SARASOTA, FLA. -- I'm at the newly renovated Ed Smith Stadium, trying to get the lay of the land. Will drop back here later with a pregame update.
Update: Gardy said he likes having Nishioka in the No. 2 spot and Casilla in the No. 9 spot, doesn't plan to flip them. But he did flip them defensively. Nishi will play SS and Casilla will play 2B the next two games.
"I feel really comfortable with [Nishioka at No. 2]," Gardenhire said. "I like Lexi at the bottom. My preference is Lexi at the bottom. That turns the lineup over really nice with speed. You go 9-1-2 that can really fly, I like that."
What does Nishioka bring to the No. 2 spot?
"He's a proven hitter in Japan, and I think he'll be here," Gardenhire said. "He's a great contact guy. He can handle the bat. He can flip the ball around. You know, he can bunt, he can do a lot of those things. His speed plays out really good. Hit and run -- all those things. You see the way he handles the bat, you know he can get the bat on the ball."
TWINS (2-2)
1. Denard Span, CF
2. Tsuyoshi Nishioka, SS
3. Luke Hughes, 3B
4. Joe Benson, RF
5. Jason Repko, LF
6. Matt Brown, DH
7. Matt Tolbert, 1B
8. Drew Butera, C
9. Alexi Casilla, 2B
Listed pitchers: Carl Pavano, Glen Perkins, Jim Hoey, Chuck James, Anthony Swarzak, Kyle Waldrop, Carlos Gutierrez.
