Shooter Now: Minnesota Twins' Joe Nathan won't use elbow as excuse

Maybe they should check Joe's head, because the Yankees sure got into it.

This Dr James Andrew guy must be the richest doctor in the world......he's everywhere!!!

nathan has bone chips in his head..

not a better guy out their than Nathan. Get them Hammer.

No excuse for grooving a pitch. I hope Hunter's legs fall off.

What a shame. When it really counted, Nathan didnt have it. No matter how much he tries to rationalize his colossal failure against the Yankees, the fact remains, in the biggest game of his career, he got the shakes and couldnt deliver. Its just pathetic listening to him talk about how proud he is of himself. Time to wake up Joe. Alex Rodriguez, the most hated player in baseball, beat you in the bottom of the ninth inning in a crucial playoff game.

Give Joe some time. He will be back in form as a great closer for us in our new stadium. The Yankee's got to him during the season and post season. He just needs to get back to the pitches he throws best, don't over analyze. Go 2010 Twins!

I'm a Yankee fan and it was clear to me that Nathan was hurt. He is the second-fourth best closer in the game when healthy. To me, he has every right to use that as an excuse, he would have been far more effective if healthy

The Twins should start thinking of getting or grooming another closer, but it doesn't mean that Nathan can't help the Twins. He can still get a lot of save opportunities and perhaps work as a set-up man, too.

One of the most disappointing things to have seen during the series against the Yankees was the Twins' inability to get to Rivera, or when they did, Rivera was able to bounce back. The Angels can't crack that nut, either. Nathan is an excellent pitcher, a great Twin; and he had a lot to do with the Twins winning the division, but he choked in the play-offs. Being a closer takes great stuff, obviously, but a lot of it is psychological. Rivera has been unshakable, but Nathan just couldn't handle the play-off heat.

33 of nathans 47 saves came against teams with records under 500..enough said

Great news concerning Nathan. At 35 he probably doesn't have many good years left, but I think he is currently the 2nd best closeer in the AL, maybe all of MLB. While the team will have to address a successor for Joe in a few years, his recovery allows the team to address other more immediately pressing concerns. Namely an ace to anchor the starting rotation and either a SS or 2nd baseman. I guess I should add signing Mauer to a long term contract and at minimum exercising Cuddyer for 2010.

Joe Nathan "won't use elbow as a n excuse"? well I will - His elbow hurt and he pitched lousy in the last game.

Nathan should retire.

All these posts are so funny. Let's see the guy could've sat on the bench from August on when clearly his arm started to begin failing him and the season would've been over. Basically, what Morneau did. Nathan pressed on and this "lousy" pitcher as many of you have called him led relievers in K's with 89, had a whip of .93 and an ERA just above 2, and helped this team get to the Playoffs. Not to mention winning his first Rolaids Relief award. Boy, what a horrible year for this declining top-notch closer. Let's get rid of him, great idea. He obviously has nothing left in the tank. He also got named Twins pitcher of the year....terrible.

Let's think of all the closers that failed this year so far. Nathan, Papelbon, Franklin, Street, Broxton, Fuentes. Only one's left are Lidge and Rivera now. Guess only 1 of them will be left standing in 7-10 days.