Nick Blackburn

The Sports Xchange MLB Team Report - Minnesota Twins - INSIDE PITCH The Twins are struggling right now, to put it mildly. They are coming off a 2-7 homestand and have hit the road for 15 of their next 20. The road began in Atlanta in interleague play,...

The Sports Xchange MLB Team Report - Minnesota Twins - INSIDE PITCH The tough part about having a great season is to constantly have to live up to it. Twins left fielder Josh Willingham is in a big slump and is likely feeling that pressure. In April,...

The Sports Xchange MLB Team Report - Minnesota Twins - INSIDE PITCH Darin Mastroianni can't catch a break. He did sustain a break in his ankle earlier this season, and hasn't had much luck since then. Now his injured ankle will require surgery, so his...

The Sports Xchange MLB Team Report - Minnesota Twins - INSIDE PITCH The leadoff spot for the Minnesota Twins has been troublesome this season. All season long, no matter who has batted there, the team has struggled to get men on base out of the position...

The Sports Xchange MLB Team Report - Minnesota Twins - INSIDE PITCH There is no question that Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau make up the machine that drives the Twins offense. For years, the Twins go as the M&M Boys go. But in recent years, injuries...

The Sports Xchange MLB Team Report - Minnesota Twins - INSIDE PITCH Twins manager Ron Gardenhire is a strong proponent of good defense on his teams. And even though his current squad has several new players in the field, it has shown that it is...

The Sports Xchange MLB Team Report - Minnesota Twins - INSIDE PITCH Managers and general managers often have tough personnel decisions to make. But it's nice when players perform in such a way that they help make those decisions easier. Rookie...

The Sports Xchange MLB Team Report - Minnesota Twins - INSIDE PITCH The fifth starting pitcher position in the lineup could be changing pretty soon. Pedro Hernandez, who has held that spot since being called up early in the season, was thought to be...

The Sports Xchange MLB Team Report - Minnesota Twins - INSIDE PITCH Scott Diamond appears back on his game. He returned late to the team this season (April 13) due to surgery to remove bone chips in his pitching elbow, yet after five starts, he is...

The Sports Xchange MLB Team Report - Minnesota Twins - INSIDE PITCH Minnesota Twins outfielder Aaron Hicks made the big jump from Double-A ball in 2012 to the major league roster this season. Such a leap is certain to be fraught with bumps along the...

The Sports Xchange MLB Team Report - Minnesota Twins - INSIDE PITCH Twins pitcher Vance Worley can't catch a break. He was the Opening-Day starter for the team, but is 0-4 in seven starts this season. Worley had his best outing of the season against...

The Sports Xchange MLB Team Report - Minnesota Twins - INSIDE PITCH Twins catcher Joe Mauer is not a streaky hitter. He carries a .332 career batting average and has been a pretty consistent hitter throughout his career -- until the 2013 season anyway....