Twins Win AL Central!

The Twins and Tigers were tied after 162 games. And it took 12 innings in their 163rd to finally announce the winner of the AL Central: the Minnesota Twins. They won the game in the bottom of the 12th, on a single by Alexi Castilla. Final score: 6-5.

This game was dramatic and heart-wrenching for me, and I'm not even a fan of either team. Think about how it would be for a Tiger or Twin fan.

The game was tied at 4 going into the 9th, and stayed at 9... forcing extra innings. The Tigers scored a run in the top of the 10th. The Twins answered back with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning.

Let's go to the 12th: With the bases loaded with Tigers and only 1 out. Bobby Keppel, who had walked 2 men in the inning, hit Brandon Inge in the jersey. The umpire called that the ball had not hit Inge, even though replay clearly showed that the ball did graze Inge's jersey. Keppel went on to get out of the inning.

And the rest is history....

Tigers Strengthen Rotation With Washburn

The Detroit Tigers made a deadline deal with the Seattle Mariners for 34-year old pitcher Jarrod Washburn. The Mariners received Luke French and Mauricio Robles, two young pitchers with some upside. Washburn is in the final year of his contract.

Washburn is having a great year. He has a 8-6 record with a stingy 2.65 ERA. Washburn will join a Tigers rotation that already is pretty decent. Justin Verlander and Edwin Jackson have been anchoring the rotation all year and now Washburn should help them.

The Tigers AL Central rival Chicago White Sox traded for Jake Peavy earlier today. Both the teams improved their rotation but Washburn will have more of an impact on the pennant race this season. Peavy may not even pitch. This will be an exciting race that I see going down to the end.

Two Former Phillies' Pitchers Moved

Yesterday's Adam Dunn trade really surprised me, but today's moves were a bit more predictable. Paul Byrd was acquired by the Boston Red Sox and Freddy Garcia was picked up by the Detroit Tigers.

Let's start off with the Byrd move. The Red Sox traded for Byrd because they are down a starter now that Tim Wakefield is on the DL. Byrd is 7-10 with a 4.53 earned run average. Not bad numbers for the 37-year old former Phillie. Byrd had some good years for the bad Phillies' teams.

Freddy "nightmare" Garcia will be pitching for the pitching-starved Tigers. Garcia was a bigger waste of money than an "official" Major League Baseball (c'mon, 15 bucks for a baseball) for the Phillies last season. Anyone who's a Phillies' fan knows how the worst 1-2 combo in the National League (Garcia-Adam Eaton) tried to derail the Phillies last season. Garcia, hailed as the biggest offseason signing for the Phillies last season, went 1-5 with a 5+ ERA, before promptly going on the disabled list for the rest of the year (too bad Eation couldn't follow him.)

Gary Sheffield is reportedly on the market. The Tigers' outfielder/DH has complained about playing time in recent days. Does he really deserve more playing time? He's batting .219 with ten four-baggers, not nearly as good as the Sheff of old. He'll probably be moved very shortly, though.

Pudge Headed to Bronx

The Yankees have been looking for a catcher because Jorge Posada is having a season-ending surgery.  Looks like they found their man.  The Yanks will receive Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez (right) from the Detroit Tigers.  The Tigers will get relief pitcher Kyle Farnsworth.  Pudge is having a good season, batting .295 with five homers and 32 RBIs.  Certainly not as good as the old Pudge, but good compared to most catchers.  Farnsworth is a middle reliever with a 3.65 ERA.

The Yankees have certainly been buyers this year.  They already traded for Xavier Nady.  Pudge is definitely a step up from their starting catcher now (Jose Molina).  Remember in my midseason report, I picked the Yankees to win the AL East.  And that was before the acquired Nady and Rodriguez. 

The trade deadline is tomorrow at 4 p.m.  I will keep you posted on any other major trades.