It makes a nice hook, the Twins rolling through a string of opposing starters with Cy Young Awards on their resume.

Randy Johnson has five Cy Youngs. Greg Maddux has four. Brandon Webb and Jake Peavy, one apiece.

But it's worth remembering that:

The Big Unit and Mad Dog are 40-somethings and, really, shells of their former greatness. Still effective, still meriting their slots in a major league rotation, but not contenders anymore for the title of best pitcher in baseball. Peavy spent almost a month on the disabled list earlier this season; his start against the Twins on Tuesday was his third since coming off the shelf, and the Twins managed just one run off him in six innings. Only Webb can be said to be at the top of his game right now, and the Twins needed to have Webb's left fielder — who is normally the first baseman — play a routine fly into a double to beat him.

The Twins are getting strong starting pitching of their own right now. And when the opposition makes a mistake, they are taking full advantage of it. Maddux had been pitching effectively for a while; the Twins had no problem with him Wednesday, in large part because his command was missing.

But we shouldn't take these wins against the possessors of 11 Cy Youngs as evidence that the Twins are productive against great pitching.

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