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  The Yankees vs. Twins American League Division Series matchup goes beyond just the game itself. Any Yankees fan knows that winning the battle in talking trash with other fans is just as important. That's why WCBSTV.com's Senior Sports Producer Jeff Capellini, lifelong Yankees fan, is going head-to-head with a Twins die-hard from our sister site in Minneapolis, WCCO.com.

Bash Blog Part III: Jeff Capellini For WCBSTV.com:

So I've been accused of complaining about this and that and not giving true analysis of this series due diligence because of my apparent New York arrogance.

I've heard about "Minnesota Nice" and steroids and actresses and payroll and how the wholesome Twins do cover shoots with their mothers.

None of that translate into wins and losses, which as of the last time I looked, the Yankees have two and the Twins have none.

So my question is: What "series," exactly, do you want me to analyze? Which foot should I take out of my mouth again?

I'll gladly try Lutefisk, but on my own terms thank you very much.

Serious discussions of postseason series don't begin until both teams have a win, so forgive me for biding my time through the first two games. The Twins may be the scrappiest team on Earth, but without a win to hang their hats on neither they nor their fans have a leg to stand on when it comes to their criticisms of me, the Yankees or anything else they'd care to mention.

But yet, in the true spirit of trying to make this so-called "blog war" interesting, due to all the incessant whining I've been hearing on the radio and reading on the Internet, I feel compelled to actually analyze what's transpired so far and what will likely happen on Sunday.

I don't want to hear about how the Twins got the short end of the stick on Friday night. Umpire Phil Cuzzi's call was horrendous. We all saw it, we all know it. Minnesota probably would have led heading into the bottom of the 11th had Joe Mauer's leadoff double actually counted.

But if you are still crying about that bad call, take a step back and get some perspective. I have heard some people say the Twins deserved a better fate.

Please.

The Twins still loaded the bases with nobody out in that inning and did not score. They still left 17 men on base in the game and blew a two-run lead in the ninth. They still have a 5.00 ERA in this series and have scored all of five runs in 20 innings.

So, if I have to hear about how "tired" the poor Twins were on Wednesday and how the umpires were out to get them Friday one more time I'm going to be sick.

The bottom line is they got their sleep and Ron Gardenhire rightfully did not work them out on Thursday. They looked like the better team in Game 2 for much of the first six innings. But postseason baseball games are not won in six innings. Games are won with timely hitting and lockdown pitching over the entire duration of any one game.

The Twins have not done nearly enough of either to beat any team, let alone the Yankees. I mean A.J. Burnett walked the house and hit two batters on Friday and the Twins still didn't make him pay.

Have the Yankees been world beaters? Not even close. But they have been the same opportunistic, clutch-hitting, big-game pitching team they were during their entire 103-win regular season.

And so far that's been more than enough.

Now comes Game 3 and the Twins are hinging their season's hopes on a guy who totally flies in the face of the Twins' ideal. Carl Pavano's got a ticker problem, not to mention an ERA that doesn't quite instill a heck of a lot of confidence.

Pavano has been accused of having no heart, and if you think for two seconds that the Yankees aren't chomping at the bit to beat the living hell out of a guy who took $40 million to go 9-8 with a 5.00 ERA in just 26 starts during his four-year tenure in the Bronx, you are sorely mistaken. This past offseason he signed with Cleveland and was so good he was let go.

Pavano was a guy who everyone wanted after his impressive run in Florida that resulted in the Marlins' World Series championship in 2003 and the big right-hander's 18-6 mark in 2004. The Red Sox couldn't wait to get the guy from New Britain, Conn., but sometime after signing with the Yankees he was even quoted as saying to Mike Mussina he didn't like the pressure, didn't like to be under the microscope.

Now that same fragile guy is being asked to save the Twins from yet another early exit from meaningful October baseball, against a team that does nothing but apply pressure, in a scenario where the entire baseball world will be watching him.

Good luck with that.

The loud crowd at the Metrodome is much more likely to unnerve him than the Yankees.

 WCCO Web Producer Karna Bergstrom is a devoted Twins fan who challenged Jeff to the one-on-one smack battle. Here's her response, followed by the first four smack talking blogs from Games 1 and 2.

Now we've got a battle ... thank you for actually talking about a Twins player.

For the record, I did not delve into any excuses as to why the Twins lost Wednesday or will not for Friday. So no need to get sick ... except for eating the Lutefisk, of course.

But if I hear the New York homer announcers on TBS scream loudly for a Yankee run and not for a Twins score one more time ... or if those of you who live there don't believe there is such a thing as East Coast bias ... I'm going to be sick.

Maybe that's why -- and not just in Minnesota, but all over the country -- the Yankees are so hated. Why, unless the person is wearing an NY hat, do people simply say to each other, "I just can't stand those Yanks?" And if it's not the East Coast bias, it's the money, for sure.

As for your Pavano claims, do you really think the loud crowd is going to unnerve Pavano? Unlike Yankee fans, Twins fans forgive. Yankees fans won't forgive him for the broken rib from a traffic accident. Because he was speeding. I'd like to meet a New York fan that has never once sped in their life. (Oh, and for those New Yorkers who are driven everywhere ... I'd like to meet the driver who has never once sped in his or her life.)

So here in Minnesota, with Pavano on the mound, he is forgiven. We've gotten exactly what we wanted from him -- a solid starter. He's delivered and Twins fans will be cheering their loudest for him today -- unlike Yankee fans who have been known to boo their own players.

Yes, we got Pavano from Cleveland in the middle of the year -- and since then, he's lowered his ERA. He must like it here. Either way, you should probably quit whining about how your team didn't look past his 18-6 year with the Marlins to his prior history before signing him for all that money. Did they not see the year he went 1-6 with the Expos? At least we're realistic about what we expect from the guy.

(Which is, for the record, a big giant W tonight. Maybe he wants REVENGE.)

But even if that doesn't happen, and the Yankees win the series, know that Twins players and fans will keep their heads high -- we played clean, good ball and we're not hunched over from all the money we're carrying. We're a wholesome bunch -- cheering on our team that did us so proud in 1987 and 1991. We haven't bought any championships -- we've earned them.

If the Twins don't make it, then go Angels. (Oh, and we still love Torii Hunter. We miss him, but we still love the guy.)


 Jeff's blog from Game 2:

An open letter to the fine people of Minnesota and the Twins:

I know we didn't get off on the right foot on Wednesday. You know, that whole ice fishing hole reference and my rant on "destiny" and all, but I'm here to ask a favor.

I know, I'm really not in position to ask for much of anything considering my apparent New York City arrogance and the Yankees' convincing 7-2 win in Game 1, but I'm here nonetheless on one knee asking you fine folks for your indulgence.

What many Yankees fans need on Friday is your best effort, not because we actually plan on losing Game 2, but because we would like it if you kicked A.J. Burnett around a little. I'll spot you the first three innings. Just put up a five-spot or whatever. We'll even be all right with Nick Blackburn throwing a handful of solid innings.

Why? It's simple really. Burnett is fragile and on some level needs to be spanked. He's made it no secret this season he doesn't like pitching to Jorge Posada, who by all accounts is one of the greatest catchers to ever wear the pinstripes (his butchering behind the plate in Game 1 not withstanding).

Posada doesn't have the greatest postseason numbers, but he's a warrior and can change a game with both his bat and his arm. The problem ... well, it's not really a problem per se ... is Burnett doesn't feel comfortable with Posada calling his games. He's much more at ease when Jose Molina is back there.

Now, don't get us wrong. We like Molina. We love what he brings to the team defensively, but we know better than anybody he's an automatic out with a bat in his hand. That leads to an interesting debate, one manager Joe Girardi has already settled but one that will be analyzed ad nauseum on Friday night and who knows how long after.

That's where you guys come in.

Do we want Burnett to go out there and spin a three-hit shutout? Of course. Is it prudent to give your starting pitcher every chance to win, especially in the postseason? Of course. Are the Yankees better defensively with Molina behind the plate? Yes.

But our problem is Burnett doesn't seem to fit the Yankee ideal. He went just 13-9 with a 4.04 ERA during the regular season. Those are not spectacular numbers considering his $80 million contract. But we know he's more than capable of winning 15-plus games and striking out 250 in any season. Why he didn't do it this season is anyone's guess, but I'm of the belief he's not mentally tough. The Yankees signed him because he has a power arm that is supposed to be lights out in Fenway Park. He carried something like a sub 1.00 ERA in his career in Boston with him the day he signed on the dotted line with the Yankees.

Yet, when he actually pitched there as a Yankee he went 0-2 with a 14.21 ERA in three starts. I don't recall if Molina was behind the plate for any of those starts, but I do know Posada caught him that day in August when he threw a 1-hitter over 7 2-3 innings in the Yankees' 2-0 extra-inning win over the Sox at Yankee Stadium, outpitching Boston ace Josh Beckett along the way.

So we have a dilemma here. Sure, the Yankees want nothing more than to be up 2-0 heading into what would be the final game at the Metrodome, but at the same time they want Posada in the lineup all the time, not just when Burnett deems it necessary.

So, on behalf of Yankees Universe I'm asking you fine people to give Burnett his comeuppance. Beat on him for three innings. Joe Mauer, Michael Cuddyer, Nick Punto, whomever ... just smack him around a little so that both he and Girardi are taught the lesson that you don't mess with Yankee greats unless your case is rock solid.

Burnett did have plenty of good regular season starts with Posada catching. Maybe not as many as he had with Molina, but certainly there wasn't enough of a glaring discrepancy to warrant Girardi upsetting the Yankee Machine apple cart just to appease a pitcher who, if he'd just focus on the task at hand, could probably pitch to me or my 6-year-old son.

So, please, again I'm asking nicely on one knee here, light up Burnett a little. The Yankee players, though they won't admit it publicly, would be greatly appreciative because first and foremost a Burnett stinker with Molina behind the plate all but assures Posada will catch every game going forward and will teach the big right-hander the valuable lesson that he's not bigger than the team regardless of his mental shortcomings.

Now remember, I said you get three innings to do your thing. After that, all bets are off. Once Burnett is given the hook and Posada pinch-hits for Molina in around the fourth inning the series goes back to the way we expect: Yankees rally for 10-9 win, pies fly and they head to Minnesota poised for the sweep.

You do all that and we'll consider letting you get one more win at your old barn.

Sound good? I'll even throw in some of our finest bread from Arthur Avenue in the Bronx and pizza from Brooklyn.

Thank you as always for your time and courtesy.


 Karna's blog from Game 2:

Yawn ... I'm sorry, I nodded off there ... were you writing about the series or whining about some of your players?

An entire blog about a series, between two teams, that hardly mentions the Twins is definitely a highlight of that New York City arrogance.

You'd think now would be the time to stand behind your players, not openly bash them, cause that's my job!

While your guys are strutting around town taking steroids, getting divorced and dating actresses (oh wait, that's just Alex Rodriguez), our guys are seen in commercials with their mothers, on the cover of Sports Illustrated with the title "American Idol" and won another batting title (oh wait, that's just Joe Mauer).

Yes, the Yankees (see I will be talking the other team) did win Wednesday night ... they chose to start the series mere hours after the Twins played practically 1 1/2 games. I'm not going to delve into the excuses the team or the fans could make for why the Twins lost. We lost. Series is at 1-0. Let's move on.

Friday night we've got Nick Blackburn, our Joe Mauer look-a-like, facing off against ... who ... oh yes ... A.J. Burnett (how could I have forgotten?).

I'm surprised Burnett doesn't seem to fit the Yankee ideal ... he sure is getting paid like a Yankee, as you mentioned, with a 5-year $82.5 million contract. Blackburn, on the other hand, gets about $440,000 a year. Oh ... and remember Burnett's ERA is 4.04 while Blackburn's in 4.03.

And I'm sorry that your players have a problem with certain catchers. Guess we can't relate.

As you can probably tell, this blog has a bit more bite than the previous one. Maybe it was because I wrote first and then allowed the New Yorker to respond. Or maybe it's because I've got people telling me to get rid of the Minnesota Nice. You go ahead and speak for the "Yankee Universe" cause we all know that New Yorkers are soft-spoken.

So we'll take on A.J. Burnett ... we'll oblige to your request of scoring some runs FOR YOU. But we'll take it a step further. When you come into the Metrodome 1-1 don't get too scared of our fans. We get loud.

And when you come to the Dome, we'll serve you some Lutefisk. Maybe you can try to swallow that with the foot that will be inserted in your mouth once we beat you twice in the Dome.

 Karna's Blog from Game 1:

Destiny...

Hard work, smardwork ... although that has gotten the Minnesota Twins to the New York, most people just feel it is their destiny, their fate, their time.

And what a time it has been in the past few weeks. The Twins overcame a seven-game deficit in the final month. They went 17-4 to pull even on the final weekend. And on Tuesday night, in grandiose fashion, won their fifth division title in eight years.

Their time is now. The New York Yankees time ... well, let's just say it's NOT NOW.

Granted, the Twins went 0-7 against the Yankees. But only ONE game against the Yankees this year could be considered a blow-out with six of the games decided by two runs or fewer.

The Yankees have such names as Sabathia, Jeter, Rodriguez, Pettitte. Names you hear all the time on ESPN (ahem, East Coast bias).

But the Twins have the MLB Batting Champ and who could (and should) be considered league MVP in Joe Mauer. The largest regular-season baseball crowd in the Metrodome had it right last night chanting "M-V-P!" every time he was up to bat.

Of course Mauer can't carry the entire team on his back, and he doesn't need to.

Can you say Michael Cuddyer, Denard Span, Joe Nathan and even of late Delmon Young?

And those are just the starters.

As demonstrated last night, the Twins can capitalize with players from the bench (ie: Gomez and Casilla who hardly saw any playing time the last month).

You might say the Detroit Tigers imploded in the last few weeks ... but Twins fans know better. They know their team exploded.

They are the first team since divisional play started in 1969 to overcome a three-game deficit with four days left in the regular season.

It's their time ... it's their destiny.

 Jeff's blog from Game 1:

Ah yes ... destiny.

The Minnesota Twins are without a doubt destined to one day win a playoff series.

But as Curt Schilling so deftly pointed out some years back "Destiny" is just another name for a dancer in a topless bar. The Twins, as good a story as they have been this year (and seemingly have been every year under the most underrated manager in baseball, Ron Gardenhire), are in for some serious trouble in this series.

First and foremost, you have to figure they will be "hung over" in more ways than one come first pitch Wednesday night. After that, the long headache will settle in, something all the Advil in the world won't cure.

It's been a long time since 1991. A very long time. And it's about to get a little longer.

In the subsequent 17 years since that seven-game epic World Series win over Atlanta, the Twins are all of 3-13 in four playoff series, including two AL Division Series losses to the Yankees. As my esteemed colleague pointed out, six of the Yankees' seven win over the Twins this season were very close games. But one has to look at the manner in which the Yankees won those games (or the Twins lost them) to really judge whether they were just meaningless regular season games, or something else.

Check this out:

* The Yankees scored three in the bottom of the ninth to win 5-4 on May 15.
* Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run shot in the bottom of the 11th to win 6-4 on May 16.
* Johnny Damon hit a solo shot in the bottom of the 10th to win 3-2 on May 17.
* The Yanks completed a crushing four-game sweep with a 7-6 win on May 18.

The carnage, if you want to call it that, continued in the Metrodome later in the season with a three-game Bombers sweep.

My point here is not to say the Yankees are better than the Twins. They clearly are in every facet of the game that doesn't involve one Joe Mauer, but even that comparison -- the catching comparison -- isn't a slam dunk for the Twins because the combination of Jorge Posada, a proven postseason star, and defensive wizard Jose Molina levels that playing field a little. Sure, you have a catcher who hits .370 and you're golden 99 times out of 100.

This will be that one time where the gold turns to tin.

The Yankees sort of have that swagger of the Yankees of old. They have 15 walk-off wins and about a zillion come-from-behind wins. They have a 19-game winner in CC Sabathia, a proven big-game postseason starter in Andy Pettitte and a high-priced nutjob of a starter named A.J. Burnett, who, when on, can no-hit you.

The Bombers are never out of a game and truly believe they will win every game they play. And though the Twins are accustomed to playing tight ballgames and have a great closer in Joe Nathan, the Yankees have that intangible "it," whatever that "it" is, not to mention an offense from another world, the better starting pitching and the greatest closer in the history of the game locked and loaded for this series.

Now, all that said, I do respect the Twins because of guys like Gardenhire, Mauer, Kubel, Cuddyer, etc., but without Justin Morneau protecting Mauer or vice versa the one true source of power in that lineup will have problems.

So you say the Twins will instead small-ball the Yankees to death? Well, as the Red Sox learned late in the season, the Yankees aren't afraid to run. Brett Gardner, Derek Jeter, Damon, A-Rod, Melky ... they'll all be motoring around the basepaths in this series and it won't be because a ball has cleared the fence. Mauer is a tremendous talent on every level and is the AL MVP (by a hair in my opinion over Mark Teixeira), but he will probably need to have the greatest postseason performance in history -- or since they started keeping track of statistics -- for the Twins to have a chance.

I think, in the end, the Twins were "destined" to catch the Tigers. They were "destined" to give the fans at the Metrodome one more feel-good moment before they move into their new outdoor digs next season (that's a whole other rant by the way. I feel they will struggle outdoors with Favre in a parka in the dugout, but that's an argument for another day). They were "destined" to show the country that Minnesota is a beautiful place filled with true professionals. They were "destined" to prove once again how great Gardenhire is as a manager.

But now they will be "destined" to do something else.

Ride a broom to their offseason ice fishing holes.

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