Wednesday (Trying not to get TOO excited about Brian Dozier) edition: Wha' Happened?

We're really trying here. We're learning from past mistakes. Honestly.

We were burned in the midst of 2011, when any morsel of good news or positive performance by a Twins player was a revelation in the midst of all the putrid play. We extrapolated one good outing by Jim Hoey into the idea that he could be the hard-throwing set-up man they needed. We watched one Trevor Plouffe home run and decided that he finished his swing a little bit like A-Rod. Really, these things are part of the public record.

So we're trying not to get too excited about the first two games of the Brian Dozier Era. We're trying not to look at an extremely small sample size and make any bold predictions.

We're trying to remember that the three hits he has in eight at-bats weren't exactly rockets -- a solid ground ball up the middle in his debut and a couple of flares last night. We're trying to remember to note that Dozier, who turns 25 next week, isn't some raw 21-year-old. It is not inconceivable that someone like him should look poised, polished and ready. We're trying not to compare him to the raft of middle infielders who tried and failed in 2011.

We're trying, but it hasn't been easy. Dozier looks exceedingly comfortable at the plate. He makes challenging plays look rather effortless and he has turned in a couple of dazzlers already. We want to pencil him in as the shortstop and No. 2 hitter for the next 10 years.

But it's only been two games. We're trying. We really are.