Pat Reusse has a positive article about Mike Jackson:

"He studies hitters from the first inning," Romero said. "He has a lot of knowledge, and he shares it."

Mike Sweeney greeted Jackson with a single. That brought up Michael Tucker. Jackson's knowledge bank including giving up a home run to Tucker in Houston last year.

"This is a bigger ballpark than [Houston's] Enron Field," Jackson said. "I didn't have to be as concerned about a fly ball."

Tucker flied out to left. Then, Jackson broke Joe Randa's bat with a sinker and those middle-infield magicians -- Cristian Guzman and Luis Rivas -- turned it into a double play.

"The problem, what I had heard, was the Twins' bullpen kind of let them down later on last season," Jackson said. "That's one reason I was interested in coming here.

"I knew the starting pitchers were very good, and that this bullpen had a big opportunity to do well. I'm here to help any way I can."

I find that really interesting. Jackson looked at the Twins and thought he could help. Good starters would make his job easier. Seems like an intelligent guy.