"Itemizing a few things ...

Item: A stiff neck is the latest thing to keep Joe Mauer out of the Twins' lineup. He has missed 60 games, mostly because of injuries, and yet he has no idea that many perceive him to be soft.

I think: Mauer's nickname should be Clueless Joe.

Item: The Twins trade Jim Thome to the Cleveland Indians after the Indians put in a waiver claim.

I think: The Twins got what they wanted out of Thome: the chance to promote and market his 600th home run. Once Thome got No. 600, it was a no-brainer that he'd be gone. And lucky him, he gets to escape the Twins' mess. It's the baseball equivalent of getting early parole. "