Postgame: Blackburn to have surgery. How will Span feel in the morning

hat tip to Joe C:

Twins righthander Nick Blackburn will have surgery Friday to relieve pressure on a nerve in his right forearm muscle. The estimated recovery time is six to eight weeks.

Last October, Blackburn had arthroscopic surgery to remove loose particles from his right elbow. The rehab from this procedure will be a little more intensive, he said, since Dr. Thomas Varecka will be cutting into his forearm muscle. Still, Blackburn expects to be back at full strength by spring training.

"I'll be ready for my throwing program [this winter], at the right time," Blackburn said.

SPAN INTO THE WALL!!! SPAN INTO THE WALL!!!

Twins outfielder Denard Span chased after Johnny Giavotella's drive in the ninth inning. Span reached the warning track, the ball kicked off the heel of his glove and Span then smacked into the wall,

Giavotella ended up with a triple. Now the wait is on to make sure Span isn't seeing triple Wednesday morning.

``I'm a little shaken up, I'm not going to lie," said Span, who has battled a concussion and migraine symptoms for two months but returned to the lineup last week. ``I'm more ticked off that I missed the ball. That's a ball I want to catch.

``People have been asking me even when I came back if I was going to be thinking twice about running into walls and running into catchers. I'm going to play the game hard, that's all I can do, Unfortunately I dropped the ball and
I ran into the wall.

Span said he hoped he wouldn't have to fight a wall until next season. He'll see how he feels tomorrow when he gets to the park. It's been good to see him out there and you hope he doesn't have any ill effects. Although he didn't want it to happen, this could be a big boost for him if he can play Wednesday.

THAT'S 161 DOWN, ONE TO GO, FOLKS!!!!