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The Twins snapped their worst losing streak of the season--6 games--on Thursday in spectacular fashion.

The game was quickly put away after they scored 7 runs in the seventh inning, highlighted by Michael Cuddyer's 3-run home run. The Twins continued to pile on the runs as the game went on, eventually ending with a 20-1 victory.

The Twins lost 4 games in New York by a combined 5 runs. A 19 run surplus only earned them 1 win in this game. They lost the series to the White Sox 2 games to 1.

The speculation of the weekend culminated in Monday's official announcement by the Twins that they have signed Joe Nathan through 2011 with a team option for 2012. For a team who's recent history has been to let star players go when they enter their most expensive years, this should come as a pleasant surprise. It's really hard to get too upset over this; every fan wants their team to retain its best players.

Despite signing a 5 year, $90 million contract with the Angels this week, Torii Hunter will be playing the in the Metrodome on opening day 2008. The Angels are scheduled to come to Minnesota for a 4-game series beginning March 31st.

The Twins will open up a short two game series against the Cleveland Indians on Monday night at the dome. The Twins will be fortunate enough to miss C.C. Sabathia by one day and they'll have Johan Santana going for them on Tuesday.

Jason Bartlett, who had been the leading candidate for the starting shortsop gig all through spring hurt his hamstring yesterday after hitting a double in the 8th. It sounds like it's not too serious, but on the other hand it's best to be cautious with injuries like this at this time in the season. The last thing anyone wants is hamstring bothering them all season. Bartlett had the following to say:

With a couple weeks to go until the season begins the right field position is still a little up in the air. Surely, a number of players will see some playing time out there all season, but Lew Ford or Michael Cuddyer will probably see most of the playing time there, at least early on in the season. It's uncertain if Jason Kubel will be on the opening day roster let alone, starting.

Last season at this time Michael Cuddyer was preparing to take over for Corey Koskie at third base. He had been a bright star in the Twins organization just trying to find an open spot in the lineup, and the Twins had finally put their trust in Cuddyer by letting Koskie leave for Toronto. Last season didn't go as well as everyone, including Cuddyer, had hoped. Cuddyer made 15 errors in just 95 games at the hot corner last year. Expected to have 25+ homerun potential, he hit just 12 and batted a mediocre .263 while missing a few weeks in the middle of the season due to injury.