Minnesota Twins

Before I get started, hat tip to Todd Civin for giving me the idea for this one. I was suffering a particularly bad case of writer's block. Now I feel like I'm on a springboard back to spewing out four or five articles a week, nothing out of my ordinary.

This is something I have pondered on my own but not until now decided to write about. How much does Boston owe to (the great) state of Minnesota? I mean, seriously.

Late April on the Major League Baseball front is the time when teams, successful or not, begin to fine-tune their lineups.

So, here's a few modest proposals for Major League teams to consider.

Cincinnati Reds

Take Micah Owings off the mound and install him as an everyday player.

Holy Babe Ruth, the kid can crush the ball.

In 126 Major League at-bats, Owings is hitting .325 with 19 extra-base hits and 23 RBI.

When Jose Morales made the club out of spring training as Joe Mauer's replacement, the assumption was that Morales would fill in until Mauer was ready to return. It was a fair assumption because, after all, with a tight bench to begin with, making room for three catchers would be a difficult task.

Much in the same manner as the Twins did with their 11-man pitching staff idea, the team has rethought the plan to ship Morales to triple-A when their All-Star catcher returns to the lineup Friday, in the Metrodome against the Kansas City Royals.

Those comparisons to great hitters of recent yore have long since died down. Suddenly, Delmon Young was just another talented, but struggling outfielder who had his current employers wondering if he would ever develop into something special.

It's still much too early to ascertain whether Young, the first pick in the 2003 amateur draft, will turn into an offensive presence like Albert Belle, a hitter to whom he's most often compared. But Young, after a slow start in 2009, is definitely showing signs of life.

The last time these two teams met, both were in a fight for the playoffs. The Rays sought their first division title in their franchise's history, while the Twins were simply trying to stay afloat in the AL Central race.

Needless to say, this series is pretty far removed from a September pennant chase, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be followed fairly closely.

For the Twins, this series is finishing strong.

Kevin Slowey was magnificent in spring training, but once the games actually counted, he seemed to lose the momentum he had gained in camp.

In both of his first two starts, Slowey gave up five runs while failing to record an out past the sixth inning.

After watching tape of his second start, Slowey worked to correct a mechanical flaw he had found and the results were nearly instantaneous.

After shutting down his second opponent in a row on Saturday, Slowey looks every bit the pitcher who cleaned up in the Grapefruit League.

A dagger digs deeper into the hearts of the Minnesota Twins faithful each time Johan Santana authors another quality start for the New York Mets.

Santana, whom the Twins were forced to deal in February 2008 for four prospects, is off to a fast and furious start this season.

On Friday, the former American League Cy Young winner limited the Washington Nationals to one run over six innings while striking out 10. Thus far, Santana is sporting a 0.70 ERA with a gaudy strikeout-to-walk ratio of six to one.

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When the Minnesota Twins out-righted Phillip Humber to triple-A last week to make room for the hard throwing Juan Morillo, they took a gamble on losing the former fourth round draft selection. Out of options, Humber needed to clear waivers to remain with the organization.

Three times through the rotation, the Twins have had a few surprises. There are none bigger, however, than the emergence of Glen Perkins.