Sports Illustrated named Kirby Puckett and Bert Blyleven the best baseball players to wear their respective numbers.

Puckett, No. 34, was in a class with the likes of David Ortiz (who wears the number as a tribute to Puck), Rollie Fingers, Nolan Ryan, Fernando Valenzuela. 

Blyleven, No. 28, was in a class with Sparky Lyle, Steve Blass, Tom Herr, Al Leiter, and Randy Myers. 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0804/mlb.best....

This morning, an analyst for ESPN SportsCenter predicted that the Detroit Tigers would win in the strong Central Division of Major League Baseball. Cleveland got a mention, too.

He thought Boston and Anaheim will be the other American League powerhouses.

The only time the Twins were mentioned was during the National League segment, while the analyst predicted the New York Mets would be the team to beat, namely because of a guy you might know.

This analyst said the only comparison he could think of for the swap of Johan Santana was the trade of Babe Ruth.

Newly signed Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Livan Hernandez is one of the best innings-eaters in baseball.

Former Twins Johan Santana and Carlos Silva tossed a combined 421 innings last year. Hernandez would throw that many by himself if you let him. This guy doesn't ever want to come out of a game. I don't know how many times I've looked at a boxscore to see that he got shelled for five runs in the first inning and then kept going through the eighth inning.

The New York Mets just got Johan Santana, according to USA Today and ESPN.

See? http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2008-01-29-twins-mets-santana_N....  

So as of late, the Minnesota Twins' infield seems pretty secure.

Because they were National Leaguers, I don't know a whole lot about second baseman Brendan Harris, shortstop Adam Everett, or third baseman Mike Lamb. I have seen all of them play, and they weren't on my list of hopeful acquisitions for a team that I really, really, really, really want to make the playoffs this year.

But I don't think they'll be half bad, either.

Take a look at the stats for:

- Lamb (http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=150286);

Goodbye, Jason Tyner. The Minnesota Twins reserve outfielder was not tendered a contract for 2008, making him a free agent.

Tyner batted .286 last year in 114 games, and he was capable of playing each of the three outfield positions. But the Twins' outfield is clogged. Craig Monroe, Jason Kubel, Michael Cuddyer, Delmon Young, and possibly Jason Pridie are ahead of Tyner.

Kubel was offered a contract and is eligible for arbitration.

For all of his rookie season, I had Delmon Young on my fantasy baseball team.

Just a note about former Minnesota Twins center fielder Torii Hunter: He is highly ranked on several career lists for the hometown nine, but his highest ranking is fourth with 870 strikeouts.

Remember, the Minnesota Twins get two draft picks in compensation for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim wooing away our beloved center fielder.

I'm not exactly worried about the Minnesota Twins' remaining free agents.