Ask Ron Gardenhire or Torii Hunter about the Twins’ MVP so far this season and the answer may surprise.  Justin Morneau is tied for second in home runs among American League players with 17, Johan Santana has won the Cy Young award two of the last three seasons and with more run support might be at eight or nine wins already, Joe Nathan is arguably baseball’s best closer, and Hunter is having a career season with 13 home runs, 48 RBI and a .308 average.      

And then there’s Luis Castillo.  He’s hitting .330, second on the team to Joe Mauer, and earlier this season set a major league record for second basemen with 143 consecutive games without an error.  The 31-year-old Castillo entered this season with only 19 errors since 2004, the third lowest total for a second baseman in the major leagues (behind Detroit’s Placido Polanco, 12, and Kansas City’s Mark Grudzielanek, 16).  Castillo has hit safely in 25 of his last 28 games, batting .361 (44-122) in that period. 

The Twins, defending Central Division champions, have been a disappointment so far with a 30-31 record, but Hunter praised Castillo for playing hurt, getting on base and his errorless streak.  “Without him, I don’t know where we would be,” Hunter said.   

Ask manager Ron Gardenhire about players who deserve consideration for next month’s major league All-Star game in San Francisco and Castillo’s name comes up fast.  Gardenhire mentioned Santana and Nathan, outfielders Michael Cuddyer and Hunter, and no doubt intended to include first baseman Morneau. 

“I think Louie Castillo is probably ahead of them all,” Gardenhire told Sports Headliners.  “He’s done everything for this ballclub up to this point.  He’s probably been our best player even with his sore knees and all those things. …I would think that what he’s done up to this point would lead him right to the All-Star game.   He’s been there before and deserves to go again.” 

Unfortunately for Castillo, baseball fans haven’t thus far submitted enough votes to place him in the 2007 All-Star game.  As of last week five other American League second basemen, starting with New York’s Robinson Cano, had more votes.  

Castillo is in his second season with the Twins after an extraordinary career with Florida.   In seven full seasons with the Marlins he hit under .300 only once, won three gold glove awards and played in three All-Star games. 

Gardenhire made a comparison between the Castillo who played for the Marlins and the Castillo of today.  “His legs are bothering him,” Gardenhire said.  “He’s not the same player he was a few years ago but when he has to run, he runs.  He makes all the plays as we’ve seen with his records.  Good player.”

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The innings have been minimal but the results maximal for Twins second year reliever Pat Neshek.  In his role of late inning reliever but not the stopper (hello, Joe Nathan), the second year right hander may not even work a full inning in some games.  His 1.20 ERA is the best on the team among pitchers with six innings or more.  

Neshek’s record is 3-0, with 36 strikeouts in 30 innings.  His ERA is among the most impressive in the American League but he doesn’t have enough innings to qualify for a ranking among pitchers in major league baseball with the lowest ERA’s.

Called up by the Twins from AAA Rochester last season, the Minneapolis-area native was 4-2 with a 2.19 ERA as a rookie.  He was third in wins among American League rookie relief pitchers, trailing Detroit’s Joel Zumaya, six, and Baltimore’s Kurt Birkins, five.  Neshek had a streak where he didn’t allow a run in nine appearances for the Twins.

Neshek’s ERA now betters his already impressive averages in the minor leagues, 2.19 at New Britain in 2005 and 1.95 at Rochester last season.  Coming up through the Twins organization since 2002, Neshek has been a relief specialist and led Minnesota’s minor leaguers in saves in 2005.

The 26-year-old’s role is often to help the Twins hold a lead or stay in the game in the seventh or eighth innings.  Then the 32-year-old Nathan, the Twins’ bullpen star, takes over.  Neshek was asked if he aspires to be the team’s stopper some day, or even a starting pitcher, both opportunities that likely would bring more money.  The Twins could lose Nathan to free agency after next season. 

“No, not at all,” Neshek told Sports Headliners.  “I am very content with what I am doing.  I am content to put on a uniform every day and that would be awesome if I could do that for the rest of my career.  I’ve always said if that’s what they want me to do (relief pitching), that’s what I will do.  In college (Butler University) I was always a starter, and when they drafted me I said, ‘What do you want me to do?’” 

Neshek threw overhand at Park Center High School and developed arm trouble. Since becoming a submarine style pitcher his arm has been okay.  The unorthodox side arm style, combined with a good fast ball, is a challenge to hitters.  “When it’s cooking at the top of it, I can get up to 94 (miles per hour),” Neshek said.  “Couple times 95 but that’s kind of a stretch but usually I will set 90-92, 93 once in a while.”

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In Johan Santana’s last four losses he has a 1.38 run support average with the Twins scoring just four total runs in 26 innings pitched. He has given up 13 home runs including seven in his last six starts.

Justin Morneau, with 17 home runs, has hit 11 in his last 30 games.

Murray’s restaurant co-owner Tim Murray travels to see major league baseball stadiums and so far has visited 24 of the current 30 stadiums.  His favorites, in order, are: Fenway Park in Boston, Wrigley Field in Chicago, PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles and Coors Field in Denver.  His least favorite: Dolphin Stadium in Miami.

The following potential players for the 2007 NBA Draft were scheduled to work out earlier today at Target Center for the Minnesota Timberwolves: Louisiana State forward Glen Davis, Providence forward/center Herbert Hill, Florida forward/center Chris Richard and Creighton center Anthony Tolliver.

Timberwolves president Chris Wright expects the NBA to discuss the lottery draft system at upcoming league meetings. The present system stacks the odds of drafting No. 1 in favor of the teams that finish with the worst records but the more likely outcome doesn’t always prevail.

Wright said the Portland Trail Blazers have sold over 2,500 new season tickets since lucking into the No. 1 pick in the June 28 draft.  Memphis, a team with the worst record during the regular season, fell to No. four in the draft.  It was a bitter disappointment for the franchise which had already started marketing with the assumption a higher pick would come to the Grizzlies. 

Six players who will be with the Gophers next fall have been invited to the 2007 U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp in Lake Placid, New York August 3-11. Mike Carman (Apple Valley), Cade Fairchild (Duluth), David Fischer (Apple Valley, Ryan Flynn (Lino Lakes), Kyle Okposo (St. Paul) and Patrick White (Grand Rapids) are among a group of 45 players that are candidates for theU.S. National Junior Team that will compete in the 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship in late December and early January in the Czech Republic. Minnesota has more invitees to the U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp than any other school.

 The Minnesota Wild, in partnership with Wells Fargo, has announced a 17-city promotional tour that begins Monday, June 25 and ends with the second annual Wells Fargo Wild Summer Bash Thursday, June 28 at Rice Park in downtown Saint Paul. 

Three MIAC baseball student-athletes have been selected to the 2007 American Baseball Coaches Association All-America team. Gustavus senior third baseman Tony Konicek was a first team pick, St. Olaf junior outfielder Andrew Schmiesing was second team, while Saint John’s senior first baseman Jay Kasner was a third team selection.

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