I sort of feel like I’m living in Bizarro World with the Twins offense managing 17 runs in a 2-game span and the recent news of Ramon Ortiz being traded to the Rockies (I’ll post a link when I find one Denver Post, MLB.com: Rockies add veteran pitcher Ortiz).

On the win: it’s the first series victory since late July / early August when they beat Kansas City 2 of 3 in the 35W shortened series. It also moved them to a .500 record of 60-60. Last year they reached .500 at 34-34 and never fell below it.

The Ortiz trades leaves me asking two questions:

1. Considering all 3 of Terry Ryan’s “big” free agent signings from the past offseason (Sidney Ponson, Jeff Cirillo and Ramon Ortiz) are now off the team, can Terry Ryan be ranked as one of the worst General Managers of the past year?

2. Considering Terry Ryan somehow managed to convince a team to take Ortiz, even if it was for a bag of peanuts, should he be considered the best GM in all of baseball?

I’ll let you ponder those questions. I’ll be shocked if I hear disappointment from anyone on this move. Ortiz was terrible as a starter and just a terrible, albeit less damaging, as a mop-up reliever. The Twins reportedly got a got 25 year old minor league 2nd baseman Matt Macri in return (again, I’ll link to more details when I find them online). Macri is having a nice season after putting up not so nice numbers in 2006. I’m assuming they’ll also save the remaining due on Ortiz’s 1-year $3.1 million contract.

Notes from Wednesday’s game

• Rondell White hit his first home run of the season in the fifth inning to give the Twins a 1-0 lead.
• Torii Hunter put the Twins back in the lead in the eighth inning with an RBI single. He later padded lead with a 9th inning 2-out grand slam.
• Scott Baker bounced back from a rough end to his start in Anaheim last week to strike out 7 and allow just a run through 6 2/3 innings. He did allow 8 hits and 2 walks and picked up a no decision.
• Pat Neshek was credited with the win. He pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.
• Tommy Watkins picked up his 1st and 2nd career hits.
• Jason Bartlett left the game after singling in the sixth with a hamstring strain. He’s likely day-to-day at this point.

Update: It looks like the other side’s take is pretty much in line with mine, only opposite. I’m sorry Rockies fans.