Did a lot of interviewing today for our season-ending wrap. I did talk to Pat Neshek, who’s bummed out that his arm has worn down late in the season.

Got to give props to Nick Punto who was at his slick-fielding best on Tuesday. And he nearly pulled off a play of the year when he made a sliding stop of grounder late in the game, popped up and threw to first. Too bad the throw bounced in and off Justin Morneau at first. I can’t believe how quickly Punto gets off the ground after diving or sliding for grounders.

Rondell White is still on baby watch. His wife was due on Monday but now is in extra innings. Labor will be induced Friday if the little one doesn’t appear by then.

Brian Buscher is back…..

Lineups

Rangers: 1.Catalanotto, 1B. 2. Kinsler, 2B. 3. Young, DH. 4. Botts, LF. 5. Wilkerson, RF. 6. Murphy, CF. 7. Saltalamacchia, C. 8. Metcalf, 3B. 9. Vazquez, SS. Pitching: Padilla.

Twins: 1. Bartlett, SS. 2. Kubel, DH. 3. Mauer, C. 4. Hunter, CF. 5. Morneau, 1B. 6. Cuddyer, RF. 7. Jones, LF. 8. Buscher, 3B. 9. Punto, 2B. Pitching: Garza.

I normally leave the lineup discussions to you readers, but L-Rod is starting at third base today and I disagree with the move.

I want to see more of Brian Buscher, regardless if his fielding evokes memories of me at third base this spring during the media softball game.

If Nicky P. is headed to second base next season, the Twins must look at every option in order to upgrade third base. Starting from within.

The major league averages for third baseman are a .273 batting average, 20 homers and 82 RBI (Thanks A-Rod). The Twins: .238-6-41. The Twins need to close this gap, to say the least. Buscher could be a decent third baseman. I’m not looking for 30 homers from him, I’ll take 15-18 homers with 80 RBI and a bunch of doubles from him. That would have done wonders for the Twins offense this season.

There’s no doubt that power makes things easier, but the Twins would have done a lot better offensively if they had a couple more players who can line a ball into a gap and pile up some doubles. Buscher could be that guy.

But I must admit that he’s looked shaky defensively. To be honest, he’s been blown up by some hot grounders. But Corey Koskie went from being bad with the glove to above average, and maybe Buscher can do the same if he works on his fielding.  

For now, I want to see Buscher in the lineup more.

Lineups

Texas: 1. Catalanotto, 1B. 2. Kinsler, 2B. 3. Young, SS. 4. Byrd, CF. 5. Blalock, DH. 6. Botts, LF. 7. Murphy, RF. 8. Saltalamacchia, C. 9. Metcalf, 3B. Pitching: Millwood.

Twins: 1. Bartlett, SS. 2. Kubel, DH. 3. Mauer, C. 4. Hunter, CF. 5. Morneau, 1B. 6. Cuddyer, RF. 7. White, LF. 8. L-Rod, 3B. 9. Punto, 2B. Pitching: Silva.

I mentioned recently that Nick Punto had a chance to start at second base next season. Manager Ron Gardenhire today practically named Punto the starting 2B in 2008.

“ We already know what we’ve got with Nick,” Gardy said. “We know we’ve got a player. And (Alexi Casilla) has all the tools in the world. Nothing’s a given. You have to go out and play. But if we were to start right now I would say Nick would have a head up on him, believe me there. I know what he can do, catch the ball and make all the plays. So he’s got a lead going into spring training, as far as I’m concerned.

“I hope he comes out and has a good spring. I like him in my lineup, somewhere. He makes things exciting. But he’s got to play. Got to come back and rebound, we all know that.”

Gardy said the club will make getting a real third baseman during the offseason is a high priority. 

Gardy added that Punto was the best player on the field on Sunday and looks more comfortable at the plate right now. Casilla will get his work in get some starts, but Gardy is going to play Punto.

So get ready for more Nicky P. next year. He was 5 for 10 during the Tigers series and is batting .297 this month.

The Twins have to go 10-3 over their final 13 games to finish at 82-80. What are the odds of that happening?

Casilla is not in the lineup, which suggests he’s still in the doghouse for being tardy to Sunday’s game.

Talked to Jason Kubel before the game. He likes batting in the two hole. It gives him the option to pull the ball through the hole between first and second if Jason Bartlett’s on base, and he figures pitchers will come at him more so they don’t face Mauer with men on base.

Lineups

Rangers: 1. Catalanotto, DH. 2. Murphy, CF. 3. Young, SS. 4. Byrd, RF. 5. Botts, LF. 6. Wilkerson, 1B. 7. Quiroz, C. 8. Vazquez, 2B. 9. Metcalf, 3B. Pitching: Volquez.

Twins: 1. Bartlett, SS. 2 . Kubel, DH. 3. Mauer, C. 4. Hunter, CF. 5. Morneau, 1B. 6. Cuddyer, RF. 7. Jones, LF. 8. Buscher, 3B. 9. Punto, 2B. Pitching: Slowey.

Carlos Silva threw in the bullpen and said he’s fine, but the Twins may push his start back to next Saturday as a precaution. A lot depends on how he feels Sunday. Other than that, there’s not much going on. The media spent pre-game trying to remember with weird high school nicknames.

Lineups

Tigers: 1. Raburn, LF. 2. Polanco, 2B. 3. Sheffield, DH. 4. Ordonez. 5. Guillen, SS. 6. I-Rod, C. 7. Thames, 1B. 8. Inge, 3B. 9. Clevlen, CF. Pitching: Bazardo.

Twins: 1. Bartlett, SS. 2. Kubel, LF. 3. Mauer, C. 4. Hunter, CF. 5. Morneau, 1B. 6. Cuddyer, RF. 7. Jones, DH. 8. L-Rod, 2B. 9. Punto, 3B. Pitching: Santana.

Carlos Silva will throw in the bullpen tomorrow. If he still has problems with his groin muscle pull, he’ll be pushed back in the rotation and the Twins will come up with a starter for Tuesday against the Rangers.

Lineups

Rangers: 1. Granderson, CF. 2. Polanco, 2B. 3, Sheffield, DH. 4. Ordonez, RF. 5. Guillen, SS. 6. I-Rod, C. 7. Perez, LF. 8. Casey, 1B. 9. Inge, 3B. Pitching: Robertson.

Twins: 1. Casilla, 2B. 2. Bartlett, SS. 3. Mauer, C. 4. Hunter, CF. 5. Morneau, 1B. 6. Cuddyer, RF. 7. Kubel, DH. 8. White, LF. 9. Punto, 3B. Pitching: Garza.