FanHouse Jesse Crain

Every Sunday, MLB FanHouse empties out its notebook in Baseball Brunch.

The most remarkable thing about this season as we hit the not-halfway halfway point of the All-Star break isn't Albert Pujols' RBI total. Or Zack Greinke's ERA. Or the PED suspension of one of the game's biggest stars.

It's the standings. And they not only reflect the season so far, they give us a clue as to the weeks head leading up to the non-waiver trade deadline.

The Phillies and Dodgers are the only first-place team with a lead of more than 2 1/2 games. And 21 of the 30 teams are within 7 1/2 games of a playoff spot: nine of 14 in the AL and 12 of 16 in the NL.

Fantasy baseball draft season is coming, so you best be prepared by delving through every major player on each team. Fantasy FanHouse is here to help with a quick once-over.

Meet the...

Absolute best team in baseball that you've never heard of. The Twins don't spend a lot of money nor do they make a lot of headlines. What they are good at, however, is winning. The Twins won the American League Central Division every year from 2002 to 2004 and again in 2006. In 2007 they finished third in the division and in 2008 they lost a one-game playoff to just miss the post season. This team wins with a small-ball, almost National League feel or approach.

FanHouse continues its 2009 MLB Preview with a look at the Minnesota Twins.

Last year was supposed to be the season in which the Minnesota Twins finally had to deal with reality. They traded Johan Santana to the Mets because they couldn't afford him any longer, and the heart and soul of the team, Torii Hunter, left for the glitz and glamor of Los Angeles. Then the Twins went out and won 88 games and were one run shy of making the playoffs after losing to the White Sox in a one-game playoff for the Central title. This is just what the Twins do. They defy everyone's expectations but their own, and odds are they're going to do it again this season.

I was watching the Twins and White Sox last Thursday when Pat Neshek hurt his elbow. It came the way you never want to see a pitcher get hurt (save for maybe a line drive off their head): Just throwing a pitch. Neshek has always had one of the oddest deliveries I've ever seen from a pitcher, and it has the kind of spastic motions where I felt it was only a matter of time before something went wrong.

Well, when Neshek threw a slider during the 8th inning of the game on Thursday, something went wrong. Neshek immediately clutched at his elbow, and was walking off the field shortly after. The injury is as bad as it looked, as Neshek won't be pitching again this season.

Neshek will not be allowed to throw for a minimum of three months, which means the injury has effectively ended his season. But he said he won't need surgery.

The ulnar collateral ligament is the same ligament that pitchers have repaired when they undergo Tommy John replacement surgery.

"Obviously it's really bad, but it's good I can come back and rehab this and not have to go through surgery and sit out for a good year," Neshek said after Friday's game, his arm fully wrapped.

Neshek's loss is a big on for the Twins bullpen, as they'll now need to find somebody else to get the ball to Joe Nathan. Jesse Crain and Matt Guerrier will probably take over Pat's spot in eighth inning.

There was no word on how the injury will affect Pat's blogging.

When the Twins placed Joe Mauer on the disabled list on May 6th, it was with hopes that his strained left quadricep muscle would be healed after two weeks. Well, it's not.

"He's supposed to come off (the disabled list) Sunday - I doubt it," Gardenhire said. "I don't think that's going to happen. He's doing fine. By not straining (the injury) any more, it's healing. That's why he's not doing much of anything right now - he has to let it heal."

Since Joey Sideburns' quad is proving to be of the slow healing variety, he'll have to stick to hitting off of a tee like he did on Wednesday. In three simulated games against the tee, Mauer went 9-for-12 with 3 home runs and 9 RBI.

This isn't the happiest of news for Twins fans who've had to watch their team go 2-7 since Joe was placed on the disabled list, and fall into fourth place in the AL Central. To make things worse, the Twins plan on sending Mauer on a rehab assignment before bringing him back.

But there is a plus side.

At least Joe Mauer will be coming back, which probably can't be said for reliever Jesse Crain. Crain has torn both the labrum and rotator cuff in his throwing shoulder and is likely done for the year.

Previously at The Fanhouse:
Joe Mauer Suddenly Has A Lot More Time On His Hands
So You Want To Sleep With A Batting Champion

Is there anything in baseball more exciting than middle relief?

The Twins share this bullpen fetish, they had the best one in the American League last season, and they've decided to do everything in their power to maintain the pen that they have. That's why they signed reliever Jesse Crain to a three-year deal today.

The Twins agreed Tuesday to terms with right-handed reliever Jesse Crain on a three-year contract, which will keep him signed through the 2009 season.

Crain, 25, was 4-5 with a 3.52 ERA and one save in 68 appearances last season. In his final 22 appearances in '06, Crain was 2-0 with a 0.38 ERA and allowed just 14 hits.

This deal is also a safety net for the future in Minnesota. The Twins think that Crain has the ability to be a closer in the Majors, and they wanted to lock him up in case they aren't able to work out a new deal with current closer, Joe Nathan.

Terms of the deal weren't disclosed, but judging by the current market for pitchers I'm going to go ahead and say that Crain will be making $24 million this season.