Welcome to October, Chicago White Sox

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↵Speaking of successful blackouts, the White Sox implored their fans to wear the color of intimidation to last night’s one-game playoff against the Twins and, clearly, it scared the Minnesota’s bats into futility. Either that, or John Danks was just plan filthy. I’ll go with the latter. ↵↵The only threat the Twins could muster over Danks’ eight outstanding innings of two-hit ball came when Michael Cuddyer wound up on third with one out after leading off the inning with a double. Cuddyer was promptly thrown out at home, however, after he dared to test the 38-year-old arm of Junior. Although I must begrudgingly give most of the credit to A.J. Pierzynski for somehow holding onto the ball despite all of Cuddyer’s 215 pounds slamming into his arm. ↵

↵↵That play proved to be the difference after Jim Thome -- a lefty with “average power” -- absolutely demolished a Nick Blackburn change-up 462 feet to dead center to give the Chisox the only run they’d need. The amazing part about that bomb was that it almost appeared to travel as high as it did far, as if it was a high pop up that landed 60 feet beyond the outfield wall. I’m not really sure you can hit a ball any harder than that. Althought that blast was nearly outdone by Ken Griffey’s replacement in center, Brian Anderson, who made what I guess you could call a walk-off diving catch ... or something like that. (You can check out the video after the jump.)↵

↵↵Now the Sox travel to Tampa to take on everyone’s little darlings, the Rays. That party gets started at 2:30 tomorrow afternoon with Javier Vazquez (5-9, 5.10 ERA on the road) facing James Shields (9-2, 2.59 ERA at home). ↵

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