The news that Pat Neshek has a tear in an elbow ligament wasn't too surprising, considering that the initial reports had him talking about hearing a snap. The Twins on Friday were apparently talking a rehab approach that would essentially take the remainder of the season; I would expect him to seek a second opinion. Tommy John surgery is a real possibility here.

Neshek's delivery, of course, is one of the most bizarre in the game. The recoil at the end — the so-called "salute" that has occasionally drawn glares from retreating, retired batters — is perhaps particularly troublesome. It's worth noting that Neshek had shoulder weakness at the end of last season, and this year the elbow blew. Francisco Liriano's elbow problems have been traced to shoulder weakness. This is not a coincidence.

Whether Neshek has ligament replacement surgery or not, the Twins won't have him to lean on this summer. That makes returns to form by Juan Rincon and Jesse Crain all the more imperative.

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The attention for Friday's last-gasp win went to Mike Lamb, and that's justifiable and understandable. The man was brought in to hit, and he hasn't. Getting a game-winner, even a softly-hit game-winner, off Jonathan Paplebon, was huge.

But the key to that inning was Carlos Gomez, and the latest chapter in the story of his maturation as a hitter.

Earlier this season young Gomez came up in a crucial situation against the Angels' Frankie Rodriguez, and K-Rod blew him away with three ptiches out of the strike zone. Gomez chased them all. Friday night, with Delmon Young on third and two down, Gomez fell behind 1-2. Papledon threw a pitch in the dirt; Gomez took it. 2-2. Paplebon threw a pitch neck-high; Gomez took that too. 3-2. Paplebon went down and away, and Gomez took ball four.

That, friends, was a quality at-bat. And it was an at-bat that Gomez simply was not capable of having a month ago.