Bad Loss To Brew Crew Part II

So I'm trying again from Milwaukee.

Tuesday night, the Twins blew the game largely because Danny Valencia let Brewers starter Chris Narveson off the hook in the first inning, swinging at a first pitch with three runs in, nobody out and the bases loaded, and popping up. Then Scott Baker pitched one bad inning, and the Twins lost a game they should have won.

Wednesday night was more disturbing. Orlando Hudson, Mr. Gold Glove, botched two double plays that cost the Twins the game. The Twins' cause wasn't helped by Delmon Young trying to steal and getting thrown out in the eighth with his team down by two runs, a move manager Ron Gardenhire was not happy with.

Interestingly, Gardenhire wasn't happy with Hudson or Young, but he defended interim third baseman Michael Cuddyer, who couldn't reach a double down the line and couldn't stop Rickie Weeks' hot smash at him. Gardenhire said only Brooks Robinson would have made the play; I think Nick Punto would have made the play.

But when you play Cuddyer at third in a National League park, you're doing it to get Jason Kubel's bat in the lineup, and Kubel went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk. Hey, it was worth a try.

-I have the sense that the Wolves are going to wind up with Wes Johnson at No. 4. He's a nice, safe pick. Problem is, the Wolves need someone, as David Kahn would put it, who is transformational. Johnson is not transformational.

If I'm the Wolves, and I'm choosing between Johnson and Cousins, I might have to go with Cousins. He's a bigger risk, but he offers a much bigger reward - a powerhouse who can play center and shoot, a potential star who could play alongside Al Jefferson or Kevin Love.

-Think if Kahn had taken Steph Curry instead of Jonny Flynn, and then could add Cousins. In two years, his lineup could be: Rubio, Curry, Brewer (I know, but in trying to pick someone off the current roster, you might want a defender who can run the floor), Jefferson, Cousins. A distributor, a shooter, a defensive stopper (or the player you get in exchange for Love, or in next year's draft), a low-post scorer who could have a big year this year if his knee is completely healed, and a monster inside who commands doubleteams and pounds the boards.

That wouldn't be so bad.

-The problem with taking Cousins is, who in this organization is going to whip him into shape? Before last year, I might have said Kurt Rambis, but nobody (with the exception of Corey Brewer as a shooter) got better under him last year.

And if Cousins is a head case, he'll need a veteran who can keep him in line. Who's that going to be for the Wolves, Ramon Sessions?

-My Wednesday column was on Delmon Young, who has become an offensive force. My Thursday column was on the possibility of the Twins trading for Cliff Lee. I've been told it's a real possibility but that it hasn't advanced much past the theory stage at this point.

-Next radio appearances on 1500espn: Thursday night from the draft, Friday at 2:40 p.m. during my usual appearance with Pat and Joe. Then the Gardenhire Show at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, followed by Sunday Sports Talk at 10.