Another day, another win. Ho-hum! Justin Credible goes deep in the first, TerryTiffee goes deep to end the game. Twins 4, Royals 3. RD stretches and yawns with great satisfaction.

RD is intrigued by a statistic culled from the Star Tribune. Since being traded to Boston, Dougie Defence has 15 hits. Since Dougie was traded, Justin Credible has 12 home runs. Case closed.

RD's also intrigued by Mike Cuddyer and as he visualizes the 2005 infield, not to mention the 2004 infield/playoff edition, he ponders the Rivas v. Cuddyher issue at second base. It seems to RD that second base is Cuddyher's best position and he wonders whether that's in the next generation of changes being plotted by Twins' management. RD is thrilled for TerryTiffee and his week of success, but knows that a week of September excellence -- or even an entire month -- doesn't mean that he's ready to KO the incumbent, Cordel Koskie, at third base.

There are so many issues out there. Koskie v. Tiffee; Cuddyher v. Rivas; Guzman v. Bartlett; five outfielders (Stew, T-Hunt, JJ, LewFord and Jason Kubel) for three positions. Not all of us think there's real debate on all of those issues. (RD is a "Koskie/Guzman -- no changes on that side of the infield" guy.) But RD is a fan of lively discussion and welcomes opposing viewpoints.

RD offers one other pleasant reminder: There are 17 teams that basically NO chance whatsoever of making the postseason. We haven't been in that sorry position in these parts for a few years now. Think about that and smile.

The magic number is 19.