As many of you are well aware, the pesky Twins are leaving for a 14 game road trip; thanks to McCain and the Elephant Party. It's 14 games in 15 days, all on the road against the three Western most AL teams and the northern most AL team. A dozen of the 14 are at night and one of the day game is because the next day is traveling to Toronto. Meanwhile General Soreness and the troops have 12 games and a shortened game to complete in Baltimore (where we will be the home team. So of the 12.25 games we have to play, technically 9.25 are on the road and the home series is against the Rays, who are still in first....

So here is the upcoming schedule: Probable Starters in ()

Thurs 8/21:

MIN (Scott Baker) @ LAA (John Lackey)

CHW- off

Fri: 8/22

TB (Edwin Jackson) @ CHW (Danks)

MIN (Glen Perkins) @ LAA (Joe Saunders)

Sat 8/23

TB (Scott Kazmir) @ CHW (Vazques) 2:55 Start CST

MIN (Blackburn) @ LAA (Jon Garland)

Sun 8/24

TB (Andy Sonnanstine) @ CHW (Buehrle) 1:05 Start CST

MIN (Kevin Slowey) @ LAA (Ervin Santana) 2:35

Mon 8/25

White Sox must finish delayed game at 5:05

CHW (Richard) @ BAL (Chris Waters) 6:05

MIN (Liriano) @SEA (J.A. Dickey)

Tue 8/26

CHW (Floyd) @ BAL (Radhames Liz)

MIN (Baker) @ SEA (Ryan Rowland-Smith)

Wed 8/27

MIN (Perkins) @ SEA (Ryan Feierabend)

CHW (Danks) @ BAL (Brian Burres)

Thurs 8/28

MIN (Blackburn) @ OAK (Kirk Saarloos)

CHW-off

Fri 8/29

CHW (Vazques) @ BOS (Jon Lester)

MIN (Slowey) @ OAK (Sean Gallagher)

Sat 8/30

CHW (Buehrle) @ BOS (Daisuke Matsuzaka)

MIN (Liriano) @ OAK (Dallas Braden)

Sun 8/31

CHI (Richard) @ BOS (Josh Beckett)

MIN (Baker) @ OAK (Greg Smith)

Mon 9/1

CHW (Floyd) @ Cle (Lee)

MIN- off

Tue 9/2

CHW (Danks) @ CLE (Fausto Carmona)

MIN (Perkins) @ TOR (Roy Halladay)

Wed 9/3

CHW (Vazquez) @ CLE (Jeremy Sowers) 11:05 CST Start

MIN (Blackburn) @ TOR (Shaun Marcum)

Thurs 9/4

MIN (Slowey) @ TOR (Jesse Litsch)

CHW- OFF

So of course this is probable starters and who knows how long Clayton the Great is the number 5. The Twins have it rough with Anaheim, California, LA Angels, but they don't have a rotations that gives opposing offenses runs like the rest of the AL West does. The White Sox are home and will look to continue a postive trend against lefties (26-15 facing Southpaws) and avoid getting Andy Sonnanstined.

Then the Sox face Boston's best and the Twins avoid Burnett. Not to mention Oakland throws nobody against Minnesota either.

The hard part is what will be an acceptable margin in the standings when this is over??? We lead by 1 at the start of this. Is a 3 game lead acceptable? Can we lose ground and still be okay???

I wouldn't be surprised if we lose 2 games here to fall 1 back.

IMHO we win the division after the Twins get back they play 3 against the Tigers and 3 more against Billy Butler and HIS Royals. Then they're right back on the road for a 3-3-4, 10 game road trip facing the Orioles, Indians, and Rays. The Sox play the Angels, Toronto BJ's, and the Tigers for 10 games at home.

Thought?? Comments?? Concers??