Pat Reusse for one, thinks the Yanks have a shot...in Game 5.
Manager Ron Gardenhire was a bit more feisty. First, he went into the clubhouse and told his players it was too quiet -- to turn up the music. This gave the TV crews taping postgame clubhouse interviews a chance to have X-rated hip hop as the background noise for sound bites.Next, Gardenhire charged down the corridor to the interview room, where he said: "We got Johan going and we all know how good he's been. And then we have Radke going back to New York. We're packing our suitcases to finish this thing up in New York, where we started."
Two years ago, the Twins trailed Oakland 2-1 in the first round, then won behind Eric Milton (while pounding Tim Hudson) in Game 4, and Radke outpitched Mark Mulder to win Game 5.
"If we give him the chance, Radke will pitch great," first base coach Jerry White said. "That's him."
Santana is the man who will present Radke with that second chance against the Yankees. Three days rest? Santana will have thrown 93 pitches in a period of nine days when he takes the mound today.
That priceless left arm will be April fresh. He will have a nice sweat on his brow, and the feel for his changeup -- missing in cool New York on Tuesday -- will be there inside this warm, crowded Dome.