<TABLE width="100%" align=center><TBODY><TR><TD class=vaLabel vAlign=top rowSpan=5 width=100 align=middle>
</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>Confirmed: Rauch to open as Twins' closer </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>Jon Rauch - R - MIN - Apr. 2</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>Twins manager Ron Gardenhire told Dave Schwartz of Minneapolis' KARE 11 that Jon Rauch will open the season as closer.
LaVelle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune has confirmed the report. It's not all that surprising that Gardenhire decided on Rauch for the gig. The 6-foot-11 right-hander has a closer-type presence and Matt Guerrier fits better in a setup role because the Twins sometimes like to use him in multiple-inning situations. Gardenhire told reporters last week that he would employ a "closer-by-committee" to cover for Joe Nathan's absence.
Source: Dave Schwartz on Twitter
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>Confirmed: Rauch to open as Twins' closer </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>Jon Rauch - R - MIN - Apr. 2</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>Twins manager Ron Gardenhire told Dave Schwartz of Minneapolis' KARE 11 that Jon Rauch will open the season as closer.LaVelle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune has confirmed the report. It's not all that surprising that Gardenhire decided on Rauch for the gig. The 6-foot-11 right-hander has a closer-type presence and Matt Guerrier fits better in a setup role because the Twins sometimes like to use him in multiple-inning situations. Gardenhire told reporters last week that he would employ a "closer-by-committee" to cover for Joe Nathan's absence.
Source: Dave Schwartz on Twitter
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
