Brian Dinkelman threw a ball one time with the exact motion and expression of a bartender sliding a beer to a patron.

Brian Dinkelman threw a ball one time with the exact motion and expression of a bartender sliding a beer to a patron.

If Tsuyoshi Nishioka starts another game this season at second base for the Twins -- and apparently Ron Gardenhire is under no obligation to do so, even though Nishi will still be in a Twins uniform on Friday -- he will join some rather mixed company. Since Orlando Hudson started 124 games as a fixture at second base in 2010, the Twins have had a rotating cast of characters at the position. In fact, Nishioka would become, with one more second base start, the 8th different Twin to start at least 10 games at second base in 2011 and 2012 combined.

 

Here, so far, are the Magnificent Seven who have hit double-digits in games started at 2B over the past one-plus seasons:

Alexi Casilla, 117 starts

Jamey Carroll, 40 starts

Luke Hughes, 36 starts

Matt Tolbert, 26 starts

Michael Cuddyer, 17 starts

Trevor Plouffe, 17 starts

Brian Dinkelman, 11 starts