A couple of nights ago, when Duensing gave up the grand slam to Chicago and the game was spiraling downhill, my brother got into one of those heated debates that only baseball can seem to conjure up. Here is the gist of the matter.

Basically, we both agreed that when it comes to MN Twins second basemen of recent vintage, these two guys...

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via media.cleveland.com

..were the clear favorites.

However, where the debate came into play surrounding two other second-seconds.

My brother is a fan of Alexi Casilla...

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Though he also bemoans the epic cold streaks that usually put Lexi on the bench after he seemingly "earns" a starting spot, the knack of bouncing a single through the infield when most needed (see: against Chicago in the '08 Dome craziness; '09s 163) has endeared him to my brother.

I, however, prefer a different Latin American Twins 2Ber...

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The thing with Luis Rivas was that you knew EXACTLY what you were going to get each season: solid defense (easily the match if not the superior of Casilla), a .250 bat, and some sort of supernatural ability to pound Kansas City Royals pitcher. I'll take that over Casilla's hot-and-cold routine any day of the week.

Granted, I realize that a "Casilla vs. Rivas" debate just underscores the fact that the Twins are 15 games below the .500 mark right now, but hey, you gotta talk about something, right?!

There is one thing my brother and I both agree on: Either Casilla or Rivas look like a Hall of Fame entry compared to the failed 2005 experiment that was Bret Boone!

via seattletimes.nwsource.com