Game 3 postgame thoughts

Torii Hunter might be the best guy I've ever covered, but he did the Twins a big favor, trying to steal with two out in the eighth and Kendry Morales at the plate in a 4-1 game.

When Joe Mauer threw him out, that got Matt Guerrier out of the eighth, and gave Jon Rauch a three-run lead to work with in the ninth.

The good thing about Rauch is, he's throwing strikes. The bad thing is, a couple of them were very hittable strikes on Wednesday night. Rauch gave up a double and an RBI single before finishing the save, so he's 2-for-2.

-J.J. Hardy has hit two homers, but I'm more impressed with his range at shortstop. He's made two outstanding plays in the hole the last two nights, making both look easier than they really were. He seems relaxed and comfortable, and if he plays anything like this the rest of the season, the Twins will have stolen him from the Brewers for Carlos Gomez. And that's coming from someone who likes Gomez.

-Wrote about Brian Duensing being a key for this team moving forward for the Thursday paper. I also had a great talk with Torii before the game and will be writing about him at some point.

Torii asked me how La Velle Neal was doing, then asked if his nickname is still ``Sore Feet." So I did my La Velle-walking-on-hot-coals impersonation in the Angels clubhouse.

Former Twin Matt Lawton gave Neal the nickname ``Sore Feet," because La Velle walks like the world is on fire.

I think they will regret passing on Curry in the draft for years, because he could have been their point guard or shooting guard, and they're still looking for both.

-Jim Thome's bat looks slow to me. Three strikeouts tonight, and he lofted a 93-mph fastball to leftfield the only time he made contact. I would have rather seen Jason Kubel in the DH slot. I wouldn't sit Kubel unless the Twins face a lefty who has a big advantage over him.

-Carl Pavano knows how to pitch. He's really a prototypical Twins pitcher, for better or worse - he throws lots of strikes, challenges hitters, avoids walks, so he gives up a lot of hits, but when he's on, he avoids big innings. ``It just seems like walks always score, and singles don't," he said late Wednesday night. ``I don't know why that is, but it seems to be true."

Pavano was impressive escaping jams. He has great savvy, and the Twins did well to get him on a one-year deal, so he's pitching for his future.

-Brandon Wood, the Angels' eternal prospect, looks nervous to me. He isn't swinging with authority, which is strange for a guy who was a good power hitter his entire minor-league career.