardy was up with the bases loaded and two outs.  Struck out.  Jim Thome had a chance with two on and two out.  Against a right-hander.  That's been a home run 1 out of every 13 trips to the plate this year.  At Target Field.  That's a homer every 12th time.  He struck out on a pitch that bounced three times before it crossed the plate.  Then Denard Span came up with runners on second and third and two outs.  He grounded out softly to short.

I'm a little sore obviously.  I'll get some rest, write two essays before 4:00 PM today, then be ready to watch the Twins' first playoff victory since 2004 at 6:00.