CLEARING THE AIR?

The atmosphere in the clubhouse is at issue after Twins manager Ron Gardenhire told us following Monday's loss to Seattle that the veteran players were upset about some things and decided to address those issues with a young player or two.

Gardy didn't provide further details (actually, it sounds like a couple players were surprised that much got out) but I think his point was to make sure the veterans on the team control some things in the clubhouse even if they aren't playing well.

Gardy was asked before the game if he thought everything has been ironed out.

``I think that remains to be seen," he said. ``I don't go around asking the players how the reception was of somebody screaming at them in the clubhouse. I ask how they are feeling all the time. I know myself and my coaching staff felt after last night that we were pretty happy we were pretty excited.

``But I'm not going around to check and see how many people's feelings were hurt too awful much, I hope some of them got a message and understand a little bit more and I think they did because I did walk around after it was over and talked with a few people and not about their feelings but if they understand and that it is not personal.

``But it is personal because you have to have a lot of courage and a lot of character to play this game. When you're playing for a whole team and not as an individual...that';s when you have to have courage. You have to be able to give yourself up in situations for the betterment of the team and do what's right."

In recent weeks, Gardenhire has talked about veterans having a hard time leading when they aren't playing well.
A coaching staff shouldn't have to police everything that goes wrong on the field, the veteran players have to accept that role. Sounds like Gardy wants them to make their voices heard.

FRANKIE FEASTS ON FELIX

Francisco Liriano and Felix Hernandez are friends, going back to winter ball. Liriano said they spoke on the phone when he arrived in Seattle.

Somehow, they have already faced each other six times in their careers.

Somehow, Liriano is 4-2 against his buddy.

``I like to compete," Liriano said. ``I like to face a guy like that. I think it helps me be more focused in the game."

No kidding. Liriano held Seattle to one run over seven innings with a season-high nine strikeouts. It was the Liriano the Twins need. He's 3-5 and lowered his ERA from 7.07 to 6.12.

O.K., the Mariners' offense isn't that sweet. But Liriano threw strikes and looked confident.

The Felix Factor baffles me. Here are the scores of the games in which they have started against each other: 3-1, 4-2, 6-1, 9-6, 2-1 and now 2-1. Liriano has won his last three starts opposite King Felix.

I love this game.

SWEET SORROW

My apologies for not posting a pre-game blog tonight. I was hammering away at stories and realized in the fifth inning that I never posted lineups.

It was a crazy day that began, for me, around 6:30 a.m. when my phone rang.

My best friends in town have tried, in recent years, to have a baby but have had some tough moments. They gave it another shot last year and it paid off this morning when their daughter called to tell me that she had new baby brother.

I'm going to be the Godfather.

I was thrilled.I talked to the daughter.Then the proud papa called and we talked. Then he puts his wife on, and I'm like, `Man, she just had a C-section. Do not put her on the phone!!' He did anyway, so we talked. She was wiped out, but relieved.

So I'm in my hotel room overjoyed for my friends...then my e-mail alert went off about 2 hours later about Harmon Killebrew passing away.

I spent the day with both events on my mind. Happy for my friends, sad about Harmon. I'm not from here and never saw him play in person or on television. I do know that he was a true gentleman with a vice grip for a handshake. I never saw him mad. I wish I could have seen him play. Based on highlights, the man never was cheated on a swing.

I've lost both my parents to cancer. Damn that disease.

A friend just sent me an e-mail that read, ``you are going to remember the baby's birthday with sweet sorrow." She's right.

So hug your kids, max out your time with your parents, don't totally give up on the Twins and I'll check in from Oakland tomorrow.