The results of today's MRI on Pat Neshek's right elbow were not good.  La Velle E. Neil reported on his blog that Neshek has been diagnosed with an acute partial tear of the ulner collateral ligament.  Yes, that said tear, and yes, that's the Tommy John ligament.  The word on what that means right now is Neshek will not throw for at least 3 months.  Surgery has not been mentioned at any point yet, but I highly doubt it's medically out of question considering the importance of that ligament.

This is clearly terrible news for the Twins.  Not only is it almost certain that Neshek will be done for the balance of the year, causing the Twins to lose their top set-up guy, but an injury to this part of the body casts instant doubt on how Neshek will pitch for the rest of his career.

Neshek is likely to get a second opinion, and hopefully we'll soon hear word about the injury being something a player can recover from soon...

A quick look at Pat Neshek over the past couple of years:

2006: 32 appearances, 2 blown saves
2007: 74 appearances, 3 blown saves
2008: 6 appearances, 2 blown saves

Granted, this is a small sample size, but Neshek's already been bombed twice this year, and both times the Twins were ahead when he came in and behind when he came out.  This just didn't happen that often in 2006 and 2007.  Should we Twins fans be starting to worry about Neshek?  Or is it just too early?

Close contest blown open by grand slam.

Nick Blackburn made his second start of the season on Monday afternoon, and turned in another solid performance.  Over five innings he allowed two runs, while striking out five and scattering seven hits.  Leaving the game with a 3-2 lead, on most occasions the Twins bullpen would have locked it down.

Instead, the bottom of the seventh inning turned into a nightmare.  Matt Guerrier got Orlando Cabrera to fly out to lead off the inning, but Jim Thome walked and Paul Konerko singled to chase Guerrier from the game.  Neshek relieved him, and on a high-and-tight slider Jermaine Dye fisted a single up the middle.  Thome scored and the game was tied.

After retiring A.J. Pierzynski for the second out of the inning, Carlos Quentin singled to load the bases for Twin Killer Joe Crede.  Neshek delivered a sinking fastball that just missed outside before feeding him a fastball at the belt.  Crede turned on the pitch and launched it into the left field seats.  The five-run inning gave Chicago a 7-3 lead.

The Twins were able to manage another run in the eighth, but the damage had been done.  Matt Tolbert reached on a single in the ninth, but Carlos Gomez (who stole his fifth base of the season) ended the game on a 6-4-3 double play.  Minnesota falls to 3-5.

Between tomorrow and Wednesday I'm hoping to get up some research that I've done on pitch selection for the Twins so far this season.  I'll see you for the game tomorrow!