We all knew he couldn't be in a slump all season long, but who knew he'd hit a hot streak like this? I'm talking, of course, about David Ortiz, who Sunday against the Tigers hit his 6th home run since the All-Star break. Goddamn. About the only guy on the team left not to have a hot streak this season now is Mientkiewicz, who makes up for it nonetheless by being the best defensive first baseman in baseball right now. Yeah yeah... I don't want to hear about John Olerud. Johnny's got the bat, but Doug's got the glove. The difference is, when it comes to batting, players have hot streaks and players have slumps, but when it comes to fielding, either you have it or you don't. Players don't have streaks defensively. The Twins have to feel pretty good having swept back-to-back series against Cleveland and Detroit and now traveling to play the badly slumping ChiSox. What's the magic number at now?

And since I'm on the subject of clinching a championship early, how about Michael Schumacher clinching his fifth Formula One world championship already after winning the French Grand Prix? Love him or hate him you have to admit one thing: the bastard can drive a car. Fast. Damn.