So it's Aug. 4, and the Mariners are finally playing the Twins for the first time this year. That's some bizarre scheduling. They play them nine times in the next three weeks, so they'll make up for lost time.

The fact that the Twins come to Safeco in first place in the AL Central is a testament to their organization. After losing Johan Santana and Torii Hunter (not to mention Carlos Silva -- insert your own joke), most people expected the Twins to be a non-factor. I can't remember where I picked them, but it sure wasn't for first or second. But they have developed a pretty good young rotation, one that figures to be much better if Francisco Liriano continues to pitch as well as he did yesterday. They have two superstars to build around in Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau, a great closer in Joe Nathan, and a lot of players who -- some of you are going to hate this expression, but I really think it's apt with the Twins -- know how to win.

Jim Riggleman was talking before the game about the "Twins way," and I think there's somthing to that. The current manager, Ron Gardenhire, learned under Tom Kelly, who was a brilliant teacher of fundamentals. Kelly won two World Series in five years before hitting lean times. Gardenhire told me today that he runs his team exactly the way Kelly used to, stressing fundamentals and effort and moving runners up and all those things that every team gives lip service to, but the Twins seem to be able to pull off. (And yes, they've had some great players, too. I recognize that). Whatever they're doing -- and give I give a lot of credit to frmer GM Terry Ryan, who retired after last year, and a was a master at drafting and acquiring young talent) -- they've been remarkably successful. This is Gardenhire's seventh season at the helm; he has four division titles in the previous six years, and could add another one this year. The Twins are doing something right.

Meanwhile, the Mariners decided to change Erik Bedard's throwing schedule, not because there's something wrong with his shoulder after 30 tosses yesterday. It's more because there wasn't. Bedard didn't throw today, as originally planned. Instead of going two days throwing, one day off, the Mariners switched to an every other day schedule this week (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) and will re-evaluate after he throws Saturday.

"He's feeling so good, we don't want to increase the intensity,'' Mariners trainer Rick Griffin said. "We don't want to push it too hard and have it flare up again.''

Lineups

Orioles

Denard Span RF

Nick Punto 2B

Joe Mauer C

Justin Morneau 1B

Jason Kubel DH

Delmon Young LF

Brian Buscher 3B

Brendan Harris SS

Carlos Gomez CF

Glen Perkins P

Mariners

Ichiro RF

Willie Bloomquist CF

Raul Ibanez LF

Adrian Beltre 3B

Jose Lopez 2B

Jose Vidro DH

Bryan LaHair 1B

Kenji Johjima C

Yuniesky Betancourt SS

MIguel Batista P