We begin this week’s edition with a little rant.

Don’t know if any of you noticed, but lefthander Ben Julianel was released from Class AAA Rochester to make room for Alexi Casilla. Rochester had 13 pitchers on its roster, so no big deal there.

The problem is that Julianel was a reason why Anthony Slama wasn’t promoted to Class AA New Brtiain last year. Julianel was 28 years old last year while pitching in the Eastern League. Slama was 24 and toying with Florida State League hitters. Both should have been one level higher.

Last year, Rochester had three lefties in the bullpen - Mariano Gomez, Carmen Cali and Ricky Barrett. Cali already had his shot with the big club and didn’t gain the confidence of the coaching staff. None of those lefties are in the organization now - and Julianel is gone, too.

I keep being told that I’m off base with this argument, but Julianel should have been moved to Rochester so Slama could have been in New Britain last year, with a chance to be at Rochester now. With the Twins trying to stabilize their bullpen, it makes sense to me that they should put their prospects on line to help this year - especially when they are 24 years old and dominating in A-ball.

They did call Jose Mijares up from New Britain. Will they do that with Slama?

Slama is 3-0 with a 2.12 ERA at New Britain and has converted five of seven save opportunities. Those numbers look good to me - but I’m not a farm director.

REVERE HAS A SORE KNEE

Class A Fort Myers outfielder Ben Revere had surgery last August to remove particles from his left knee. He’s been having trouble with the same knee, which is why he’s missed some recent games. Revere is batting .308 with 15 steals in 21 attempts in 29 games.

Jim Rantz, the Twins’ director of minor leagues, said that Revere should return to action soon.

 ETC.

New Britain third baseman Danny Valencia missed a few games last week with a sore wrist but has returned to action.

Heard that Aaron Hicks, the Twins’ first-round pick last year, is batting .300 in extended spring training games. “He’ll move fast soon enough,” Rantz said. Here’s another case where you wonder why the Twins don’t have him at Beloit now. But I’m sure the Twins wanted to give all those power hitters at E-Town last year a shot at Beloit first. They aren’t hitting that well now - Angel Morales, a top prospect, is batting .183 -  but I guess Hicks can work on things at extended spring training before he goes to short-season ball and dominates. 

Catcher Danny Lehmann was sent to New Britain while Wilson Ramos recovers from the his broken left index finger. Scott Baker was impressed with Lehmann’s catching ability when he pitched for Fort Myers last month during a rehab stint.

Baker also praised second  baseman Steve Singleton, who got off to a fast start but is down to .232 now.

The debut of the print edition of minor league notes will debut on Saturday, May 9. Until then, here are some updates.

THE HUNT FOR SHOOTER’S CONTROL

The Twins minor league think tank will head to Beloit over the next couple of days to bear down on righthander Shooter Hunt, who needs GPS to find the strike zone.

In four outings, Hunt has walked four, seven, six and six batters - that’s 23 walks. He’s faced 68 batters, 39 of them reaching base.

So Twins director of minor leagues Jim Rantz and minor league pitching coordinator Eric Rasmussen will be in attendance for Hunt’s next outing. Rantz has not ruled out the possibility of sending Hunt to the bullpen to clear his head and work on his control.

Hunt was the Twins’ sandwich pick between the first and second rounds of last year’s draft.

THE INJURIES

Infielder Ramon Santana is listed at 5 foot 9 and 165 pounds. Paul Molitor, a special instructor and scout for the Twins, said Santana isn’t much to look at, “but he swings the bat and the ball goes 450 feet.”

Santana entered the season a career .247 hitter with a .358 on base percentage, 20 home runs and 82 RBI in 195 minor league games. He got off to a hot start to Class A Beloit, batting .393 with three homers and 10 RBI in 16 games while playing short and second.

His hot start has been derailed by a badly sprained left ankle this week that he suffered while running the bases. He’s out two to three weeks.

Class AAA Rochester first baseman Brock Peterson is out with a sore shoulder.

Rochester outfielder Justin Huber, who just sorted out visa problems, homered in his first at-bat last week and doubled in his second at-bat - but pulled a hamstring and has been out ever since.

THE RETURN OF DREW THOMPSON

Matt Garza was taken in 2005 draft. So was Kevin Slowey.

But the Twins also took Henry Sanchez, Paul Kelly and Drew Thompson - who all have been broken down throughout their minor league careers. Sanchez has taken his inactivity to another level recently with a 50-game suspension for testing positive for a drug of abuse.

Kelly has had multiple surgeries on his left knee. Thompson, an infielder, had a stress fracture in his back in 2006, followed  by more back problems that forced him out for the entire 2007 and 2008 seasons. In fact. Thompson was thought to be leaning toward retirement a year ago.

But he hasn’t quit. Thompson, the son of former major leaguer Robbie Thompson, has been assigned to Beloit as he begins his latest comeback attempt.

DELANEY AND SLAMA: BACK…WITH A TWIST

Righthanders Rob Delaney and Anthony Slama shared closing duties at Class A Fort Myers last season - and it was quite a one-two punch.

Delaney was promoted to New Britain in June. Slama took over as closer at Fort Myers and finished 4-1 with a 1.01 ERA and 110 strikeouts in 71 innings. He also was named Twins minor league pitcher of the year.

The two have been reunited at New Britain - but it’s Slama who has opened the season as the Rock Cats’ closer while Delaney sets him up.

I don’t know if it is going to stay that way or they might go the other way the next time,’’ said Jim Rantz, the Twins director of minor leagues. “Both of them have done well. I think it’s the fact that Slama finished so strong last year that they are going to continue with him as that guy.’’

Slama on Wednesday earned his second save for New Britain and has pitched 6/23 scoreless innings so far. Delaney has a 1.69 ERA in seven games.

Both are similar pitchers who throw around 90 miles an hour, although Rantz said Slama throws a little harder than Delaney.

Both throw good sliders. Delaney is a battler and excellent competitor. Slama is working on changing speeds against left-handed hitters. Both could get promoted to Class AAA Rochester during the season - which makes a major league debut sometime this year a possibility.

WHERE  IS AARON HICKS?

Beloit broke camp in Fort Myers, Fla, without outfielder Aaron Hicks, the 14th overall pick in last year’s draft who has the club buzzing about his five-tool ability.

The Twins did the same thing last year with 2007 first-rounder Ben Revere, who needed to work on arm strength and accuracy. Revere was sent to Beloit to replace an injured player, batted .379 with 10 triples and 44 steals and ended up the Twins minor league player of the year.

Hicks, who hit .318 with four homers and 27 RBI for the Gulf Coast League rookie team appears to be more polished than Revere, so what gives?

“He had to work on some things, some fundamentals and defensive things,’’ Rantz said. “Yes, he has a strong arm and can run but he’s getting regular at-bats and can work on fundamentals.’’

The Twins’ outfields at Beloit and Fort Myers have players the club needs to evaluate before they move Hicks in front of them. Angel Morales, Evan Bigley and Michael Harrington hit 15, 14 and nine home runs, respectively at short-season Elizabethton, Tenn. and need to play. Ozzie Lewis is back after missing a chunk of the season with a wrist injury.

Fort Myers’ outfield has top prospects Revere and Joe Benson, plus Christopher Parmelee splitting time in the outfield and first base. It appears that it will take promotions, demotions or injuries for Hicks to get to Beloit - or he might have to wait until June and start the year Elizabethton.

Revere, by the way, is batting .333 with a homer 10 RBI and five steals through 11 games at Fort Myers.

THE GOOD AND THE BAD

Jim Shellenback, the pitching coach at Elizabethton who filled in as bullpen coach while Rick Stelmaszek recovered from fatigue, confirmed that the organization is really high on righthander Carlos Gutierrez, the Twins’ other first-round pick last year.

And Gutierrez, who throws an excellent sinker, has given up just one earned run over his first 11 innings at Fort Myers.

Shellenback was asked about righthander Shooter Hunt, who was taken with the 31st pick of the draft - four picks after Gutierrez.

“He won’t throw it over,’’ Shellenback said.

Hunt’s struggles continued on Tuesday at Beloit, as he gave up five earned runs on three hits and six walks over 22/3 innings. Hunt is 0-1. 9.31 through three games. Of the 55 batters he’s faced, 28 have reached base.

“There is something to that,’’ Rantz said of Shellenback’s statement. “I don’t know if it’s insecurity but, eventually, he has to throw it over.’’

ETC.

Australian outfielder Justin Huber has worked out his visa problems - he had to go to Toronto to get things straightened out - and will join Class AAA Rochester on Friday. “He’s got some sock and that’s what we need on that club,’’ Rantz said.

First baseman Henry Sanchez, who was drafted in 2005 and is 23 years old but is just getting to Fort Myers because of injuries, is now slowed by a left quadriceps strain at Fort Myers.

Righthander Loek Van Mil, who is at extended spring training working his way back from a sore elbow, has been slowed by a biceps strain.

I was supposed to stay in the pressbox and work on special section stuff today, but decided to walk down to the minor league complex and make sure Glen Perkins didn’t pull something during his outing.

Perkins pitched for Class A Fort Myers against Lancaster of the Astros chain. Perkins gave up one run over five innings and was given the option of just throwing in the bullpen or going back out for a sixth inning. Perkins elected to take the mound for the sixth - and ended up in a mini-mess.

The first batter got his bat busted but still grounded a single to right. With the next batter up, Jose Morales tried to pick off the runner at first but bounced a throw that Rene Leveret couldn’t handle. Runner advances to second.  Then a ball was hit to center that I thought Joe Benson had a chance to catch (it looked like Joe Benson) but it fell at his feet.

Runners were on second and third - somehow, I missed an out while I was watching something on a neighboring field. Perkins was pulled from the game because he had passed the 70-pitch mark. In came David Bromberg, who led the organization with 177 strikeouts last year. And after watching him pitch I could see why. He has quite a curveball and has some zip on his fastball.

He did walk a batter to load the bases - but got a strikeout and fly out to get out of the inning.

During all this, I kept being distracted by Class A Beloit vs Greenville on the next field - Aaron Hicks and friends were playing.

Hicks, the Twins No. 1 draft pick last June,  can throw and he looks very confident at the plate. He flied out in the one at-bat I saw but he’s got a quick bat.

Hicks’ at-bat came after Nick Papasan and James Beresford walked and Jenfred Brito was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Hicks ended up with a sacrifice fly to left. He’s a little thin but you’d expect him to add a little weight as he gets older.

Up came Angel Morales, who led Elizabethton with 15 homers in just 54 games last season. Morales took a called strike then mashed a fastball that was about knee-high, middle in. No doubt about it, three-run homer. Impressive.

Those are the highlights from today’s action.

A couple notes

Things don’t look good for infielder Paul Kelly, the Twins’ second round pick in 2005. He’s trying to come back from left knee surgery but was sent home for 2-3 months after doctors looked at it down here and said it’s not ready for action. “The problem is.” Twins minor league director Jim Rantz said, “We don’t know if that’s going to be a enough time.” Too bad for Kelly who, by all accounts, can play.

And, only because thrylos is wondering, Justin Huber homered yesterday. Â

Joe C. and I are at Hammond Stadium on Joe Mauer Watch. We’ll have an update if the Twins officially release an update on the All-Star catcher.

Update: Checked with the Twins, and there’s no update today. I’m not reading anything troublesome into the developement. It’s an off day here. No players, coaches or trainers are here. If it takes one more day - and we can talk to everyone involved and finally write the ending to this mystery - that’s acceptable.

We also shot a new video notebook that’s now on the website.

I did make it over to the minor league camp this morning to talk with Bill Springman, the Twins’ minor league hitting coordinator, for a story I’m working on. While over there, I picked up some notes.

Jim Rantz, the Twins director of minor leagues, told me they have just signed another lefthander, Reid Santos, to be in the mix for a spot at Class AAA Rochester. Boy, are they piling up some unheralded/developing lefties. There’s Santos and Carmen Pignatello and Kyle Aselton and Ben Julianel. Mike Gosling and Sean Henn will end up there. And either Jose Mijares or Brian Duensing will end up there, too. And there’s Ryan Mullins, but he’ll probably begin the season at New Britain. He’s still a starter, for now.

Updates

Rantz had a couple notes from yesterday’s games.

Kevin Slowey looked solid in his outing, but Craig Breslow struck out two in an inning or work and really looked good.

Evan Bigley, part of the Elizabethton bomb squad last season, homered and hit two doubles for Beloit against Greenville.

Joe C. asked to pass this along: He ran into lefthander Tyler Robertson a couple days ago and was told that his offseason shoulder rehab went very well and he’s full-go. Robertson, the Twins’ third-round pick in 2006, should begin the season at Class A Fort Myers.

Observations

I had just finished my interview with Springman when I looked to my left and saw 7-1 Dutch hurler Loek Van Mil -and the 5-3 Chris Cates just five feet away. All these minor leaguers roaming around and I see the tallest and shortest ones virtually next to each other. You can’t make this stuff up.

Van Mil would have been part of the Netherlands team for the World Baseball Classic, but injured his elbow just before the Olympics and has been shut down. The Twins are crossing their fingers that rehab is all he needs.

 “He’s doing well and there are no symptoms of having any elbow problems,” Rantz said. “The test will be when we get him on the mound. He’ll throw a bullpen soon. But we don’t expect him to break with the club.”

But if Van Mil has another elbow problem, he’ll have Tommy John surgery.

Christopher Parmelee, who should be at Class A Fort Myers this year, is one broad-shouldered, powerful-looking young man.

Middle infielder Brian Dinkleman, who should start at Class AA New Britain, is put together pretty well, too. Terry Ryan has identified him as one to watch, and others in the organization feel he has leadership qualities.

Steve Singleton came up to me and introduced himself. “I’ve read your stuff on the Internet,” he said.

I told him I wrote about him in the minor league report last year.

“Yeah that’s how it started,” he said. “My dad read that and told me about it.”

You never know who’s reading…

Finally, an announcement

I regret to inform you that there will NOT be a weekly minor league report in the newspaper this year. There just isn’t any space available to do it the right way.

But there will be a weekly report here. We still trying to figure out the best day to post it. This will allow me more space to write longer on the weeks I have really good stuff. I can also use a week to rank stuff like the top second base prospects. I can check in with people like Springman and talk about hitters. I can bug minor league managers like Stan Cliburn and Jeff Smith.

This could be a good thing. I don’t think I can match the prolific coverage of Seth Stohs, but I won’t be encumbered by a newshole, either. Â