Last night at the Metrodome was one of those rare mystical moments of complete jubilation in life.  43,601 Twins fans groaned in disapproval when Kevin Slowey’s throwing error made it a 6-1 White Sox lead, but six innings later the crowd was roaring so frantically after a Alexi Casilla game-winning single that I embraced a neighboring 40-year old Asian man in a spontaneous hug of ecstatic awkwardness.

The Twins, written off by most everyone, including me, in spring training, flirted with first place a bit in August, then hit the wall after playing 24 of 30 games on the road.  Thanks to miserably disappointing seasons by division favorites Detroit and Cleveland, the Twins were allowed to hang around as if they were a true contender, right up there with the surprising White Sox.  Coming into this series, the Twins trailed the Sox by 2.5 games.  With just six total games remaining at the time, it was either sweep the Sox or go home, and sweep they did, winning 9-3 Tuesday, 3-2 Wednesday, and ending last night with a shocking comeback win, 7-6.

For one night anyway, the Twins are in first place all alone.  If the playoffs were to start today, which they do not, the Twins would travel to Tampa Bay for a series against the Rays.  If you would have said in spring training the Twins and Rays would be playing a first-round playoff series this fall, that would be the equivalent of telling me the Mariners and Tigers would be playing a first-round series next fall… which is odd because I did think the Mariners and Tigers would play in the playoffs this year, and by saying that now seems absurd.

But enough about baseball.  The weekend didn’t quite pan out as originally planned, but I already took vacation time today, so we’re chilling at home tipping back a few afternoon brews.  Carpenter Bash V will not go on as scheduled, unfortunately, due to lack of available participants.  Maybe we will reschedule for October.  But sticking around this weekend isn’t all bad.  We’ve got the Twins playing another very important series vs. the Royals to close out the year.  Lauren has her step-mother’s birthday party Saturday night.  And since I don’t have to DJ, I can actually catch up on some housework and relax.  Did I mention how I’m looking forward to being done DJing?  Though I can’t complain about the extra cash coming in every month.