My friends gush about how great the Denver area is. Looking at the city on television, I just didn’t see what was so appealing.

I was here 12 years ago, but I stayed around downtown for two days while covering an exhibition game between the Rockies and Royals for the K.C. Star. This weekend, I had time to look around.

I hopped in the rental car this morning and headed west on I-70, then west on Hwy 58, through Golden, Colorado, and into the mountains. As I passed something called Mayhem Creek, I started to get it.

It is a beautiful place. I was listening to the Yankees-Mets game on satellite radio but switched it off to enjoy the tranquility and the surroundings. Cars were pulled over, people were hiking and fishing. It was pretty neat. (more…)

It’s a day Ron Gardenhire should have filled out the lineup card in pencil.

Infielder Matt Tolbert is likely headed to the DL after injuring a thumb when he dove into first base on the last play of Thursday’s game. The Twins are trying to figure out whom to call up from the minors to replace him on the roster.

[9:17 update]: It’s official, Tolbert has torn a ligament in his thumb and has been placed on the 15-day DL. The Twins have purchased the contract of veteran minor leaguer Howie Clark. Young baseball players, please don’t dive into first base.

Back to regular programming….

Luke Hughes, the hot-hitting infielder at Class AA New Britain, would have been an option but just came off the DL with a hamstring strain but still isn’t 100 percent.

And there’s word that Joe Mauer may have strained his neck during early BP here at Coors Field. It’s unclear if he’ll be scratched from the lineup or not. Stay tuned. (more…)

It’s not surprising that Twins manager Ron Gardenhire has Matt Tolbert at second and Alexi Casilla at shortstop tonight against Toronto.

Brendan Harris has been working hard before games on turning the double play, but failed to turn one in yesterday’s game.  I sense that Gardy likes Harris’ bat in the lineup but it’s hard for him to tolerate missed plays in the field. Besides, Tolbert needs to play.

And Gardy sees this as a good spot to give Casilla a chance. So he has two speedy, athletic players in the middle infield tonight.

Jason Kubel is in at designated hitter tonight.

Toronto (19-22): 1. Brad Wilkerson, RF. 2. Aaron Hill, 2B. 3. Alex Rios, CF. 4. Scott Rolen, 3B. 5. Matt Stairs, DH. 6. Lyle Overbay, 1B. 7. Shannon Stewart, LF. 8. Greg Zaun, C. 9. Marco Scutaro, SS. Pitching: Roy Halladay.

Twins (20-18): 1. Carlos Gomez, CF. 2. Matt Tolbert, 2B. 3. Joe Mauer, C.  4. Justin Morneau, 1B. 5. Michael Cuddyer, RF. 6. Jason Kubel, DH. 7. Delmon Young, LF. 8. Mike Lamb, 3B. 9. Alexi Casilla, SS. Pitching: Boof Bonser.

I was cruising around the worldwide web today and found this update about Class AA New Britain’s Luke Hughes.

Hughes has a 16-game hitting streak and was the Eastern League’s player of the month in April but hasn’t played in about a week because of a sore hamstring. I’m guessing they didn’t anticipate him being out this long because he could have been placed on the seven-day DL.

I just checked, and Hughes took batting practice yesterday and felt much better but he isn’t in the lineup tonight against Binghamton. Tomorrow is a late morning game, so they may hold him out until Friday.

Will post today’s lineups in a separate thread once I get them.

Scott Baker is throwing in the bullpen. Delmon Young is in the lineup. Will it ever get to 80 degrees in this town again?

5:49 update - Some of the pre-game discussion centered around the talented Blue Jays pitching staff. What a rotation! The Twins get Litsch, Halladay and McGowan this week but Burnett and Marcum are very good, too.

Litsch could shut down the Twins’ running game. He’s quick to home plate and has a very good slidestep delivery. Most stolen bases are off the pitcher, but the Twins seem to be concerned that Litsch won’t give them a good chance to steal.

So now I’m looking at the Blue Jays’ relievers. They have four lefties in the bullpen, including closer B.J. Ryan. The M & M boys will have tough, late-inning matchups the next three games. 

 Toronto (18-22): 1. Brad Wilkerson, RF. 2. Aaron Hill, 2B. 3. Alex Rios, CF. 4. Scott Rolen, 3B. 5. Matt Stairs, DH. 6. Lyle Overbay, 1B. 7. Shannon Stewart, LF. 8. Greg Zaun, C. 9. Marco Scutaro, SS. Pitching: Jesse Litsch.

Twins (20-17): 1. Carlos Gomez, CF. 2. Brendan Harris, 2B. 3. Joe Mauer, C. 4. Justin Morneau, 1B. 5. Michael Cuddyer, RF.  6. Craig Monroe, DH. 7. Delmon Young, LF. 8. Mike Lamb, 3B. Adam Everett, SS. Pitching: Kevin Slowey.