Alexi Casilla foresaw his big moment for the Twins

Unlikely heroes find their way into baseball lore because dubious circumstances tend to put them in the right place when opportunity knocks.

[WALGAG TOKYO]

Absolutely Incredible!!!! Two of our least likely players come through in the Biggest Game of the Season. Tsunami Size Congratulations from Tokyo. Lets show those Yankees how the game should be played xxxxxxx.

[Buzz]

Now that was a great baseball game! And lets not forget the at bats by Nick Punto. All season he's looked bad at the plate, but last night in the most important game of the season he had the best at bats I have ever seen from him. Almost Mauer like!

[Curious]

Punto's last two at bats were huge - so happy for him and Go Go and Casilla - what a thrill!!!!!

[Razor Sharp]

Whatta hero!!! He completely biffed when he didn't tag up like a major leaguer and was thrown out at the plate, which of course, woulda won the game right there. During the winter meetings the Twins should see if somebody will give them a 24th or 25th round pick for this minor league ball player.

[Mr know it all]

yea twins!

[Razor Sharp]

WALGAG TOKYO wrote:

Absolutely Incredible!!!! Two of our least likely players come through in the Biggest Game of the Season. Tsunami Size Congratulations from Tokyo. Lets show those Yankees how the game should be played xxxxxxx.

Oh we'll show them but their way is still gonna kill us.

[twinsfan87]

one of the best games ever,maybe not from s pure baseball viewpoint as errors were made on both sides...great game and go twins!!!

[Jeffrey]

Casilla did have a baserunning blunder in the 10th. getting thrown out at the plate because he didn't tag up immediately. If he had,he would have been safe and the Twins would have won the game in the 10th. He almost wasthe goat instead of the hero.

[twell]

Casilla couldn't forsee anything! The guy is a chump, and should not be playing in games with so much consequence!

[Arrogant American]

Buzz wrote:

Now that was a great baseball game! And lets not forget the at bats by Nick Punto. All season he's looked bad at the plate, but last night in the most important game of the season he had the best at bats I have ever seen from him. Almost Mauer like!

Punto's on-base percentage was .337 this year. The American League average is .335. Most teams would love to have a .337 OBP from the ninth spot in the order. Punto reached base two more times last night and, if not for Casilla's base running error, Punto would have driven in the winning run in the tenth.

[Not as impressed]

Arrogant American wrote:

<quoted text>
Punto's on-base percentage was .337 this year. The American League average is .335. Most teams would love to have a .337 OBP from the ninth spot in the order. Punto reached base two more times last night and, if not for Casilla's base running error, Punto would have driven in the winning run in the tenth.

Punto's B.A and SLG is awful! I also do not agree at all that he deserves a million contract. Yes, he is usually amazing at second, but he is streaky at best at the plate and the only reason his OBP is .337 is because he walks often. By the way the average for OBP always hangs around .340.. and that is AVERAGE. Meaning that stat is mediocre at best.

[The Mean Dartin Roast]

Jeffrey wrote:

Casilla did have a baserunning blunder in the 10th. getting thrown out at the plate because he didn't tag up immediately. If he had,he would have been safe and the Twins would have won the game in the 10th. He almost wasthe goat instead of the hero.

the "goat" in this play was 3rd sacker coach Scott Ulger. The coach needs to tell the runner, before the pitch is thrown, that ANY ball to the outfield is an automatic tag. The pre-bat video (Punto's AB) doesn't show Ulger talking to Casilla at all. Instead he waited until the ball was off the bat and in the air before trying to communicate with Casilla. Casilla froze for a moment and left the bag a split second late, costing the Twins the winning run. Blame Casilla if you like, but I feel Ulger should wear a heavy burden for that play. It's a burden, however, lifted because the Twins won. Whew.

[KWB]

Happy for Alexi. More happy for the rest of the Twins.......Alexi has the talent, but it appears that his maturity level is not there yet. He is about "fun and games" and doesn't realize that this is a living and he needs to prepare both physically and mentally. Too bad Gardenhire is on his case all the time, but that's what a manager's job is. He is supposed to make each and every player the best they can be. At this level, mental errors are not acceptable. Another year or two in the minors for both Alexi and Gomez may show them that it is hard work and preparation that brings them to the level of the major league.

[Da Crusher_RIP]

One of the best things about baseball is the surprise factor. A goat a inning or two before and then a hero. Whatever, the Twins won and that is the most important thing. Last night was as good as it can get. Now they have to start at the bottom of mountain begin the climb again. We shall see and enjoy the ride.

[eddiep]

Punto is a showboat hot dog always trying to impress Gardenhire and Gardy eats it up. Clearly Punto the manager's pet. But it's just a matter of time before he has a serious injury sliding head first into first base. By extracting 4 mil $ from the Twins, Punto is committing highway robbery. At 32 he has nowhere to go but down. His obp is attributed to all the lucky walks he gets. I say lucky because most of the pitches he takes are nowhere near the strike zone and for a #9 batter that is pure luck. If Gardenhire stops berating Casilla publicly and instead have the coaching staff work with him, the Twins will have a star infielder for several years.

[Twins fan]

gardy and his entire coaching staff need to be FIRED.

[Tank Murdoch]

Saturday's skit portraying President Obama as a man who made a lot of promises and hasn't been able to fulfill many -- if any -- has been analyzed over and over with a constant rerun of the "SNL" clip.

In the comedy skit, the president is asked about unrealized campaign promises, including closing Gitmo, combating global warming, allowing openly gay people to serve in the military, withdrawing from Iraq, improving the status of the fight in Afghanistan, reforming health care and several others. On screen the response on a check list was: that each item was "not done."

Humor with some truth in it is always dangerous. Make no mistake, a drumbeat of belittlement can damage a president. See how 'SNL' has portrayed presidents »

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/10/07/rollin...