From bad to worse

Ricky Nolasco throws a first-inning pitch Wednesday.
Photos like this remind me that the mystery isn't that
pitchers get hurt, it's that they don't get hurt more often.

I recently ran across this proposed addition to the Beatitudes: Blessed are they with low expectations, for they shall not be disappointed.

This has been a week to test the expectations of Twins fans (and players, and decision makers). The basis for the Twins' expectations this year -- and they seemed to have expectations, even if they were exclusive to the organization -- started this way:

• Ervin Santana deepens the starting rotation;
• Ricky Nolasco, Tommy Milone and Mike Pelfrey all had injury issues last season and should be better this year.

Well. A week ago today news broke that Santana had flunked a steroids test, and he's serving an 80-day suspension. Nolasco opened Wednesday's game throwing 14 straight fastballs and ended his all-too brief outing throwing almost nothing but junk. By Thursday he was on his way to Minneapolis to have his elbow examined.

Also on Thursday, Alex Meyer pitched the opener for the Twins Triple A affiliate, the Rochester (NY) Red Wings. He walked six in five innings, a pretty good indication that he still hasn't worked out his mechanics.

Keep your expectations low, fellow Twins fans.