The Twins start a six-game homestand tonight, facing Texas three times and then the mighty Kansas City Royals. The Twins schedule gets decidedly easier after the Ranger series. I said at the beginning of the month that if the Twins could play .500 ball in August that they would win their division. As of today, the last day of the month, they are 14-13 for the month of August. Considering the schedule that they have played, that is an excellent month.

The Twins played a schedule in August with an aggregate winning percentage of .531 (as of July 31). With one night left in August, the September schedule has an aggregate winning percentage of .484 (the Twins play three games in October against Cleveland, who are exactly .500 as of today). True, the Twins have a number of games left against both the White Sox (6) and Indians (7), but they also have a 7-game lead over Cleveland and 7.5 game lead over the White Sox. Considering that the White Sox have a 12-16 record in August (against a very easy schedule) and play 19 of their next 22 games against teams with winning records and the Indians have a 13-15 record (their schedule wasn't so great either) in August and play 18 of their final 30 games against over .500 teams, it seems highly unlikely that the Twins can be caught.

The Twins are sending out Kyle Lohse tonight to pitch against the Rangers against Ryan Drese. This seems like a recipe for an "L" in the Twins column. I said as much last week, when the Twins destroyed Drese and Lohse was able to pick up a victory despite allowing five runs in just five innings. I expect that Drese will pitch much better tonight. Look for a Ranger victory to end the month.

With all of the talk about "anybody but Barry" for MVP, I thought I'd put Barry's career in a little perspective. I've talked a lot about Barry's 2004 campaign... it has been nothing short of fantastic, possibly the best season ever by any player. Barry's career hasn't been too bad, either. Here is a list (as of right now) of the career leaders in times on base.

Bonds has reached base exactly 300 times so far this year (in 118 games played). He is on pace to reach base 64 more times, which would be the second highest total ever (Ruth reached 379 times in 1923). Assuming that Bonds plays three more years (his contract calls for two more, the second year not yet vested) and he reaches an average of 300 times a year (he reached an average of 302 times from 2001-03), he will have reached base more than any other player in the history of the game.

I am unabashedly a Barry Bonds fan... (in case you didn't notice). A lot of people have questioned why I am. The media has told as that Barry is a bad guy, not someone we should be rooting for. In fact, Rick Reilly, longtime sportswriter for Sports Illustrated wrote a column in 2001, openly rooting against Barry when he challenged (and eventually surpassed) Mark McGwire's home run record. We've been told that he's rude and obnoxious, and the whispers have grown louder and louder that he's been using steroids.

Listen, I want to watch Barry Bonds play baseball. I don't want to have dinner with Barry Bonds, I don't want to ask him the meaning of life. I just want to enjoy his extreme talent, and I admire the way he has played over his career -- he has been singularly great. End of story.

Perhaps Barry Bonds is the biggest jackass of all time. Maybe, just maybe, he's not. I can tell you this -- I'm not gonna form my opinion of him based on media reports. In support of his 2001 story, Mr. Reilly relied on none other than Jeff Kent, noted all-around good guy. Who could forget when Kent injured his wrist "washing his truck." Or was it riding his motorcycle in violation of his contract? Who could forget when Kent lashed out at a teammate, only to be brought back into line with a hand to the throat by none other than Mr. Bonds? Nice source, Rick.

No, the media has been wrong before about an athlete's character. Magic Johnson, we were told was such a good guy. (Forget that he slept with, by his count, 2000 women all the while having a long term girlfriend at home.) Or how about Kirby Puckett? Winner of the Roberto Clemente award, Puckett's reputation as a great guy was destroyed just a couple of months after his induction into the Hall of Fame. Some will tell you that Derek Jeter is a perfect role model, though not all will agree.

Or how about Kobe Bryant? Mr. Reilly wrote a column in the spring of 2003 telling us that he was all that (possibly better than MJ!!!). And of course, Mr. Reilly, that great judge of character, informed us that Kobe was mature, with a wife and child and was never "in the back of a squad car." As far as I know, that's still true, as Mr. Bryant turned himself in to face rape charges. Mr. Reilly's employer ran a bombshell story about the prosecution's evidence in his upcoming trial today, and it seems that an acquittal may not be a foregone conclusion. As Chuck Barkley said, we are not role models. And he oughta know.

I am not so naive to think that Barry Bonds is a great guy because he can pound opposing pitching into submission. I am neither naive to believe the media's take on any player's character, be it a good or bad portrayal. I just enjoy his talents and make no further judgments.

Can anyone tell me exactly what a "catastrophic success" is?