Tigers 4, Padres 3

Well, we squeezed out Game 2 after Rogers blew a save in the ninth in Game 2. In Game 3, there would be no squeezing, as Rogers blew it again and lost it outright this time. Easily the worst closer I can ever remember pitching for us, and I have a long memory. In fact, this might be the first time I can ever recall the Padres having a problem with the closer. The guy's a setup man, at best, because he hasn't been fooling anybody for a while.

On the face of it, he has saved 28 of 35 saves, for an 80 percent conversion rate. The only problem is that his ERA over the last 30 games is six plus. Not impressed, and now he will have to face his former team, the Twins, who roll into town next. To the best of my recollection, we have never won a series against the Twins, and I don't feel lucky this time around.

Against the Tigers, we scored nine runs in regulation, not counting the extras in Game 2. Against the TIGERS, after beating the Mets. Not a good look, and it won't age well the deeper we get into the season. The Tigers? Pssshhh. Some homecoming for Crone, who remains mired in a season long slump. Why?

Aside from the fact that I am rooting against them this weekend, I have always been fond of the Twins as a franchise. I remember the old Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, an absolute wreck of a stadium, but, quite possibly, the loudest stadium ever. Those fans made some NOISE. 1987, Twins win the World Series in seven against the Cardinals. 1991, the Twins win the World Series in seven. The Twins went 0-6 on the road and 8-0 at home. See a pattern here? You couldn't beat them at home with that crowd. 

Of course, it helped that they had a stellar team: Kirby Puckett, Kent Hrbek, Gary Gaetti, Frank Viola...just an awesome group of guys who knew how to win. Great D, plenty of Gold Gloves to go around. 

Gore is on the DL, and we might not see him anytime soon. Lots of talk about us landing Juan Soto. At this point, the GM is desperate and will do anything to save his chair.