On Wednesday, Ricky Nolasco was rocked by the Tigers. He did look notably slimmer, but the pitches were just as fat as they were a year ago. On Thursday, we get word that Nolasco is complaining of elbow pain — something Twins fans, and maybe even some Twins officials, might roll their eyes at as an excuse for another lousy outing.

When Nolasco wasn't bad last year, he was hurt. It earned a pitcher who signed a four-year, $49 million contract before the 2014 season the unofficial nickname "Ricky Fiasco." One start into 2015, nothing has changed. He's either hurt, bad or both.

join us? The Star Tribune is hosting a Twins discussion Friday at our new downtown Minneapolis headquarters. Find details at strib.mn/homeopener.

great read Find a great but depressing account of police failures in the Darren Sharper sexual assault cases over at propublica.org.