[cknox0723]

We've picked up some All-Star players already in Wells and Podsednik and some other seasoned pros. This is the ballclub we're going to win with.

That statement doesn't necessarily imply that it will apply to the August first rubber match of a three-game set with Minnesota, but it turns out to be the case anyway. And why not? I suppose it helps that the Twins are throwing their fifth starter in Neil Cotts (6-3) against our man, Jon Garland, whose 12-5 record compares with anyone in the American League.

It also helps that Cotts is throwing meatballs by the second inning. So fat and juicy are these meatballs that a left-handed Scott Podsednik is able to ignore which hand the meatball came from and instead focus on pummeling it over the right field fence. With all the trouble Cotts had already gotten himself into, of course that home run wasn't a solo shot, nor were those runners the only ones to touch home that inning. 4-0 Chicago heading into the bottom of the second. Jon Garland's only thrown seven pitches, and look at the lead.

Second sacker Mike Cuddyer takes a good cut at a four-seamer and cracks it into right to give the home half a baserunner for the bottom part of the order. Then "Jon Moo" throws a couple of lousy pitches to center fielder Torii Hunter, but that pales in comparison to his seventh pitch of the inning, one right in Hunter's wheelhouse that gets driven out of the house like a termite-infested family. Jon Garland's only thrown seven pitches this inning, and look what he's done.

Somehow the boy gets through the rest of the inning OK, something that the 26 year old southpaw Cotts would love to have said about the third. Wil Cordero cracks a one-out double for his second hit in two innings, and then we walk on. An otherwise harmless Jack Wilson fly ball is able to bring home Cordero because of all those walks, leading Cotts to an unceremonious slouched-shoulder walk to the dugout. His pitching line is maybe even more unceremonious and slouched - 2.2 IP, 5 H, 4 BB, 5 R, 2 K, 64 pitches (34 strikes). I don't think it would have helped if he threw more strikes, either.

But the same can be said for Garland, who's doing less damage by not throwing strikes. Like the uninhibited houseguest who rummages through your cupboards and has a particular problem with Mike Cuddyer, Garland's giving back runs as fast as we can score 'em. I guess the walks aren't much helping, either. The lead's down to one by the time three frames are in the books, but at least Torii Hunter struck out this time.

If I could put that moment in a bottle and save it forever, I would, 'cause it would've came in handy. A single and swipe of second by spectacular Scotty starts something sweet in the sfourth sframe, and second baseman Adam Kennedy's base knock gives us a little more cushion. Uh, scushion. The cushion is still the same by the time the fifth inning rolls around, but a single by Wil Cordero and a single by Frank Catalanotto shift things around a little bit. Miguel olivo succeeds at sacrificing the guys over, but without the nasty bloodshed and ritualistic aspects. The bottom of the order disappoints, but even a terrible team get a run home after getting a couple of guys in scoring position so quickly. We can, too. Spectacular Podsednik strikes out looking to end the inning, but maybe he was shooting some beaver. With a 7-4 lead, who could blame him?

But show me a guy who's lost so many productive ballgames to the vapid cesspool that is Milwaukee, and I'll show you a guy who should know better. Jon Garland had his share of struggles in the first few innings, but once upon a time the boy entered in a won-lost ledger of four and fifteen, and look where he is now.

Back where he started. In the bottom of the fifth, "Moo" tosses cowpies, not baseballs. I guess you could expect it with the middle of the order up, some good hitters in veteran 3B Koskie and .300 hitting SS Cintron and hulking LF Lee. But it's walks that get Garland in trouble, three miserable bases on balls that load the bases. Then one lousy pitch to Torii Hunter does more damage than it ever should. It's a completely innocuous grand slam to left field, but one so out of left field that I didn't really believe it even as the ball was soaring.

After a Joe Mauer double off the base of the center field fence, Garland strikes out right fielder Byrnes and first baseman Fullmer to end the inning. It's only eight-seven in favor of the ****ing Twins, but the deficit may as well be twenty. Both bullpens go into shutdown mode the rest of the way, eliminating even the thought of a baserunner for either side. The fine three innings from relievers Otsuka and Bevis are a testament to the benefits of strikethrowing; as for our guys, I can't really say I blame 'em for not pulling off (12.) The Comeback.

I just hope it's not the start of the old and tired song. I remember these sort of losses like they happened yesterday, and it's real easy to think that one will lead to many. I'm terrible with that **** all across my life; maybe you are, too.

But this is a different ballclub. Can't judge it by yesterday.