We Need a Hero

Okay, yeah, I hate the Yankees and everything, but watching Game 1 of the Yanks-Tigers series, it became clear.
Derek Jeter is the MVP.
Not Johan Santana.
Not Justin Morneau.
And definitely not Joe Mauer.
Jeter went 5-for-5 in Game 1 of that series, with two singles, two doubles and a homerun.
Yes, Jeter's skills as a shortstop are overrated, and if Jeter made the catch Punto made in Game 1, it'd be on SportsCenter every five seconds for the next 25 years.
But for fucks sake the guy went 5-for-5!
That is what MVP's do in the playoffs. They don't go 1-for-3 with a two-out, bases empty single.
If the Twins are going to snap out of this postseason funk, whether it be in this series against Oakland, or in the future (I'm fairly confident they'll return to the postseason a few more times in the next decade), they need their marquee players to step up the way Jeter does for the Yankees.
Kirby Puckett did it. Jack Morris did it, too.
I am in no way suggesting it's Johan Santana's fault the Twins lost Game 1, but hey, the guy could've pitched a shutout. Barry Zito was better than him that day.
The scary thing about this generation of Twins is that we're getting used to them going in the tank when it matters most.
Who among us was surprised that Zito shut them down?
Who was surprised to see Torii Hunter make the most bone-headed play in the Metrodome since Lonnie Smith?
Who is surprised that Nick Punto, Jason Tyner, Jason Bartlett and Luis Castillo don't scare anyone in the playoffs?
If there is any good news, its that there is maybe one guy on the Twins roster with a bona fide history of sacking up, and that is the man taking the mound Friday night - Brad Radke.
If he was 100% healthy, I'd be completely confident he will win, and even with his shoulder issues, I still have a good feeling about Game 3. As unclutch as the Twins have been in this series, they are still a team with a lot of fight in them, and a team that overcame a lot to get here. They won't just roll over in Game 3.
And if they win Game 3, Santana would likely take the mound for Game 4. Could the A's beat him twice in one series?
And if not, can Boof beat Zito back at the Dome in Game 5?
For all that to fall into place for the Twins, someone, check that several guys, are going to have to man up.
I don't mean working the count for a walk, or singling to the opposite field with two outs and nobody on.
I mean going 3-for-4 or 4-for-5, I mean a two-out bases loaded double, I mean pitching a shutout.
That's what MVPs do.
Let's see if we have any.