BASEBALL: Minnesota at Boston

It's a slow day in sports so our best bet is to turn to the baseball pennant races. So far, the Mets are the only team who has clinched their division. The Cardinals and A's do appear to have their respective divisions locked up. And the Yankees magic number is down to just 1 game. A Red Sox loss or Yankees win will give the Yanks their 9th consecutive AL East crown. Perhaps the NL West race is the most exciting since Los Angeles and San Diego are exactly tied with 12 games to go. But for today's TOTW, I'm picking the Boston-Minnesota game since it can both clinch the AL East for New York and also give the Twins the lead for the AL Central.

Detroit has indeed come back to the pack, as predicted right here on your The One To Watch blog. I think most people actually saw this coming. The bigger surprise in the AL Central is probably that the White Sox have fallen 5 games back. But I wouldn't count them out yet.

In tonight's game, Boston pitches their ace Curt Schilling. Schill has had an up-and-down year by his lofty standards with a 14-7 record and 4.14 ERA. But he's certainly bounced back nicely from an injury plagued 2005 season. On the other hand, making their run all the more incredible, Minnesota's pitching is in chaos. Liriano and Radke are hurt and they're starting some guy named "Boof" tonight. That's right, rookie Boof Bonser will be taking his respectable 5-5 record and 4.52 ERA to the mound for the Twins. And you know what? They'll probably win.

My pick: Minnesota. How can you go against a guy named Boof?

Since this Sunday will mark the 100th TOTW, today begins my countdown of the top 5 girls of The One To Watch. #5 is pro golfer Natalie Gulbis. She is single-handedly responsible for making the LPGA sexy, even if it's still boring. Gulbis even appears every month in FHM Magazine where she offers suggestions for taking strokes off your game. Hmmm.