The Free Press, Mankato, MN--Ed Thoma http://www.mankato-freepress.com en-us Copyright CNHI All Rights Reserved. 5 Mon, 25 Jun 2007 00:53:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistETOMA/local_story_176005002.html You can’t always bang open the door home http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistETOMA/local_story_176005002.html Friday night’s crash at home plate — which sent Justin Morneau to the hospital coughing up blood — was a painful reminder that not all such collisions work out in the Twins’ favor. Mon, 12 May 2008 01:51:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistETOMA/local_story_133014917.html Love it or Livan it: Evaluating Hernandez http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistETOMA/local_story_133014917.html Here we are, more than 50 innings into Livan Hernandez’s workload, and the man is 5-1 with a 3.83 ERA. Which raises the question: Is this legit, or is it a mirage? Mon, 05 May 2008 00:52:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistETOMA/local_story_126004859.html In defense of Mauer’s offense http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistETOMA/local_story_126004859.html Joe Mauer isn’t the problem in the Twins lineup. He’s not even a problem. If the Twins had nine guys who hit like Joe Mauer, they’d be at the top of the AL runs scored stats, not at the bottom, because they’d make far fewer outs. Mon, 28 Apr 2008 01:01:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistETOMA/local_story_119005914.html The reinvention of Francisco Liriano http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistETOMA/local_story_119005914.html Francisco Liriano spent last summer rehabbing his reconstructed elbow. He’ll spend this summer reinventing himself as a pitcher. Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:46:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistETOMA/local_story_112004429.html Liriano is not the pitcher he once was http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistETOMA/local_story_112004429.html We’re greedy. We want the pre-injury Liriano, the dazzling wunderkind, and we want him now. Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:57:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistETOMA/local_story_105005700.html What we’ve learned about the AL Central so far http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistETOMA/local_story_105005700.html Detroit won’t finish the season with the worst record in the league — but the Tigers are not the powerhouse many expected this spring either. Mon, 07 Apr 2008 00:54:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistETOMA/local_story_098004652.html Infield puzzle may be beyond Gardenhire’s skills http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistETOMA/local_story_098004652.html Only the most committed optimist genuinely sees the Twins as a threat to win AL Central at this point. Mon, 31 Mar 2008 02:35:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistETOMA/local_story_091023325.html The Santana trade in profit and loss http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistETOMA/local_story_091023325.html What effect does Johan Santana’s departure figure to have financially on the Twins? Mon, 24 Mar 2008 02:11:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistETOMA/local_story_084020951.html Relax. It’s only spring training http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistETOMA/local_story_084020951.html The reports out of spring training are generally filled with optimism and urgency. Mon, 10 Mar 2008 01:52:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistETOMA/local_story_070015018.html Tony LaRussa, steroid enabler http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistETOMA/local_story_070015018.html Tony LaRussa’s record stands with the best managers of history, just as Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire and Roger Clemens’ stats stand with those of the greatest players. His role in the scandal deserves equal scrutiny. Mon, 03 Mar 2008 01:41:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistETOMA/local_story_063014147.html What once were virtues now are vices for Twins http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistETOMA/local_story_063014147.html There is more at stake in the competition for the Twins second base job than a lineup slot. Also up in the air: The basic philosophy behind the team. Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:34:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistETOMA/local_story_056003542.html Liriano and Humber: When expectations meet a reality check http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistETOMA/local_story_056003542.html Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:53:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistETOMA/local_story_049005222.html Twins won’t be Livan large when Hernandez pitches http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistETOMA/local_story_049005222.html The justification for signing Livan Hernandez is that he eats innings. The problem is that he regurgitates runs. Mon, 04 Feb 2008 00:51:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistETOMA/local_story_035005111.html Not the trade the Twins wanted, but maybe the trade they needed http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistETOMA/local_story_035005111.html The Twins wanted a more immediate return for Johan Santana than they got. Not getting that may pay off for them in the long run. Sun, 27 Jan 2008 23:53:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistETOMA/local_story_027234831.html It's not the money, it's the philosophy http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistETOMA/local_story_027234831.html The multiyear deals announced Friday for Justin Morneau and Michael Cuddyer are viewed in these parts as evidence the Twins will in fact spend to keep players.