Tue May 6 10:54:08 2008

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Twins surge to top of AL Central with strong play at home

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(Sports Network) - In an American League Central Division just begging for some team -- any team -- to take the reins, the Minnesota Twins are asking, "Why not us?"

After finishing 17 games off the pace in 2007, the Twins are out to prove they've turned a corner in '08. And what better time than now to send that message with the Indians and Tigers, the top two teams in the division last year, currently pulling up the rear.

When the Twins take the field tonight in Chicago, they will be in search of a sixth straight win. Never mind that the season is just five weeks old, any manager will take the wins in whatever month they can get them. And Twins manager Ron Gardenhire will certainly take a two-game lead in the division.

Considering the state of the other teams in the AL Central, the division is ripe for the taking. Cleveland and Detroit aren't the only teams to have had their struggles. The White Sox, after getting off to such a promising start, can't seem to buy a hit and have lost six straight games, relinquishing first place to the Twins in the process. And the Royals, despite some flashes that they are ready to contend, did drop seven straight at the tail end of April and are once again below .500.

While there have been whispers that the quality of play in the AL Central is just not up to par this year, the Twins aren't quite buying into that notion.

"I heard some people talking on the radio saying the Central's not a good league," acting manager Scott Ullger said on the team's Web site. "But I think that's wrong. I think everyone's beating up on everybody, that's why it's so evenly balanced. Unless somebody goes on a tear, I don't think anybody's going to be able to run away with it."

Craig Monroe, who should know a thing or two about the AL Central after playing most of five seasons with the Tigers, shares Ullger's opinion. "This division's gotten tough, and that's what you want," Monroe told the team's Web site.

The Twins showed plenty of toughness Sunday against Detroit, overcoming a six- run deficit for a 7-6 win. But that's exactly the type of resolve the players on the team feel they've got.

"Well, when you lose the guys that we lost in the offseason," catcher Mike Redmond told the Minnesota Star Tribune, referring to the departures of Johan Santana, Torii Hunter and Carlos Silva, "It's easy to say, 'Hey, these guys have got no chance.' But like I've said all along, the core group of this team is solid, and nobody ever gives up."

Now as they head to Chicago, the Twins must find a way to get the job done away from home. They've put together an 11-6 record at home this season, but they are just 5-8 on the road.

BAKER AND SLOWEY SWAPPING SPOTS IN THE ROTATION

Scott Baker was ultra-sharp Saturday night against the Tigers. That was, until he tweaked his right groin in the third inning and had to leave the game. He was scheduled to have an MRI Monday.

Baker has dealt with several nagging injuries since Spring Training, including the groin muscle he just re-aggravated. On Sunday he said the most important thing is to let the muscle fully heal rather than do any further damage by trying to play through it.

While the team awaits the results of the MRI, Kevin Slowey is expected to take Baker's turn in the rotation Thursday in Chicago. Slowey had been on the disabled list with a strained right biceps.

ULLGER MAKING SOUND DECISIONS AT THE HELM

With Gardenhire missing the Detroit series this past weekend to attend the funeral of his brother, the keys have been handed over to Ullger. And while it will ultimately be Gardenhire's call, not Ullger's, on what to do with Baker, the acting manager has been able to make a few calls of his own.

One of those calls was to move Mike Lamb up to the second spot in the lineup for Saturday's game, despite the catcher's struggles at the plate this season. But Lamb proved his coach right, going 2-for-4 and scoring the team's first two runs.

Ullger, though he acknowledged that all of the coaches have played a role in the decision-making, also plugged Craig Monroe into center field Saturday. Monroe finished with a home run and two RBI.

On Sunday, with left-hander Kenny Rogers on the mound, Ullger went with righties Matt Tolbert and Nick Punto at the bottom of the lineup. Each collected a double, and Punto drove in a pair of runs to help the Twins' comeback bid.

WHO'S HOT

Catcher Joe Mauer is on an absolute tear at the plate. He has picked up eight hits in his last 17 at-bats to raise his season's average to .333.

Closer Joe Nathan is earning his money, with a 0.69 ERA and 11 saves in as many opportunities.

And give another nod to Ullger and the rest of the coaching staff for putting the team in position to sweep the Tigers while Gardenhire tended to family business.

WHO'S NOT

Brendan Harris is in a 2-for-19 slump.

A LOOK AHEAD

Nick Blackburn (2-1, 3.52) gets the nod for the Twins in tonight's opener against Gavin Floyd (2-1, 3.16) and the White Sox. Livan Hernandez (4-1, 4.43) will go up against Mark Buehrle (1-3, 4.42) in the second game of the series. And on Thursday, Slowey is expected to get the nod for Minnesota, while John Danks (2-3, 3.12) will go for Chicago.

The Red Sox then come to town for a weekend set.