Top 11 Players Who Would Make A Worse Number 2 Hitter than Alexi Casilla

So Mr. Negative (Sisyphus) is down on Ron Gardenhire for batting Alexi Casilla 2nd in what otherwise is a very potent order. Being a glass half full kind of guy, I prefer to look on the bright side. Here are a few people who would be worse.

11. Carol Gardenhire (no baseball experience, but brings the (True Value) hardware home for Ron) - at least nepotism isn't rampant in the Twins organization

10. Jake Maurer (.256 and no HRs in 5 years in the minors) - if nepotism was rampant, he would be the Twins likely #2 hitter

9. Twins mascott TC - it would be hard to turn on the ball in a bear costume

8. Yancarlos Ortiz (batting .226 this year at AA New Britain) - scheduled to become a Gardenhire favorite in 2011

7. Sisyhpus (no major or minor league experience) - hey, if you couldn't play for the Twins you don't deserve to criticise them

6. Willie Norwood (.242 lifetime average with the Twins) - sure, he's a better hitter but he was a disaster in the field

5. Tony Oliva (turns 71 years old tomorrow) - I don't doubt Tony could hit the ball better than Casilla, but he'd be a liability on the base path

4. Kirby Puckett - because he's dead, his productivity would likely be lower than Casilla

3. Rondell White (hit .174 for the Twins in 2007) Gardy stuck with this guy longer than Casilla (so far)

2. Eddie Gaedel (one major league plate appearance) - standing 3 feet 7 inches tall, Gaedel was one of Bill Veek's more egregious publicity stunts

1. Matt Tolbert (.178 as the Twins #2 hitter for most of the first half of the season)