The Twins on Friday are expected to announce the signing of first-round draft pick Aaron Hicks, an outfielder from Wilson High in Long Beach, Calif., who was selected with the 14th overall pick during last week’s first-year player draft.

Indications are that Hicks’ signing bonus will be in the neighborhood of the $1.7 million that last year’s 14th selection, outfielder Jason Heyward, received from the Atlanta Braves.

Hicks, a switch-hitting center fielder,  will sign his deal at the site of Major League Baseball’s Urban Youth Academy, located in Compton, Calif. He’ll then begin his pro career at one of the Twins’ short-season leagues.  Most high school picks go to the Gulf Coast League while most college picks start at Elizabethton, Tenn.  but there’s a chance Hicks will be assigned to E-Town.

Check Joe’s notes that will post tonight for more signings.

And - I’ve been ordered to add this - if you are attending any of the Twins-Brewers games this weekend, send us your pictures here. And keep them clean!!!

It was Aug. 25, 1997. I was assigned a story on Pedro Martinez (I worked in Kansas City at the time) and his reputation for being a headhunter.

I drove to St. Louis and watched Martinez pitch a masterpiece for Montreal during a 2-1 victory over the Cardinals: 8.2 innings, one run, four hits, two walks, 13 strikeouts. Expos manager Felipe Alou said after the game, `I think he wants to win the Cy Young.” Martinez was 15-6 at the time, finished 17-8 and, indeed, won the award.

It felt strange to bring up the subject after an impressive performance.  To be honest, Martinez was a little surprised, too. But he gave me a pretty good interview. He made it clear that a pitcher must keep hitters from being comfortable and open up the outer part of the plate.

I’m not talking about strikes on the inside corner. I’m talking about making a hitter back off the plate or move his feet or make him do the rope-a-dope without the rope.

“Pitching inside is soooooooo hard,” Martinez said, “because if you miss too much inside, you hit the batter. If you miss away, it’s over the plate.”

Martinez had no fear, one reason why he was a dominant pitcher in this league.

I blogged on Sunday morning about Twins starters not pitching inside enough to red-hot White Sox hitters. Of the four Twins starters in the series, only lefthander Glen Perkins made a consistent effort to do so. That’s got to change, especially against top lineups like the Red Sox and Yankees and against hot lineups.

I don’t doubt for one second that it’s hard to do…but it’s got to be done. Especially those pitchers who don’t throw hard (Hello, Kevin Slowey) and can’t afford to let opponents lean over the plate and whack those pitches.

Pitching inside became an issue from Sunday morning pre-game until the team got on the plane for Cleveland on Monday evening.

“If you look, everything out over the plate (the White Sox) were staying on and we didn’t pitch in very good at all,” Twins pitching coach Rick Anderson said on Monday. “It’s not how hard you throw but if you don’t show that you are going to pitch in and keep the guys honest - not strikes, I’m saying in off the plate - you let them get comfortable and take that plate.

“You cant let them get comfortable and, one through nine, they were comfortable.”

Anderson credited Perkins for getting in on hitters during Monday’s game. “Hopefully the guys sit and watched that. We have been preaching it to them.”

Ultimately, it’s up to the pitcher to throw the right pitches where they can be the most effective. But the coaching staff has to get it out of him.

The catcher does too. There were some pitches the coaching staff thought Joe Mauer could have called differently on Friday, especially when Nick Blackburn kept firing first pitch fastballs in the fifth inning. And the catcher can influence the pitcher to throw inside more.

They all must work together to make it happen. This is a developing starting rotation (except for ol’ Livo) so hopefully the White Sox series taught them a lesson.

Here’s the quote of the day, from Twins manager Ron Gardenhire:

“We’ve been complaining  about having 13 pitchers…and we’ve had to use every single one of them.”

Glen Perkins’ challenge today is beyond keeping his team in the game. As Michael Cuddyer indicated, the Twins need this one dearly to feel better about themselves before a three-game series at Cleveland starts on Tuesday.

A Twins starter has failed to pitch at least six innings in five straight outings, rather remarkable for a team that has had decent starting pitching over the years. But negative runs like the Twins are on now happen when you’re dealing with an inexperienced staff.

Right now, this staff needs to learn how to stop a hot team. The coaching staff has told their starters to pitch inside more. Not on the inside corner, but in enough to move players off the plate. The catchers have been told the same thing, but there hasn’t been enough of it this weekend.

In case you’re wondering, there’s no one pitching well enough at Class AAA Rochester to warrant a call up. Francisco Liriano has pitched fairly well but hasn’t dominated. Other pitchers have been inconsistent. Word is that righthander Casey Daigle has looked the most effective.

And even if the Twins wanted to call up a position player, it’s not clear who is ready. Brian Buscher has a sore knee and has been limited to DH-ing. Howie Clark has an oblique muscle strain.

If the Twins can find someone to take Juan Rincon or someone off their hands, it may be for major league backup and not a prospect.

Alexi Casilla is back in the lineup today. Delmon Young is not. Gardy wanted Craig Monroe to start and Jason Kubel has homered off starter John Danks.

Lineups

Twins (31-32):  1. Carlos Gomez, CF. 2. Alexi Casilla, 2B. 3. Joe Mauer, C. 4. Justin Morneau, 1B. 5. Michael Cuddyer, RF. 6. Jason Kubel, LF. 7. Craig Monroe, DH. 8. Brendan Harris, SS. 9. Matt Macri, 3B. Pitching: Glen Perkins.

White Sox (36-26): 1. Orlando Cabrera, SS. 2. Alexei Ramirez, 2B. 3. Carlos Quentin, LF. 4. Paul Konerko, 1B. 5. Jim Thome, DH. 6. Jermaine Dye, RF. 7. Nick Swisher, CF. 8. Joe Crede, 3B. 9. Toby Hall, C. Pitching: John Danks.

Today’s game began after 90-minute rain delay

 After watching the White Sox score 21 runs and Joe Crede turn into Bill Melton this weekend, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s time for a few batters to get buzzed.

I’m not an advocate of beaning players, but the White Sox are too comfortable in the batter’s box right now. How about the swing Crede put on his second homer yesterday? They’ve got to be pitched tough inside, make them move their feet a little then work away.

Joe Mauer is back in the lineup.

Matt Macri is back at third. Gardy said Saturday that Mike Lamb is having a little bit of trouble playing everyday, but I also think Gardy wasn’t happy with the bunt play Lamb messed up on Friday.

Alexi Casilla has a slight hamstring issue but can play. Gardy was mad at him yesterday when he didn’t run out to catch a shallow fly ball, forcing Michael Cuddyer to sprint in and make a catch just 30 feet from the infield. Gardy pulled Casilla over after the inning and told him, “That’s the old you. We don’t want to see that.”

Tried to ask Gardy about the play after last night’s game, but he waved a finger and said. “don’t get me started.”

There’s another thunderstorm watch in effect. Although the sun is out now, there are mean-looking clouds on the radar headed here. I guess Milwaukee is getting hammered right now.

That stinks because B.B. King is scheduled to play tonight at Bluesfest. I don’t need a rain delay. Bluesfest was rained out yesterday, by the way, and could be affected by what’s headed here today. 

Anyway, your squad needs to respond this afternoon at The Cell. 

Lineups:

Twins (31-31): 1. Carlos Gomez, CF. 2. Brendan Harris, SS.  3. Joe Mauer, C. 4. Justin Morneau, DH. 5. Michael Cuddyer, 1B. 6. Jason Kubel, RF. 7. Delmon Young, LF. 8. Mike Lamb, 3B. 9. Matt Macri. 3B. Pitching: Kevin Slowey.

White Sox (35-26): 1. Orlando Cabrera, SS. 2. A.J., C. 3. Carlos Quentin, LF. 4. Paul Konerko, 1B. 5. Jim Thome, DH. 6. Jermaine Dye, RF. 7. Nick Swisher, CF. 8. Joe Crede, 3B. 9. Alexei Ramirez, 2B. Pitching: Gavin Floyd.

The game was halted at 6:17 p.m. when the skies opened up  and sent everyone scrambling. I’ll keep you posted. 

Game has resumed after a 33-minute delay.

The Twins have their, `Beat Mark Buehrle lineup,’ in today. Mike Redmond and Craig Monroe have excellent numbers against the lefthander and are in the lineup.

Redmond batting third? Looks strange on paper. But there’s no one better on the team at shooting the ball through the right side of the infield when a runner is being held on at first. That’s first-to-third city if Carlos Gomez or Alexi Casilla are on base.

I had just entered the stadium and was waiting for the elevator to the press box when I overheard someone on a walkie-talkie say, “There’s some guy named Brian Bass trying to park in the player’s lot. He claims he’s a pitcher with the Twins.” I turned and looked at two people at the reception desk wearing skeptical looks on their faces. One of them made a quick call and was assured that Bass was legit.

I asked Bass about it, and he said he showed the parking attendant his I.D. but the guy didn’t buy it at first. It got me wondering. What do attendants think when Matt Tolbert shows up?

There’s a band of clouds headed for Chicago. The sun has just disappeared. I’m not crying wolf this time. All we heard yesterday was about how some violent storm was going to hit the park and all it did was drizzle for three minutes at 11:35 p.m.

O.K. as soon as I write that, the tarp is being pulled on the field and it’s starting to rain. Great.

The wind isn’t as bad as it was yesterday. The White Sox, however, have removed the banner that was about to rip off one of the light standards in right.

Caught some blues before heading to the ballpark, as Melvin Taylor played for free at Navy Pier.

The Twins are remarkably laid back today given last night’s game and the fact that this is an important series.

Lineups

Twins (31-30): 1. Carlos Gomez, CF (3 for 4 vs Buehrle), 2. Alexi Casilla, 2B (0 for 4), 3. Mike Redmond, C, (.476), 4. Justin Morneau, 1B (.214), 5. Michael Cuddyer, RF (.318), 6. Craig Monroe, DH, (.389), 7. Delmon Young, LF (3 for 9), 8. Brendan Harris, SS, (3 for 8), 9. Matt Macri, 3B, (0 for 0). Pitching: Livan Hernandez.

White Sox (34-26):1. Orlando Cabrera, SS. 2. A.J., C. 3. Carlos Quentin, LF. 4. Paul Konerko, 1B. 5. Jim Thome, DH. 6. Jermaine, Dye, RF. 7. Nick Swisher, CF. 8. Joe Crede, 3B. 9. Alexei Ramirez, 2B. Pitching: Buehrle.