LaVelle Neal on the Twins losing closer Joe Nathan

Joe Nathan
Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Nathan wipes his face against the Boston Red Sox in the third inning of a spring training baseball game in Fort Myers, Fla., Saturday, March 6, 2010.
AP Photo/Nati Harnik

The Twins defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 7-6 in a preseason game in Fort Myers, Fla. on Tuesday.

It was a piece of good news in an otherwise gloomy day for fans of the ball club. The team announced this morning that All-Star closer Joe Nathan has a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow.

Twins' General Manager Bill Smith said doctors will check the strength of Nathan's arm before making any decisions about surgery.

LaVelle Neal, who covers the Twins for the Star Tribune, joined All Things Considered on the phone from Fort Myers.

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