Eddie Guardado is again a Minnesota Twins player. The Twins acquired “Everyday Eddie” from Texas Monday in order to help their bullpen.

Opposing teams are not the only ones that need to look out for Guardado, but also new members of the club. Guardado is well-known for his clubhouse pranks and jokes.

“Those guys out there ought to be afraid,” Gardenhire said, pointing into the visiting clubhouse containing Guardado’s new teammates. “Because he takes it to another level to entertain in the clubhouse. We’ve tried to tell them.

“That’s one of the reasons we’re able to do this with Eddie. We know him. Look out rookies — I guarantee it.”

Well - good advice Coach! Let’s hope we hear some stories very soon about some rookie being introduced to Guardado.

In case you haven’t noticed, the best pennant chase in Major League Baseball is not happening in the American League East. It’s actually happening in the AL Central, where the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins are fighting for the top spot.

Coming into today’s games, the White Sox hold a slim one-half game lead over the second place Twins. However, it took 12th inning heroics by the Kansas City Royals to knock the Twins from the top spot on Sunday.

Sure, the AL East has big names like the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees (who are both losing to the Tampa Bay Rays). And the National League East seems to have a good fight between the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets. But, the Twins and White Sox are both defying the odds. This wasn’t supposed to be the story this season. It was the Detroit Tigers’ year to win the division. Not so fast!

Chicago opened the season at 28/1 odds of winning the AL pennant. Minnesota faced 15/1 odds. Both trailed Detroit at 6/1 odds. However, it’s the White Sox and Twins that are the stories this season, with unproven lineups and pitching rotations.

The two clubs have just one three-game series left against each other, which will take place September 23, 24, and 25 at the Metrodome. We’ll have to wait and see how this chase finishes.

Think you know who will win the AL Central? Make your voice be heard with a comment or by voting in the poll (located in the right sidebar).

Photo of Chicago White Sox outfielder Jermaine Dye: Newscom