FOR NEWMIE: Twins shortstop Cristian Guzman, half of what Aaron Gleeman calls the "Offensive and Defensive Abyss," on Saturday hit his first home run of the season after 500 at bats, the longest homer-less streak in baseball this season.
Guzman's homer could have been construed as a tribute to Twins third base coach Al Newman, who was hospitalized over the weekend after suffering a brain hemorrhage. Newman, when he played for the Twins from 1987-1991, did not hit a single home run, and finished his 7-year baseball career with more World Series rings (2) than homers (1, which he hit as an Expo in '85). We know Newman wouldn't want the Twins' current shortstop befallen by a similar fate- so knowing that Guzman hit the homer, for Newmie.
The Twins, meanwhile, won again on Sunday, yet remain tied for first place with the White Sox. Considering that all but three of their remaining games are against the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians, the Twins will have to blow it very badly in order to avoid winning the AL Central.