That was the guy we've been looking for.

On Friday night the Minnesota Twins opened the second half of their season against baseball's most potent offense.  Leading all of Major League Baseball in runs scored, team OPS, hits, doubles and batting average, the Texas Rangers are a formidible ballclub in that on any given night they'll throw up six or seven runs while taking a nap.  Last night however, Glen Perkins just put their offense to sleep.

Staying aggressive for the duration of his six innings of work, Perkins went after the Ranger hitters, big and small alike.  With Texas tied for first in the American League in strikeouts, the former Gopher was the benefactor of some aggression, which led to a number of brief plate appearances.  He averaged just 14 pitches through his first five innings before slowing down in the sixth, where he managed to work himself out of a jam with Michael Young on third base and two outs.

In fact, that was the most impressive part of Perkins' start.  After walking Young on eight pitches with one out, a wild pitch allowed the Texas shortstop to advance to second base.  Josh Hamilton followed that up with a ground out to the right side, moving Young to third.  With the Twins leading just 1-0 at the time, Perkins attacked Milton Bradley with seven consecutive fastballs, largely staying away before finally walking him on one inside.  Marlon Byrd stepped in with runners on the corners, and again Perkins played the predator.  Seven more fastballs were fired through the strikezone, until Byrd finally rolled over on who and grounded out to second base.  It was the type of inning, and the type of reserve, that we haven't seen too often from Glen Perkins--but he stepped up his game last night.

Perkins credit part of his success to a new pitch--a slider.  With his previous breaking ball, which could have been called a bit of a slurve sometimes, breaking 12-to-6, Glen felt he needed to mix in something different.

"There's things I'll try to do now that I wouldn't have tried a month ago," Perkins said. "The biggest thing is throwing the ball inside. I wasn't big on that in the minor leagues — it's a lot easier to miss over the plate. But if you stay in there, you get guys out and make guys uncomfortable."

He worked right-handed hitters inside with fastballs and sliders, recording a few outs on the new pitch.  He also used his slider to break away from left-handed hitters while still using the fastball to jam them inside.  Perkins changed his speeds and mixed his pitches better than I've seen him do it this year, and having that extra weapon in his arsenal certainly didn't hurt.

The offense gave him his support as well, although it took Jamey Wright to enter in relief of Kevin Millwood before the flood doors finally opened.  With Millwood in trouble in the seventh, Wright entered and allowed three inherited runners to score along with one of his own.  All of this before he finally induced a ground ball double play.

Alexi Casilla collected three hits, and Justin Morneau added one of his own--an impressive double.  Once again it was the second half of the batting order coming through however, with Jason Kubel (also with a double), Delmon Young, Brian Buscher and Brendan Harris all notching multi-hit games.  The four combined to go 10-for-16, collecting all six of the Twins RBI.

Stars of the Game

#3:  Delmon Young  (4-for-4, 4 singles, RBI, SB)
#2:  Alexi Casilla  (3-for-5, R, nice defense)
#1:  Glen Perkins  (6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 1 K)

We did it last year...so we'll do it this year!

To me, the All-Star game is more of a status symbol than it is a fun game to watch.  I know it stems from Selig and the team managers agreeing to call it a tie game--at which point baseball pulled a 180 and in a desperate attempt at "No, No!  It really matters, it really, really, totally counts!" decided to give an exhibition game some actual merit by granting home field advantage to the league that won the contest.  It went from fun...to flat-out meaningless...to an oxymoron.

But just because the league made a pair of bad decisions, it doens't mean we should punish the players.  Election to the starting lineup of the All-Star game is still an honor and a symbol of status and respect; exactly as it should be.  With that, I present my All-Star selections.

Catcher:  Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins
Age:  25
Previous All-Star Selections:  1 (2006)

No big surprise here.  Mauer has been the best offensive catcher in the American League and, arguably, the best defensive catcher as well.  He's on pace for nearly 40 doubles, walks twice as often as he strikes out and controls the strike zone like few others in all of baseball.  He's a suberb player in every sense of the word, not to mention a great guy, and he deserves this opportunity to represent the best of his league.

Runner-Up:  Dioner Navarro, Tampa Bay Rays

First Base:  Kevin Youkilis, Boston Red Sox
Age:  29
Previous All-Star Selections:  0

I tried to justify going with Morneau over Youkilis, but in all good conscience couldn't do it.  Youkilis has a significant lead in slugging and extra-base hits, and even though Justin walks more and strikes out less, I couldn't award the position to Justin just because I wanted him to have it.  Youkilis is a fantastic player on both sides of the ball and deserves this nomination.  More than anything he's a great hitter, and any lineup would be happy to have him in it.  Besides, what pitcher isn't afraid of Leonidas?

Runner-Up:  Justin Morneau, Minnesota Twins

Second Base:  Ian Kinsler, Texas Rangers
Age:  26
Previous All-Star Selections:  0

It's tough to deny a guy who's on pace for 90 extra-base hits.  After finishing seventh in Rookie of the Year voting in '06, Kinsler turned in a solid year in '07.  Neither of those seasons has compared to how he's belting in '08.  He's matched career highs in stolen bases and doubles already, as will likely smash career marks for hits, walks, home runs and RBI as well.  Kinsler provides the full package for a second baseman from the offensive side, and he's adequate in the field as well.  Do you think Arizona would have liked him to sign with them on one of the two seperate occasions where they drafted him?  Probably.  Luckily for Texas, he didn't.

Runner-Up:  Brian Roberts, Baltimore Orioles

Third Base:  Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees
Age:  32
Previous All-Star Selections:  11 (1996-1998, 2000-2007)

When you talk about the best players of all time, Rodriguez has to be in the conversation.  Any time a guy hits .316/.399/.591 and it's run of the mill, you've got something special.  He turns 33 later this month but, luckily for fans of spectacle, greatness and baseball in general, he's showing no signs of slowing down.  Alex deserves all the credit he gets and then some.  His similar batter comps include Ken Griffey Jr., Mickey Mantle, Jimmie Foxx, Mel Ott, Manny Ramirez and Frank Robinson.  When you get an opportunity to watch a player the caliber of A-Rod, even if you hate the Yankees, you have to appreciate the skill.

Runner-Up:  Mike Lowell, Boston Red Sox

Shortstop:  Michael Young, Texas Rangers
Age:  31
Previous All-Star Selections:  4 (2004-2007)

Young, having a down year, is the benefactor of the circumstances surrounding the position of shortstop throughout the American League:  all shortstops are having down years.  Peralta in Cleveland, Jeter in New York, Eckstein, Bartlett, Lugo...if they don't have glaring weaknesses they've missed time, and all-in-all it makes for a situation that we're not used to in the AL.  For years it was impossible to pick the one best shortstop, just like this year, but usually it was because there were too many options.  This season there aren't enough.  Young is the best of a weak list of finalists.

Runner-Up:  Derek Jeter, New York Yankees

Outfield:  Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers
Age:  27
Previous All-Star Selections:  0

I don't know what happened to Josh Hamilton from 2003-2005, and part of me doesn't want to know.  I'd like to think he returned home to the planet Krypton, developed super powers, and then returned to earth to better mankind through baseball.  Actually, it was suspension due to violating baseball's drug policy, which makes his transformation intriguing to say the least:  prior to 11 games at triple-A Louiseville last summer, he'd had no success past high-A ball.  At any rate, the Rangers made a stellar pickup in the off-season with Hamilton, and now he's hit his way into my All-Star lineup.  Also, I'm sticking with the Krypton story.  Hamilton is the third, but not the final, Ranger to make my list.

Outfield:  Grady Sizemore, Cleveland Indians
Age:  25
Previous All-Star Selections:  2  (2006, 2007)

Nice headshot, Sizemore you freak.  Think the Expos/Nationals would like to reverse this trade?  In June of '02, the Expos sent Sizemore (stud), Cliff Lee (having a stellar year in Cleveland), Brandon Phillips (serviceable with the Reds) and Lee Stevens (out of baseball) to the Indians for Bartolo Colon (on the DL with the Red Sox) and Tim Drew (failed pitching prospect, last heard from last season with the Independent League).  At any rate, Sizemore is an absolute stud.  He hits for power, gets on base, steals bases and is an extra-base machine.  In addition he's a superior defender, and took home a Gold Glove award last year.  As far as center field candidates are concerned, Sizemore is head and shoulders above the competition.  Even hitting an mediocre .261, he's still productive at the plate.

Outfield:  Jermaine Dye, Chicago White Sox
Age:  34
Previous All-Star Selections:  2 (2000, 2006)

While he isn't as spectacular as he was in '06, Dye continues to stave off decline and is on pace to have the third-best offensive season of his career.  Age hasn't hinted at sunset so much this season, and even in the field Dye continues to be a more than adequate defender.  As one of few White Sox hitters who have been effective across the board of offensive achievements, if Chicago takes their run at a division title into September they'll have a lot to thank their right fielder for.  Also, Jermaine Dye has been 34 since 2003.

Runners-Up:  Nick Markakis, Baltimore Orioles; Johnny Damon, New York Yankees; Maggio Ordonez, Detroit Tigers

Designated Hitter:  Milton Bradley, Texas Rangers
Age:  30
Previous All-Star Selections:  0

I'm not sure anyone in their right minds could have seen this performance coming.  Across the board this is simply a stunning, MVP-style season from a guy who's always been a good player...but he's never shown that he could be this good.  Whatever the case may be, the Rangers picked up another diamond in the rough last winter in Bradley, a guy who many teams steered away from because of his makeup.  If the Rangers do decide to sell at the deadline, they'll likely sell Bradley, who would be the quintessential example of selling high.  Bradley's services may never be as profitable as they are right now--at least as far as a competetive team looking for a blockbuster bat is concerned.

Runner-Up:  Hideki Matsui, New York Yankees

The Batting Order, which courtesy of Baseball Musings' Lineup Analysis tool, says this team could average 6.817 runs per game:

1-Milton Bradley, DH
2-Alex Rodriguez, 3B
3-Kevin Youkilis, 1B
4-Josh Hamilton, OF
5-Ian Kinsler, 2B
6-Jermaine Dye, OF
7-Grady Sizemore, OF
8-Michael Young, SS
9-Joe Mauer, C

Glen Perkins turns in third quality starts in as many appearances.

Following a game which made absolutely no sense, if only because it's baseball and crazy things happen from time to time, Tuesday night's game was an all too simple exhibition in what can happen when things go right.  And also how things get easier when the opposing pitcher shoots his own team in the foot.  While the Twins didn't hit a home run, they did finally manage to roll up some extra-base hits.

Ron Gardenhire filled out a lineup with speed at the top, and it delivered immediate dividends.  Carlos Gomez, using none of the patience we've begged for on this site, took Doug Mathis' first pitch and slapped it into right field.  With just enough of a bounce for an extra second on the basepaths, Gomez was in with his third triple of the year.  Alexi Casilla, batting second, followed with a bouncing ball to shortstop.  Gomez advanced and scored, but a bad throw by Michael Young pulled Chris Shelton off the bag and Casilla (who might have been safe anyway) was awarded with a hit.  Following a double by Joe Mauer, Cuddyer hit a ground ball up the middle.  Jarrod Saltalamacchia tagged Casilla out at the plate, but as Cuddyer tried to take second he biffed the relay.  Mauer came in from third to give the Twins a 2-0 lead.  A diving stop on a hard-hit ball by Delmon Young retired the Twins in the first.

It was the third inning that did in Mathis and the Rangers.  Casilla led off with a single, then Mauer singled as Casilla advanced to third, then Morneau singled to score Casilla.  Cuddyer slapped a dribbler into the right field corner for a double, scoring Mauer.  Jason Kubel walked, Young reached on an error that scored Morneau, Mike Lamb pulled a line-drive single to left field to score Cuddyer.  Seven consecutive men reached base for the Twins in the third.  But it wasn't over.

Adam Everett grounded into a force out (Lamb at second), but Kubel crossed the plate.  Back at the top of the order, Mathis walked Gomez on five pitches and was lifted from the game.  Franklyn German came on in relief and walked Casilla on four pitches, walking in Young.  Finally, Everett scored on a Mauer line-drive out to center field, which capped the scoring for the Twins. A 7-run inning made it 9-0 after three.

As effective as the offense was last night, Glen Perkins was just as sharp.  Through six innings he allowed three hits and no runs, and kept the Ranger offense off kilter by throwing his off-speed and breaking balls with regularity the first time through the order.  Following the explosion of the third inning he changed tactics and became aggressive in the fourth and fifth, throwing fastballs more often, encouraging the Texas hitters to make contact and get themselves out.  As the top of the order came around again in the sixth he mixed it up again, and retired the side in order.  Great pitching is a work of art, and Glen turned in one hell of a performance on Tuesday.  He may not be over-powering, but his accuracy and command of his breaking balls and plus changeup make his 92 mph fastball look good.

In the seventh, Perkins got into trouble.  After popping up Shelton for the first out and the bases loaded, Texas finally got on the board with a Saltalamacchia single.  German Duran singled on the very next pitch to make it 9-2, and that was the end for the hometown southpaw.  Perkins left the field to a well deserved standing ovation, with a final line that included a pair of earned runs, a trio of strikeouts, no walks and no home runs allowed.

In the bottom of the seventh the Twins tagged on two more in rapid succession.  Kubel led off with a double, Young tripled into the right-center field gap, and Lamb scored Young on a sacrifice fly.

That was a fun game to watch; high-scoring affairs always are.  At least when it's your team laying on the thump.  With Tuedsay's win the Twins are back above evens, at 23-22.  Chicago leads the second-place Twins by a game and a half.