The Long National Nightmare is . . .

Over? Or just beginning? Sidney Ponson has obtained his visa, reports La Velle E. Neal on his Strib blog. He will still be pitching in the "B" game against Boston on Monday, and then will get action in the "real" exhibition games. I am very interested to see how he does over the next couple of weeks. It appears that the Twins very much want him to win the 5th starter job, but if someone like Matt Garza throws down the gauntlet, Ponson probably won't simply slip into the rotation - he needs to perform. At least all of the distractions should now be behind him, and the Twins can just go through the process of evaluating him to see whether or not he should get a place on the team . . .