Kansas City at Twins. Twins 2, Royals 1 (10 innings).

Excitement was in the air as the players gathered in the clubhouse before tonight's game. Several of them were wearing Brad Radke jerseys, and several others had #22 painted on their cheeks (though interpretation of "cheeks" varied widely). A few even walked in carrying handmade signs.

Beaming, LNP showed his to the group, holding it in fingers streaked with marker. "Mine says Brad, you're so Rad!"

"That's lame," said Michael Cuddyer.

"Oh yeah? What does yours say?"

Cuddyer straightened himself and unfurled his. "Bradke is the Manke!…I used stencils," he said pointedly to Punto.

Clearing his throat gently, Rondell White held up his own placard. "Mine says, 'Brad, I really appreciate all you've done for the team. Your determination is a real inspiration to me, and I have learned so much—' and then I ran out of room."

"I don't know," said Johan Santana. "I just put up a picture of my naked torso. I thought that would be the best way to show my appreciation."

As one, the Twins nodded in accord. And as Bradke took the mound in the first, everyone on the bench stood up and waved their signs and their pom poms and, in some cases, their cheeks and when the first strike was called the whole place erupted. Batter after batter, the players watched, mesmerized, and during the Twins' at bats they sat in the dugout and wondered at the veteran's tenacity.

"He's pitching like a bat out of hell," marveled Joe Mauer, trotting back to the bench after grounding into a double play.

"I know!" said Justin Morneau, calling back as he flew out. "I feel so inspired!"

"It's amazing," said Carlos Silva, "and against such a strong line-up!"

And when Bradke came out of the game in the fifth, after giving up one unearned run, the players could not stop shaking their heads in wonder. Every once in a while one of them would leave the dugout with a bat in his hands, but quickly return to rejoin the conversation.

"I've really learned something about myself today," said Torii Hunter after his ground-out.

"I know," agreed White after following suit. "I've learned something about life."

So it went for some time, until White suddenly let out a gasp. "Huh," he said, looking around. "You know what?"

The players all shook their heads. They did not know.

"There's a game on!"

Everyone's eyes grew wide. "Really?"

"Yeah!"

"What inning is it?" said Justin Morneau.

"Um…" said White, checking the scoreboard. "The ninth. There's one out. No, wait, two outs…"

"Oh, crap," said Joe Mauer, grabbing his bat. "One sec." He trotted up to the plate and smacked the ball just over the left field wall. "Sorry about that, Brad!" he said as he came back into the clubhouse with the Metrodome crowd screaming behind him.

"Yeah, we're sorry Brad," chorused the team. "We just got so distracted by how awesome you are, and—"

"You know what?" said Radke, stretching his right arm up in the air and smiling to himself, "It's all good. "

BatNotes: What are you doing this weekend? The Twins aren't playing all the time! Check out Aurora Borealis at the Edina Theater, written by a native Minnesotan and a F.O.B. It even features Joshua Jackson in a North Stars jersey! Here's a great review in the Strib.

a nice tribute to Bradke.