(sound of deflating balloon)

The last game in New York was disappointing. Not only losing the game but also losing Tsuyoshi Nishioka. I don't think the slide was dirty but maybe a little excessive he was pretty wide of the bag. I was surprised that it happened didn't the coaching staff prepare Nishioka for this? Japanese baseball is different then MLB, they rarely intentionally slide into second to break up a double play. The coaching staff should have stressed that with Nishi, they had to have seen that in spring ball. That slide wouldn't have hurt him if he had jumped like any other second basemen would have. Hopefully the break isn't too severe and he can return soon. Of course this will put him back at square one just when he was getting into a rhythm. His parents have come over from Japan for the home opener, perhaps they can keep his spirits up.

Wednesday before the game was called I heard a lot of rumbling about Joe Mauer not being in the line up. Today I read an article by Bob Sansevere complaining that he should at least DH. Its not rest for his legs if he has to run the bases. Sansevere thinks Joe should play a different position to save his legs. I get that people want to see Joe play and he is an amazing player and not having him in the lineup is a blessing for the other teams pitchers, but he is a catcher. Not a first basemen, not a left fielder, a catcher! Having been a catcher I would contend it is the best position in baseball. It is fun to be catcher, everything happens out in front of you, your the field general. Joe doesn't want to be anything but the catcher. If he played another position he would lose a huge part of himself, the joy would be gone and so would a lot of what makes Joe so special. I trust Gardy is doing the right thing and late in the season it will mean Joe is in the lineup not the training room. Just saw that Nishi is going on 15 DL...promising! GO TWINS!