SCOUTING REPORT: How the Twins are tied for first place in the AL Central should be one of the bigger stories in baseball.
During the offseason, they lost their closer (Eddie Guardado), their top catcher (A.J. Pierzynski) and their No. 2 starter (Eric Milton) for financial reasons.
Then due to injuries they are without their new catcher (rookie Joe Mauer), their third baseman (Corey Koskie), their leftfielder (Shannon Stewart), their second baseman (Luis Rivas) and another top starter (Joe Mays). Two other key players have spent time on the disabled list, catcher/DH Matthew LeCroy and centerfielder Torii Hunter.
But GM Terry Ryan does a good job building (and annually rebuilding) a team, and manager Ron Gardenhire handles it well. The Twins rank in the middle of the AL in hitting and pitching and near the bottom in defense, but they find ways to win.
Lew Ford has been a big surprise in the outfield, Joe Nathan has filled the closer's role, Hunter has come back to anchor a stellar outfield, shortstop Cristian Guzman is a catalyst, and first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz personifies the attitude of playing hard and doing all the little things right.
The Twins aren't playing well of late, losing three of four over the weekend to the White Sox, including a 17-7 stinker Sunday.
CONNECTIONS: Twins ace Brad Radke is a Tampa Jesuit graduate and a Largo resident. ... Rays pitcher Paul Abbott started his career with the Twins.
SEASON SERIES: The Rays have lost 11 straight to the Twins, a streak that dates to April 24, 2002, and matched their longest streak of futility. The Twins lead the series 28-23, but the Rays have a 13-12 edge at Tropicana Field.
