Sox still following the script every Twins team hands out

Blame it on Kevin Beirne.

The White Sox had just clinched the 2000 American League Central title on a Sunday afternoon in late-September at the Metrodome after the Cleveland Indians had lost. So the extra-inning game with the Minnesota Twins meant absolutely nothing.

But, with a couple of exceptions, ever since Matt Lawton's game-ending homer off Beirne, the Twins have firmly been in the White Sox' heads.

Sox players and coaches may claim otherwise but the sorry results have been clear.

When these two teams play -- other than the 2005 World Series championship season and in the 2008 Central playoff game -- the Twins are going to find a way to win and the Sox are going to find a way to lose.

Moving out of the Metrodome to Target Field didn't change anything. It's no different at U.S. Cellular Field.

Nothing would change if they went across the street to the parking lot and played where Old Comiskey Park stood. Or if they teed it up at where the Twins used to play at Metropolitan Stadium, which is now the home of the Mall of America.

The Twins are squarely in the Sox' heads. The names may change but the scripts seem to come out the same.

When the Twins need someone to make a big start they get it from Joe Mays, Brad Radke, Johan Santana or Francisco Liriano. When they need a big finish they get it from Eddie Guardado, Joe Nathan or Matt Capps.

Corey Koskie, Nick Punto or Doug Mientkiewicz. Lew Ford, Jason Kubel or Danny Valencia. Luis Rivas, Shannon Stewart or Cristian Guzman. They would all get big hits and make big plays.

Torii Hunter would crash into a wall to save a run, and into a catcher to score one.

And where are all the naysayers now who hammered the Twins for drafting hometown hero Joe Mauer while the Cubs snagged future Hall of Famer Mark Prior? Does Mauer hit a homer against anyone else besides the Sox?

The Sox always have the South Side Hit Men with the big scary numbers. Then the Twins show up and Magglio Ordonez, Frank Thomas, Carlos Lee, Jose Valentin, Paul Konerko or Carlos Quentin invariably come up short in a clutch situation.

So Manny Ramirez, who is proving to be one of the most worthless late-season pickups in baseball history, simply joined the lack of clubbing Tuesday night when he came up empty in a big spot.

The Sox hang a curve and it gets hung out to dry. The Twins throw a flat slider and it's popped up.

The Sox make an error and it leads to a huge inning. When the Twins boot one it's with a 6-run lead in the ninth.

So those who held out hope for a Sox sweep and a miracle in this week's supposed big series got "Beirne-d" again. You forgot the Twins are in the Sox' heads.

You'll remember next year when it's time once again for the Sox to absorb their usual beatings from the soon-to-be AL Central champions.