Here are three thoughts following the Twins' 5-3 loss to Miami:

First of all, I apologize for failing to update the blog this morning. I had to take care of some other things, then had to do an interview, then the Futures Game announcement came. It was a task left unfinished. So sorry.


1. CRUNCH TIME: Someone has to go when Aaron Hicks comes off the DL and someone has to go when Mike Pelfrey comes off the DL. Who will it be? Clete Thomas or Chris Parmelee? P.J. Walters, Scott Diamond or Kyle Gibson after one start? The next week will be interesting to see how it all plays out. Hicks, as scheduled, played five innings in center field on Wednesday for Class AAA Rochester, going 0-for-2 at the plate.

2. MORNEAU: Gardy said he's going to give Morneau more time off. I don't think he's making Morneau into a part time player, but it sounds as if Morneau will get some day games after night games off in an attempt to keep him fresher. This to a guy who had a stretch in which he played 157, 157 and 163 games. ``I want to be effective playing in August and September," Morneau said. ``There's no real magic formula to figure out what's going to help. I don't know. It's not up to me."

3. DOUMIT'S ANKLE: Ryan Doumit's sore right ankle is going to make it hard for him to catch. How long? That's not clear. Gardy and assistant GM Rob Antony believe Doumit is going to be fine. The Twins have been burned by this in the past, thinking someone would be out a few days and it ends up taking longer. How long can the Twins wait before they add another catcher to the roster?