Media access was chopped in half this morning - we didn't get a heads up the team was going to have a 9:30 a.m. meeting - so my sample size is small. But there seems to be a comfort level in the clubhouse that I haven't sensed in the past,

Perhaps it's because the Twins are opening at home and the helter-skelter of playing in 163 games last season was replaced by clinching early and easing into the postseason.

Matt Guerrier told some reporters that he thinks home field advantage is important. I've heard this from other players too. I'm not that big on it, especially after finding out that home field has not guaranteed success in the past. But I will admit that it doesn't hurt given that the Yanks have lost in the first round the three times they've been the wild card - 1995, 1997 and 2007.

It looks like Jon Rauch, who has battled a sore knee over the last week,is going to throw off the mound to prove his fitness.

The rest of the team just hit the field for warmups, and it looks like they are going to take batting practice.

The Yankees will work out around five. It will be interesting to see if manager Joe Girardi provides more details about his postseason roster. Will A.J. Burnett even make the ALDS roster? Will Boone Logan be the only lefty reliever?

Bud Selig was on the `Mike and Mike in the Morning,' show on ESPN this morning. At least he indicated that there will be more discussion this offseason about expanding instant replay. But it should already be in place for the postseason. Last season, frankly, was a joke. And it wasn't just Phil Cuzzi missing Joe Mauer's double down the line last year.

Check back later for updates.

UPDATE: Jerry Crawford, a 34-year Major League Umpire, will be the crew chief for Twins-Yankees series Crawford's crew will include Hunter Wendelstedt, Greg Gibson, Brian O'Nora, regular season crew chief Gary Darling and Chris
Guccione.

Keep in mind that Twins manager Ron Gardenhire doesn't have the greatest history with Wendelstedt