Nathan out...

[Harmonica Bear]

Heard on the way into work Nathan has a torn ligament in the elbow. Not good, at some point he is going to need TJ surgery and may be done for the season. It'll be intersting to see what the front office does in the face of this. Hate to see a knee jerk reaction.

[DonBo]

Closer Joe Nathan and the Twins were hit with the news this morning that he has a significant tear if the Ulnar Collateral Ligament in his right elbow, a potentially devastating blow to a team looking to make an extended postseason run.

While surgery certainly looms as a possibility, Nathan will take two weeks to let the swelling in the area subside. He'll work with the trainers to strengthen the muscles around the elbow. And then he will try to pitch.

If that doesn't go well, Nathan will have surgery that will end his season.

Nathan had bone chips removed from his elbow during the offseason out of concerns that one of the chips could do damage to the ligament. He said early bullpen sessions went smoothly, and he headed to spring training optimistic that he was fully healed.

But he felt tightness and discomfort in his elbow while throwing a pitch on Saturday against Boston and was removed from the game. That's when the decision was made for him to return to the Twin Cities for further examinations.

[SkunkedAgain]

Another icon of Twins pitching gone. It's too bad, but at his age I can't see a comeback. It's taken Liriano two years to truly come back (we'll see). I wonder how Nathan will approach that given his age. It's been a nice run but I think that it's over.

[Scott K]

Not good! I dont see Nathan coming back from this ,we had a good run with him. He will be missed!

[bucketmouth64]

Looks like Twins will maybe rely on John Rauch...he is like 6'10" we picked up last year. Talk about intimidating pitcher. Mound is already about 10" high. Heard on the news that Twins have a taller relief pitcher in the minors who is 7' tall, can't remember the name.

[Harmonica Bear]

Yep - Loek Van Mil. You know, with him and Rauch in the front court and Mauer and Span in the back court; I'd bet they could give the T-Wolves a run for their money!

[PikeBayCommanche]

This is great news for Twins! After his collapse last year I just didn't see much left in the Tank for him being a great closer anymore. Time to give a new guy a shot.

Think Rauch or Guerrier could be good!

[Harmonica Bear]

Rauch has at least closed before, I don't think Matt G has the heat to close.

My persoanl opinion, I don't see anybody in the orginization with mwental toughness and stuff who can step in and be the closer. Maybe Mujares, but I think he has own demons to battle first.

[PikeBayCommanche]

Guerrier throws 93+

I think he would do fine. He had a great season last year.

[duckhuntr21]

I think that Nathan is a very big loss to the club. I don't think that Matty can handle the pressure from that position and isn't very reliable. What about Neshek, when he has his right stuff, he is lights out.

[DonBo]

Hopefully Neshek will be back to where he was in the '08 season. That would be a huge lift, but very few come back from that surgery in their first year. Look for him back in real form next year.

[DonBo]

If Liriano is as good as advertised this year he may have a shot. Last year the first inning he pitched was always his best, downhill slide from there. Limit him to 15-20 pitches and he might just have found his niche.

[duckhuntr21]

When you check out Neshek's blog and from the articles that I have read, he is totally confident that he has it back. Hopefully mind over matter plays a big part in his recovery.

[PikeBayCommanche]

I think that Nathan is a very big loss to the club. I don't think that Matty can handle the pressure from that position and isn't very reliable. What about Neshek, when he has his right stuff, he is lights out.

Can't have many more troubles than Nathan had last year. Can't forget the sweat pouring down his face and him flubbering his lips and adjusting his cap a few hundred times.

I think Nathan has run his course for pitching in Minnesota and for his career.

[greebs]

Nathan may have had some strange antics on the mound but other than the troubles he had against the yankees, he had another strong year and definitely will be missed. Not only do you lose the guy you rely on but you also take out one of the other guys that you were wanting to use as a setup person. And let's not forget what portion of the teams payroll he will be eating up.

I think they can potentially come out of this ok yet (assuming Crain doesn't become the guy) but anybody who thinks that Joe won't be missed apparently hasn't been following the team very closely the last few years.

[duckhuntr21]

One thing that I think most "Nathan Haters" forget is that he is human. He made mistakes last year but they weren't sread out enough for people to forget about them. When you look at his record as a closer, few if any are better and when you are that good, you have nowhere to go but down.

+1 "I think they can potentially come out of this ok yet (assuming Crain doesn't become the guy)"

[Harmonica Bear]

I'll give you some struggles/tense moments at the end of the season (and of course the playoffs), but..... 47 saves, 68.2 IP, 89 K's, 22 BB, thats still pretty good, better than most closers let alone relievers.

"Nathan had a strong season, as he was selected as an All-Star for the 2009 MLB All Star Game, and he finished the year with 2.10 ERA with 47 saves in 52 opportunities. He shared honors for the AL Rolaids Relief Man award with Mariano Rivera. However, Nathan did not fare as well in the postseason; in Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees, with the Twins leading 3-1 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Nathan blew the save when he surrendered a game-tying two-run home run to Alex Rodriguez. It was the first home run Nathan had allowed with men on base all year. "

I think his days were far from over. The injury however.....

[PierBridge]

We finish 4th in the division if Rauch is our closer, he's terrible to begin with and now you want him as our closer...OUCH.

Tough loss losing one of the games best closers. Although Sled and a few others will be happy he's gone!

[PikeBayCommanche]

Pier,

Used to be on of the best closers.

Someone was going to have to step in sometime.

Glad we can move on from Joe. He was good for many years.

Love the optimism with losing one player! Last? Geesh to think we don't have anyone else left besides Nathan.

[Scott K]

Being Joe was the #3 closer in all of baseball last year, you guys have some huge standards. It may be pretty much impossible to live up to your expectations! Can you name more then 5 closers you would rather have then Nathan? I can think of a couple, thats it.

[PikeBayCommanche]

Could not close the big game.

He was good but time to move on. Doubtful he will return from this injury.

[Juneau4]

Could not close the big game.

Probably never would have made it to the big game without him.

[harvey lee]

Well, add 10 more loses to the lose column for the season.

Not an easy Job to re[lace Joe even if he is at 75%. The guy has saved many games for the Twins even if he did have a couple bad ones last season.

If Joe cannot pitch, about 30 games in, many will then say, we need Joe back.

[harvey lee]

I just heard on the news that Joe was in the cities this weekend and he will need surgery.

He said he is done for the season and it will be a 1 year recovery.

I believe they stated Joe had 47 saves last season. They also said he has been beter on average than Mariano Rivera of the Yankess.

This is a HUGE loss.

[Rippinlip]

Just stinks that we have a pending Mauer contract and if we need a closer, do we look at the market for one or hope one of the current staff guys step it up.

We have lost other great closers, (Reardon, Auguillera), but it took time to replace.

Good Luck, hopefully something pans out for our Minnesota Twins.