The WHOLE Twins team got a rest Monday as the headed to KC.  This was their first rest since May 5, 20 games ago.  Now, after yesterday's rest, they will go on another 20 game stand without a day off.  The Twins needed this rest, especially after recent injuries depleted their lineup.  Gomez hurt his wrist in Colorado; Punto, Tolbert, and Everett headed to the DL.  If I forgot any injuries please post!

Suddenly, the Twins started playing sloppy baseball.   DP balls were getting muffed up.  There was a lack of effort on the field.  Overthrowing the cutoff men allowing baserunners to move up.  All of these were both mental and physical mistakes.  Hopefully this day off will refocus the Twins team and get them back in fighting form.

I know one person spent his day off enjoying it.  Justin Morneau stayed behind in Detroit to watch the hockey playoffs and, although I am not sure, the basketball playoffs as well.  Morneau has been hitting well recently, although no homers have been hit, but he is driving in runs with hits, which is what he was doing back in 06 when he won the MVP award.

Gomez has also been hitting well.  He has shown more power and seems more reluctant now to bunt.  A sign that he trusts himself enough to get on.  While he has been hitting well, we have seen a dramatic decrease in the number of SB.  Gomez always gets on and then the batter behind him either drives a single or double, or it is a hit and run, or some such thing which have cut down his SB.  He also appears not so willing to steal anymore.  I am not saying that he isn't but he doesn't seem to get as big a lead or anything anymore.  Disappointing!!

Casilla is making a mark on the team.  Casilla has an equal number of homeruns (out of the park :)) than Delmon Young (0), Joe Mauer (0), Mike Lamb (1), and Michael Cuddyer (1).  Casilla has been a pleasant surprise and hopefully he will continue hitting well so that it will be impossible to send him down.  In his first game, Casilla looked really rusty and Twins fans and bloggers started beating hard at Casilla.  However, a few games in, Casilla has surprised fans with his 2 homeruns and 10 of his 19 career RBI in his callup.  Twins fans=fickle fans.  "Oh, he really sucks...he should be sent down, he sucks so bad."  After 10 games in which the player performs well, "Oh, he is so amazing...I always said this kid would be one of the best...so-on and so forth."

Now, we head into KC to take on the Reeling Royals.  The Royals have lost 8 games straight and 9 of their last 10 and will look to Bannister to get them back on the winning track, while the Twins have won one straight and have played .500 ball in the last 10 games with a 5-5 record.  They will turn to Blackburn to continue his success and keep them on the winning track.

Probables for series:

Bannister (4-6) vs. Blackburn (4-3)

Greinke (5-2) vs. Hernandez (6-2)

Hochevar (3-4) vs. Slowey (1-4)

Tonight, Carlos Gomez will get a well deserved rest.  Gomez has struggled recently at the plate with more strikeouts and not very good at bats.  In the past 45 ABs, he has only 6 hits (0 walks), 1 RBI and 13 strikeouts.  His batting average in that span is a paltry .133...something you do not want in your leadoff hitter.  While Gomez has not done well at the plate he has picked it up defensively with nice running catches and a beautiful game-saving catch in the top of the ninth against the Indians.  However, Gomez needed this rest in order to get back on track.

 With this rest it should clear Gomez's head and maybe we will see Gomez get back on track with a few singles within the next few games to raise his average and confidence.  So, tonight, Span starts in his stead. 

I love many of the new features that we’ve added to Twins Territory, and I feel that they can all help make us into a bigger and better Twins community.

With that said, one of my favorite features, more like a feature within a feature, is the ability for all members of the site to post a FanBlog.

This feature has the chance to go a long way, but can only do so if readers become involved, sign up and then proceed to use their very own FanBlog. The blog is your own. It appears within your user profile and on your very own blog. In addition, all blogs by all users are compiled into one big member blog which can be found on the Clubhouse drop-down menu.

As you can probably tell, this feature is pretty cool and allows quite a bit. It is pretty easy to post a member blog, but if you need some tips, you can follow our steps.