I'll say one thing for Minnesota's chances relative to Detroit's: While a more extended series gives Detroit a chance to pitch Verlander twice even if he can't pitch game 1, Verlander can affect only two games. But the exended series also gives the bullpens a chance to pitch more games with more rest, and Minnesota's pitching strength is at the back end of games, not the front end. Rauch/Mijares/Guerrier/Nathan give them a chance in any game where they could get a lead as early as the 6th inning, and they could easily pitch 4 games of the series without going on back to back days. The trick for them is going to be getting leads at all.

Both of the last two HR would have been singles or doubles in Fenway. And actually, Cabrera's might have been caught - Raburn didn't get to the ball as he could have.

Oh, no, I meant Cabrera's could have been caught in this game.