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Gardenhire also started a lineup that looks a lot like what we expected for Opening Day - except that Plouffe was playing left field. It looks like he is at least thinking about a real platoon there.

Provus seems like he'll be a nice fit. Heard him mention the score more times over the course of a coupla innings then Gordo had since about '98. This is a good thing.

Good day overall. All the highlights listed answer concerns in positive ways, no injuries the biggest. May things progress as spring marches on.

Honestly, it's hard to really find much negative from this game. Our guys that we need to be healthy all produced a little, and were still healthy at the end of the game; Nishioka was a pleasant surprise (still not holding my breath on him); and Parmelee started out hot.

Maybe, best of all, it was live, outdoor baseball!

It's also worth noting that the 3 guys we're most worried about all had decent games. Span was 2-3 & Mauer & Morneau drove in the 1st 2 runs.

Danny Valencia drilled a double to the right centerfield gap.

That's one of the bigger things to watch this spring/season - does Valencia begin to use the entire field, particularly the middle of the field he used so well in 2010.

"Nishioka," he said, ever so tentatively.