Hardy compares his experince with Baltimore vs the Twins. We learn its not just Gardy who preaches "go the other way" its ingrained in the whole organization.

Money quote:

"My first round of BP with the Twins, I was trying to (pull the ball), and Rod Carew and those guys call me over and say, `That’s not we want. We want line drives the other way,"’ Hardy said. "So that was my approach for the Twins."

My concern is will the Twins try this with Willingham?

If La Velle is right (and he is often wrong) the Twins only bullpen signing is Matt Capps and the only FA pitching acquisition is Marquis. So they did not address their poor pitching staff and bullpen, but they did get better from the right side of the plate, and did get better defensively.
I am pretty disappointed as the FO sold 3 Million tickets last year and if they would have spent 8 - 10 million more they could have had some good bullpen arms and maybe stretched things to get a quality starting pitcher. That would've reduced the sting of losing Cuddy, Kubel and Nathan.

A decent little blog post with some nuggets on Cuddy as a person behind the scenes.
But of course LaVelle repeats his Mauer digs which I have heard him say on the radio about Joe not being a leader, always in the whirlpool instead of lifting weights, hiding in the clubhouse, etc etc etc.
Its not just Souhan who seems to blame Joe for everything! Hopefully Mauer proves these folks wrong and gets back on the HOF track!

E-Town Pitcher Todd Van Steensel gives a nice inside perspective on the Mashing done by Sano and Rosario.

These two are young and in rookie ball so it will be several years before we know how they turn out, but right now they look like future all stars.

If "battled injuries" and "couldn't stay healthy" are justifiable reasons to trade / DFA someone, shoulldn't Bill Smith trade Mauer and Morneau?

Maybe the Royals have a Single A reliever who can throw the heat. I'll be they could use Mauer.

Do you think Bill Smith should throw in Morneau with Span so we could entice the Nationals to trade Storen?

In the quest for positive feelings toward my fav organization i had to dig into E-town videos
Here is one of Sano hitting an HR
Looking forward to watching him develop

As usual Bill Smith procrastinated and fantasied about trading Span for relievers before he finial settled on trading Delmon for another future reliever.
Once he got that out of the way he could focus on signing the top three picks which he did in the nick of time
Levi Michael
Travis Harrison
Hudson Boyd
Welcome to the fold

Too bad Burdi couldn't be had

Uh Oh
Keep Slowey Keep Slowey Keep Slowey

Minnesota Twins, whose eagerness to fill their bullpen at the expense of their lineup is so antiquated, so backward, so very silly that the idea they almost did it twice in a row makes GM Bill Smith look like he’s in over his head. Turns out his insistence on the inclusion of Storen torpedoed the deal, which, funny enough, makes the Twins winners. Sure, they didn’t get rid of Jason Kubel(notes) or Michael Cuddyer(notes). With just 6½ games separating them from first place and a lineup of underachievers they’re hoping will break out, Minnesota didn’t need to.
Can't say I disagree

I didnt even know he got called up but i checked the box score and it turns out he pitched today.
Looks like he did well.

Calls Mauer Injury Prone, calls all MLB players overpaid, complains about the Media and says the press should lay off Mauer. And somehow he lumps Ayn Rand into it.

Did he get promoted right after coming back from injury? Any chance this points to Hicks moving to AA

One of the best Minor League / prospect analysts reviews the Twins Draft. He gives a player-by player review of the top Ten Picks. "Overall, I think it is a solid class though not ground-breaking."
He reviews the rest of the AL central too, check it out:
http://www.minorleagueball.com

Pat Neshek's last 10 games:
11 IP
13 SO
1 ER
6 BB
He has been up and down between the Majors and AAA but that has more to do with NL teams needing more bench help. Dumping Neshek when the Bullpen was a major weakness remains one of Bill Smith's dumbest blunders. Right up there with the Delmon / Garza / Bartlett trade.
Would the season be different if Smith did not do this? Probably not, but it might mean one or two more wins and less Jim Hoey

It would be nice to give the infirmary ward one more day to clear out.
Go Rain!

PMac is kicking out the content at 1500's website. If you want constant updates, video, pictures go there. Way better than the Strib.
Its awesome to see PMac doing well. If they would just get rid of that Garage Logic garbage, I would never listen to KFAN

Pretty cool.
Lots of interviews and fun to see/get to know some of the guys who many of us only know as Stats. - Too bad they are playing so poorly this year.

Toby Gardenhire is now one call away. While Benson, De Los Santos, & Parmelee were sent down to A Ball
Too bad Santos is on the 40 man while Slama has to wait

HR?
Foul Ball?
Has that ever happened before?

Det is 1 game behind, they are the hottest team in baseball and Twins have some major injuries.

Time for the Twins to step on their throats and sweep.

He has the 5th most SO in Advanced A
I expect him up a level after the All Star Break

Bummer, but expected. I hope Slama gets a fair chance.

He wrote about Mauer is one injury away from losing at least $100,000,000, went through his injury history and even question the wisdom to signing him to a long term contract. Am getting stupider or is someone else writing his articles?