Twins 5 - 3 A's

Is Juan Rincon's job now to set up save situations for Joe Nathan? After eight shut-out innings from Santana and Neshek (with eight strike-outs for Santana) Rincon comes in and gives up two runs in the ninth in spectacular fashion, hitting the lead-off batter and then giving up a home run, all so Nathan can come in and get the save. This isn't the first time this year I've seen him come into a game the Twins were dominating and give up just enough runs to create a save opportunity, and it's damned annoying. What's funny is Nathan's first pitch should have ended the game, when Bobby "Bada-Bing" Crosby hit a ground ball to Jason Bartlett who turned a double play with Castillo... the throw to first was in time, but the umpire disagreed and Crosby reached on a fielder's choice. (This was the second bullshit double play call, after Justin Morneau lined out to short in the fifth, and Michael Cuddyer had to dive back to second base to tag up, made it, and still got called out for the double play, but these things happen when teams from lucrative TV markets hit town.)

Crosby made it home on a double by Jason Kendall, but Nathan got the last out off of former Twin Shannon Stewart, who went 0-5. I enjoyed Stewart's bad day at the plate because of the continuing debate amongst Twins fans over a pre-season decision to sign Lew Ford over Shannon Stewart, when both signed for similar salaries and Stewart has been having a great year at the plate, while Lew Ford remains a marginal player. There were numerous reasons not to sign Stewart as a fifth outfielder, like Ford's range allows him to back up Torii Hunter in center field, and Stewart's champions always seem to gloss over his shortcomings. Since those who can't let go of the road not taken are a pretty bitter lot, they're all waiting in the wings for Stewart to come back and haunt us, and it's gratifying to see him go 0-5 and force them to bide their time before they can tear down their own team again.

Nick Punto seemed to be clearly aware he's on the trading block, as the Twins weigh the relative merit of a 3rd baseman who plays great defense and runs the bases well, but can't get on base or hit for any power. Despite his public nonchalance, his error in the 8th seemed down to trying way too hard... up 5-0, he tried to make a rolling barehanded grab at a ground ball and throw it to first in one motion to stop a lead-off single, and instead threw the ball into the A's dugout. Neshek got the next three batters anyways, so Punto's error didn't cost the Twins anything, but a play like that, if successful, is the only reason to keep him around. Now the Twins just need to find somebody so astoundingly stupid that they'll take Punto and Rincon for a power-hitting third baseman... maybe they should try the Giants. And happy birthday to Brooke Ballentyne, wherever you are.