Minnesota Twins Replace the Cleveland Indians

August is almost upon us, and the excitement of postseason baseball is beginning to creep in to each game involving a contender.

Unfortunately for me, the Indians are on the wrong side of those games. Cleveland has firmly inserted itself in last place and has been looking towards 2009 since about June 1.

Since I won't have my own team to cheer for come October, I have to pick a new horse to ride.

I could make the trendy pick and follow the upstart Rays, whose improbable run still seems to ultimately disappoint. Or I could go with the team that CC landed with, the Brewers. Their run seems to stand a legitimate chance. However, when living in central Illinois, it's never a good idea to root against the Cubs' closest rival.

So I'm picking the Twins. Yeah, those Twins, from the land of 10,000 lakes. Those Twins that, as of July 30, are all of one-half game behind the White Sox and looking to take the lead after their head-to-head matchup this evening.

Since the break, the Twins are 6-6, but have won their past four in a row. The White Sox are 5-6 since the break and are currently riding a three-game losing streak.

A comparison of the offensive stats of both clubs shows that the Twins' leaders are superior to the White Sox in every major area, except home runs.

Carlos Quentin is the only player that has topped Twins' hitters this season, and honestly, how much can be expected of him for the rest of the season. For his career, Quentin is a .252 hitter with only 41 total home runs.

Don't get me wrong, he has shown his worth this season and certainly was a brilliant pick-up, but I wonder how much longer he can continue to play at this extremely high level.

By contrast, the Twins' hitters have proven themselves, in the past, and look poised to make a late-season run. Anchored by MVP Justin Morneau (.320, 17, 82) and All-Star Joe Mauer (.402 OBP), the veteran talent may be what leads these Twins past the Sox.

The young players on the Twins have also played a huge role this season. The likes of Alexi Casilla, Delmon Young, and Denard Span are all hitting above .290, and the defense of this young team has been superb.

The difference in starting pitching is minimal, as both teams have a 10-game winner, but neither has the type of quality that would create a significant advantage for either side.

Livan Hernandez has shown shades of his former self, including a high ERA, in his 10 wins. Thankfully for the Twins, they have Joe Nathan to clean up after them and lock down the wins.

Should the Twins make a move in the next day, or a waiver move in the next month, I believe they will surely have the tools to take this division and extend their run into the playoffs, perhaps as this year's Rockies.

Sorry White Sox fans, well, no I am not. I'm sick of hearing about you being the World Champions. Let it go. It was three years ago. Now I want to see you fail.