We're Number One! We're Number Ow!

Apparently, Twins veteran utility infielder Denny Hocking had his finger stepped on in the postgame victory celebration the other day and will miss the ALCS. He will be replaced by 27-year-old journeyman David Lamb, who was 1-for-10 in a September call-up this year. With Luis Rivas' injury forcing Hocking to play and play well in the final game of the A's series, this could really hurt the Twins.

Minnesota also apparently made two other moves. Right-handed reliever Tony Fiore, who got knocked around in his one postseason appearance, has been deactivated in favor of veteran right-handed stiff Bob Wells. Wells has had some success with the Angels (3.18 ERA and 8 Ks in 11.1 innings since 1999, but with 15 hits, 3 HRs, and .300+ batting average). Fiore has not a great deal success against Anaheim (7.94 in 5.2 innings over the last few years). These are extremely small samples, but I guess they matter to the Twins.

DH David Ortiz has also been deactivated in favor of September call-up Todd Sears according to the ESPN Twins roster. They both bat left and play the same position (1B). Ortiz is batting .097 (.308 OPS) against the Angels this year, but unless he is injured, why would the Twins bench a starting player in favor of a 26-year-old scrub (he's number 58) with seven games of major-league experience? As a matter of fact, if Ortiz is not injured, how can they procedurally replace him with a September call-up? There is no one else on the DL, thereby allowing the Twins to activate Sears (a la Anaheim's Francisco Rodriguez replacing Steve Green, who was injured last March).