Sunday Insider: The 3-2 pitch

June 19, 2011 at 5:12AM

Three observations ... • Tsuyoshi Nishioka might not have a true shortstop's arm, but he looks more comfortable at short than at second base. If teams could win with David Eckstein at short, why can't the Twins win with Nishioka playing there?

• If Texas' Yorvit Torrealba truly believes the Yankees are stealing signs, there are ways a team can retaliate. Like the time Livan Hernandez, while with the Twins, turned to pick someone off second but threw the ball into the baserunner's ribs instead.

• I don't remember Kyle Lohse doing funny stuff like dressing up as his manager when he was with the Twins. I remember him putting dents in Ron Gardenhire's door. He's having more fun with the Cardinals, walking fewer batters and one of the surprise pitchers in the NL.

... and two predictions • The Tigers will make at least two trades for relievers to help with the pennant drive in the second half.

• Rockies righthander Ubaldo Jimenez will rally from his 1-7 start and finish the season with at least a .500 record.

about the writer

about the writer

La Velle E. Neal III

Columnist

La Velle E. Neal III is a sports columnist for the Minnesota Star Tribune who previously covered the Twins for more than 20 years.

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