Nathan gets chance to compete for U.S.

02/14/2006
MINNEAPOLIS -- His career has given him the experience of competing in two All-Star Games and the glory of the playoffs, but never has Joe Nathan been able to compete for his country.
Now, he will get that chance.
Nathan was one of 30 players selected to the official Team USA roster for the World Baseball Classic on Tuesday afternoon. Countries must submit their official 30-man rosters for the first round of the WBC by March 2. Changes to the roster can take place before that date, but after may only be made due to injury.
The 31-year-old Twins pitcher joins a few other select closers on the roster including the Mets' Billy Wagner, the Astros' Brad Lidge and the A's Huston Street. Having such an experienced bullpen is something that Team USA manager Buck Martinez felt was necessary for the event, and he was certain that Nathan fit right into that mold.
"Nathan is a guy that has been in pennant races, and we have a lot of confidence in him," Martinez said. "He's a hard thrower, throws lots of strikes and has the ability to close out games, so we think he will fit in well with this bullpen."
Since coming over to the Twins in a trade with the Giants in December 2003, Nathan has put up some of the best numbers in the league as a closer. Over the past two seasons, Nathan has recorded a total of 87 saves along with a 2.15 ERA.
Only four starters were named to the squad, along with the 10 relievers. Each team must carry 13 pitchers, but there is no restriction as to how many can be starters or relievers. Pitch counts are in place for the event, and no pitcher can throw more than 65 pitches per appearance in the first round, 80 in the second round and 95 in the semifinals or finals.
Martinez said that although the initial thought for the team was to carry six starters, the early nature of the event and its rules made it seem more ideal for the team to have more relievers available.
"We have a large number of closers in this bullpen," Martinez said. "These guys are able to be ready early, throw a large number of strikes and usually are more ready at this time of the year than the starters. Bullpens in general have a tendency to come together, and I think that's exactly what you will see in this staff."
While Nathan is the only Twins player on the roster for Team USA, seven others are on the provisional rosters for other countries. Some of the other Minnesota pitchers likely to compete are Johan Santana and Carlos Silva for Venezuela, Jesse Crain for Canada, and Spring Training invitee Dennys Reyes for Mexico.
Team USA will report to Scottsdale on March 3 for the first team workout. The team's first game against Mexico will take place on March 7 at the newly christened Chase Field in Phoenix.

Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/

Around the Horn: DH/Bench

02/15/2006
MINNEAPOLIS -- There is no question that the Twins' bench did almost everything asked of it when filling in defensively during the 2005 season, but in terms of offense, it was another issue entirely.
Struggles at the plate were frequent from those that were asked to come off the pine for the Twins, including designated hitter Lew Ford. Ford didn't have the same luck in 2005 that he had the previous season. Hits eluded the 29-year-old as he batted .264 with seven home runs and 53 RBIs.
Realizing that more was needed from the DH spot, the goal for the team this offseason has been to find a hitter with a little added Major League experience who could stimulate more run production. The Twins' solution came in late December with the signing of Rondell White.
It wasn't exactly the solution that many fans thought was the answer. With rumors floating around during the Winter Meetings that the Twins had interest in other veteran sluggers like Frank Thomas and Mike Piazza, the signing of White was deemed a disappointment. A career .289 hitter who has never hit more than 30 home runs in a season, White doesn't bring the same well-known name that some of the other Twins pursuits did.
Though there have been questions about what the veteran hitter will be able to bring to the squad after injury-plagued seasons the past few years, there is no doubt that many Twins players seem more than content with the addition of White.
"If the guy stays healthy, we're going to win," Twins center fielder Torii Hunter said of White. "I'll put my money on that. If he stays healthy and hits, then we're going to win."
Hunter's statement may be a bit extreme, but he isn't the only one who sees the impact that White could have on the Twins' offense in 2006. Adding White to a lineup that struggled to produce runs gives some hope to the coaches that Minnesota could show a big turnaround at the plate this season.
"One hitter can totally change the complexion of the lineup," Twins hitting coach Joe Vavra said. "We're going to add three different people to that lineup, and each will add a different element. Rondell gives us a guy that is a great situational hitter and someone that has the experience of getting the job done. His hitting should help the entire team."
Beyond White at the designated hitter position though, the rest of the Twins' bench is more of a question mark. Exactly who will fill in the reserve roles for the club is difficult to predict, mostly due to the competitions that will take place at a few of the positions in the field for the team.
Certainly the Twins have plenty of quality experienced players to choose from, including some other bats that may help add some spark to the lineup. One that could do just that is Ruben Sierra.
The signing of Sierra to a Minor League contract raised a few eyebrows around the Twin Cities. The 40-year-old slugger has certainly shown his ability to hit over his long career with his 306 career home runs and 1,318 career RBIs, but questions about his age and injuries of late still linger. Without a strong left-handed bat in any of the likely bench contenders, Sierra could earn one of the coveted reserve roles if his bat shows that it still possesses some power.
The competition at shortstop seems to be leaning toward Jason Bartlett, so if that is the case, then it appears Juan Castro and Nick Punto will again earn two of the bench spots this season. Both Castro and Punto give the Twins a quality defensive player, but both have also seen their share of offensive struggles, hitting .257 and .239 respectively last season.
Others who could compete for the backup infield spots are Terry Tiffee, who came close to making the squad out of Spring Training last season, as well as non-roster invitee Glenn Williams, who missed most of last season after separating his right shoulder in June.
The extra outfielder likely won't be known until the battle between Ford, Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel is settled. It appears that Kubel could be the odd man out returning from his year-long absence due to knee surgery, so likely the loser of the Ford/Cuddyer race will be the platoon man in the outfield. Cuddyer also gives the Twins another player who could provide depth at some of the infield positions, such as third and first base.
Outfielder Jason Tyner will also compete for a backup spot as a non-roster invitee.
Behind the plate, it will be Mike Redmond backing up Joe Mauer for the second straight year. Redmond proved his worth last season by demonstrating not only a strong defensive presence behind the plate but also a little control of his bat. He saw action in 45 games while hitting .311 with 26 RBIs and one home run.
With the talent that seems to be available again for the Twins off the bench, it looks like the team will have plenty of options. It's something that manager Ron Gardenhire has become accustomed to, and a factor that makes the bench a strength for the team.
"We've got quality guys competing for spots on the 25-man roster that can fill in at many different positions," Gardenhire said. "These are versatile guys that know how to play the game and defensively stack up with anyone out there. I think we'll be just fine."

Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/

Lohse rewarded in arbitration case

02/16/2006
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- For the second straight year, Kyle Lohse has been rewarded in his arbitration case against the Twins.
The ruling from the arbitration panel came Wednesday afternoon in favor of the 27-year-old pitcher who will earn $3.95 million this season. Lohse is the first player to earn back-to-back wins over his team in arbitration since Doug Drabek and Wally Joyner did it in 1990 and 1991.
"On my end I felt that I was unfortunate that it had to go to that point for a second year," Lohse said. "I talked to my agent Scott Boras to try to get a midpoint deal and that was not offered so we had to take the next step to go to arbitration. I'm just glad now that it's over and I can concentrate on baseball."
Lohse went 9-13 for the second season in a row in 2005 but decreased his ERA from 5.34 to 4.18 the year before. His numbers were better but he only made 30 starts last season, four less than in 2004. The Twins felt that their offer gave them a strong case.
"Both sides have their own thoughts that their case is legit -- He did, we did," Twins general manager Terry Ryan said. "Kyle prevailed in this and you move on. It's one of those things, that's the reason why the process is in place."
The two sides went through the hearing process last year over a difference of $250,000 and the team had to pay Lohse $2.4 million. With Lohse's two wins in the arbitration process, the Twins No. 4 starter has made an extra $800,000 the past two seasons.
"It's good to have the decision turn out in my favor because you know often times it could go either way," Lohse said. "We felt that we asked for a reasonable number and it's nice to know that (the arbitration panel) felt it was one too."
The most recent decision is the latest chapter in what has often been a sticky relationship between the Twins and Lohse in terms of contract negotiations. Represented by Boras, one of the most well-known agents in baseball, Lohse has never come to terms on a contract with the Twins during his five-year career with the club.
Lohse's contract was renewed in 2002 and 2003 when the two sides couldn't settle on a deal and then the arbitration hearings have taken place the past two seasons. Though Lohse has one more year of arbitration before he becomes a free agent, he isn't thinking about what may play out next year if a deal once again cannot be reached.
"It's not a concern for me at all because these things always work themselves out," Lohse said. "It's kind of been like this every year for me and now that it's over once again, it's time to play baseball."

Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/

Top 10 Twins fantasy players

02/16/2006
If you're a Minnesota fan, and want a fantasy team chock full of Twins this spring, here are 10 players who you should be keeping an eye on at your draft. Winding up with all of these guys is very unlikely, but for those of you who will be miserable all summer if you don't have at least a handful of Twins, make sure to target the 10 names below:
Name Position Dollar value
1. Johan Santana SP $35 The elite pitcher in baseball at the moment, who not only dominates but finishes with a flourish; he has posted a sub-2.00 ERA in the second half over the last two seasons. He just missed an ERA title, was tops in the AL in strikeouts and was first in batting average against. He's in his prime and is the first pitcher off the board in any draft.
2. Joe Nathan RP $29 Nathan may not possess the flash and dash of some of the other top firemen in baseball, but he's proven to be a reliable, dominant force at the end of ballgames. Since taking over the closer job for the Twins in 2004, Nathan has converted 87 of 95 save opportunities, has whiffed 183 batters in 142 1/3 innings and has allowed opponents to hit a measly .185. Those numbers speak for themselves, and you can expect another top-notch performance from the right-hander in 2006.
3. Joe Mauer C $20 Mauer could be the breakout star among catchers in 2006 after turning heads during his first full season. The lefty will turn 23 in early April, but he already has a good idea at the plate, as his .294 batting average and .372 on-base percentage can attest. Mauer has yet to show true home run power, but he has the stroke to be a doubles machine while he continues to develop strength. In an improved Twins lineup, Mauer could drive in 80 runs even if he does not hit more than 15 home runs, and he is also a good bet to hit over .300.
4. Torii Hunter OF $19 Hunter was well on his way to a 20-homer, 30-steal season before breaking his ankle in late July on an acrobatic attempt to make a catch. In four months of play, the center fielder provided a great combination of power and speed while growing more selective at the plate. Unfortunately, the season-ending injury appeared to rob Hunter of his best season, and now raises the question of whether his acceleration and stolen base skills will return to form. If his ankle permits it, the athletic Hunter could go 20-20, along with an unexceptional batting average, en route to playing for a new contract.
5. Brad Radke SP $14 Radke posts some extreme numbers. He logged a ridiculously low 23 walks in over 200 innings, which led him to post his usual stellar ratio. There is also the fact that Radke had huge problems with the first inning last year, giving up a .987 OPS in that frame, more than 200 points higher than what he did from the second inning on. Once he got past the first, he usually settled down pretty well, but that was a strange statistical anomaly. Radke gutted it out in the second half despite a very sore neck and shoulder, and remains a solid pick in AL-only play and deeper mixed leagues.
6. Luis Castillo 2B $13 Castillo will make his American League debut in 2006 after being traded to the Twins by the Marlins in the offseason. He battled a leg injury all season in 2005, and it affected his stolen base totals (10 in 2005 vs. 21 in 2004). While his steals have been on the decline since he swiped 48 in 2002, he's quite consistent on the basepaths -- he could see 20-30 steals if he's healthy -- and at the plate. His value in AL-only leagues is higher than in mixed leagues, but he should be useful regardless.
7. Carlos Silva SP $11 Carlos Silva makes Radke look like a walk machine, issuing just nine free passes in 188 innings, one of the great control performances in Major League history. It says something that hitters know strikes are coming, but still aren't able to tee off with regularity. He gives up his share of homers, but the lack of free passes often minimizes the damage. Still, this season was likely a statistical outlier in many respects. That doesn't mean he can't post an ERA around 4.00, another quality ratio, some wins and a nice value in 4x4 play.
8. Justin Morneau 1B $10 The Twins' young power prospect was all the rage at fantasy drafts last year, with some experts forecasting 40 homers. It didn't quite work out, though, as elbow problems limited Morneau to 22 home runs and a .239 average. A postseason MRI revealed no structural damage, but he opted not to have surgery to remove a bone spur, which sends up a considerable red flag. The kid definitely has 30-homer power, but his lengthy injury history should give you pause.
9. Juan Rincon RP $8 Rincon has an explosive fastball and slider, and would likely have plenty of success closing if called upon to do so. Of course, the Twins have All-Star Nathan entrenched at the position, so that won't be happening anytime soon. Nonetheless, Rincon possesses the kind of value that makes him a worthwhile bullpen addition in the late rounds of mixed-league drafts, and you can expect him to produce another season with a sub-3.00 ERA and more than a strikeout per inning.
10. Rondell White OF $6 White is capable of hitting for both average and power, and will deliver some of the hardest-hit line drives you'll ever see. Unfortunately, he never seems to stay in the lineup long enough to produce any significant numbers. Because he has a recognizable name, White is likely to be grabbed in the late rounds by someone in your draft. Ideally, though, he's the kind of player who should be left on the waiver wire until he goes on one of his hot streaks.

Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/

Twins offer a Suite deal to fans in '06

02/17/2006
Much was made of the fact that the Twins lawsuit against their public landlord made it possible for the team to be free of its lease anytime following the 2006 season. But the decision also had a more immediate impact that could help enhance the way some fans are able to watch Twins games.
With the ruling, the Twins are now able to offer fans two premium suite options during the 2006 season.
It's the first time that the team has been able to offer different amenities that cater to businesses and groups of fans alike in their offerings. Both offer wider cushioned stadium-styled seats, private restrooms, and concierge service to fans. Food and beverage catering options are also available with a full service bar, appetizers, main-course dining and dessert selections.
"We are excited to finally be able to provide our fans with a first class premium seating option," said Twins vice president of sales and service Steve Smith. "It's something that other teams like the Timberwolves and Wild take for granted but now it's an option that our fans can enjoy as well."
One suite is currently under construction while the other was finished this past summer. The completed suite, Terrace Suite I, is located adjacent to the Home Run Porch out in left field.
This option is available to fans who would like to have a large group setting on a one-game basis. The suite accommodates groups ranging between 53 and 125 people. One of the perks of the deal is also that the coordinator of the group will receive an autographed bat and ball.
"The suite has the ability to be divided into two rooms as well for smaller groups," Smith said. "It has the same amenities as the other suite but on a single-game basis."
The second terrace suite will be completed by the Twins home opener on April 11. Terrace Suite II is located down the right-field line near the sections 114 and 115. A little different option than the first suite, this one is available to fans on a membership-only basis. Fans must purchase a 20-game Terrace Suite season-ticket package.
Benefits of the membership suite options include access to exclusive season ticket holder online video chats, postseason ticket priority and online pregame scouting reports.
"The second suite has a country club-type atmosphere which is appealing to businesses if they want to entertain clients or reward their employees," Smith said. "You have a great view of the playing field, it's an exclusive-type area where they will be able to network with other businesses and the ability to provide an upscale meal and bar during the game. It's really a great option for many companies in terms of its value."

Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/

Notes: Twins ready for heavy lifting

02/19/2006
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- It was a pretty quiet scene inside the Twins clubhouse on Sunday as players arrived on the official reporting day for pitchers and catchers, but after a walk across the parking lot, the atmosphere changed drastically.
Loud music could be heard thumping throughout the club's new weight room at the back of the Twins' Minor League facility located at the Lee County Sports Complex. For most of the week leading up to Sunday's report date, the facility was packed with players doing squats and pulldowns.
Many of the players, such as shortstop Jason Bartlett, had arrived early to the area to take full advantage of the new weight room. Bartlett has been in Fort Myers for a little over two weeks and has spent a lot of time working out at the new facility.
"It's awesome," Bartlett said. "I knew they were going to have it, but I wish I would have known how nice it was. I would have come down here to train all offseason."
The weight room itself was finished last year, but some of the new equipment wasn't in place until this past summer. Over $100,000 was put into equipment for the facility. It was an addition that many felt was a necessary component that had been missing. When the team moved into its training complex in 1991, weightlifting and strength training weren't a big part of a baseball player's workout regimen. Now, though, it is a crucial aspect.
"Working out has become a huge part of training, and it's nice to have this be so convenient for us to use," Bartlett said.
Convenience is a huge factor. Players have spent a lot of time in previous years shuffling between a gym and the team's practice complex, so to have all of their training facilities in one place is a big bonus for most guys. It's something that Bartlett believes has had an immediate effect.
"I haven't seen this many people down here this early before," Bartlett said. "I think a lot of it has to do with this new room. [The players] know they have a facility down here that is just going to be us, and they know Perry [Castellano], the Twins' Minor League strength and condition coordinator, is here working with them. I don't see why anyone would not want to come down early now."
Number switcharoo: The sight of Justin Morneau sitting by his locker and unloading his bag on Sunday almost caused a double take.
It wasn't the fact that Morneau was one of the many position players to report early that surprised, but rather the new number emblazoned on the back of the jersey hanging in his locker, No. 33.
Stating that the number is a favorite of Morneau's would be an understatement. The Twins first baseman has a tattoo with the number, and he has a silver charm in that shape on a necklace that he wears. It was his number in hockey from the time he was little, and, when he got into baseball, he always picked it as well.
Though the No. 27 didn't have the same sentimental attachment for Morneau (he picked it for his birthdate), he hadn't thought about changing numbers until 33 became available upon the departure of J.C. Romero.
"If I'd had a good year last year, I might have stuck with (27)," Morneau said. "But with the year I had and knowing that 33 has always been my number, I thought this season would be a good time to go back to what has always been good luck for me."
The number switch was revealed at TwinsFest, and Morneau said that he has heard his fair share of criticism from fans about changing the number. It's something that the 24-year-old feels bad about, knowing that so many people own Morneau jerseys with the number 27 on them.
"I apologize to any fans that have my jersey with the old number on it," Morneau said. "[No. 33] wasn't available when I got here, and now that it was, I just felt like I had to take it."
No rest for the weary: Many players took Sunday as a chance to take a breather from practicing before the squad's first workout on Monday, but not everyone did.
Some players took advantage of their first day in the beautiful Florida sun to go out and throw the ball around a little. Joe Nathan arrived in Fort Myers on Saturday night and arrived early to the field on Sunday morning to do some throwing.
But Nathan kept his workout brief, so as not to interrupt the big plans of the day: A round of golf. The Twins closer was planning to use his last day off before official workouts start by playing 18 holes with a group that included Kyle Lohse and Nick Punto. The three players all got in a bit of exercise before heading off to a tee time somewhere near Naples.
Lohse and Punto find plenty of time to get golf in near their offseason homes in Scottsdale, Ariz., but despite living very close to his two teammates in Chandler, Ariz., Nathan isn't so fortunate. A once-a-week golfer at best, Nathan was just hoping to have a chance of being competitive with his teammates on Sunday afternoon.
"I'm going to try to keep up with Punto and Lohse," Nathan said. "I usually get to play once a week, but those guys play every day in the offseason. Every time I call them, they are out on the golf course."
Quotable: "It's exciting to see all of the guys ready to go already. You can see the excitement on many of their faces. Lohse is just absolutely beaming -- and it's not only from winning his money -- but really that he seems ready to get a great start to the year." -- Twins pitching coach Rick Anderson

Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/

Twins expect better balance in 2006

02/19/2006
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The sound of bats clinking and bags dropping on Sunday afternoon in the Twins clubhouse at Hammond Stadium can mean only one thing -- the unofficial start of the baseball season is here.
Dozens of Twins players passed through the Twins' Spring Training facility in Fort Myers on Sunday, the first official reporting day for pitchers and catchers. The annual rite of spring had its usual happenings as players filtered in and out during the day. Bags were unpacked, new shoes were tried on and lockers were organized.
Always the last club in the Majors to have their pitchers and catchers report, the Twins are also known for the tendency of their players to arrive earlier than required. Many of the players got a head start by arriving a few days early at the Lee County Sports Complex.
Catcher Joe Mauer was just one of the Twins taking batting practice in the days leading up to Sunday. Pitcher Johan Santana was also seen around the facility over the past two days. Even position players like shortstop Jason Bartlett and first baseman Justin Morneau got a head start on the spring, as they were seen unloading bags on Sunday afternoon.
And while the team was the last to undergo the official first reporting day, with many clubs having already gotten workouts underway, it's not something that concerns Twins general manager Terry Ryan.
"There is always conversation about us reporting the last of any club, but come March 20, you're going to hear people say, 'Man, this Spring Training is long,'" Ryan said. "We will have plenty of time to work with this club."
It seemed like everyone else in the organization, though, was ready to get started on Sunday. Enthusiasm and optimism reigned throughout the clubhouse as team pranksters Juan Rincon and Carlos Silva knocked over boxes and cracked jokes that garnered more than a few laughs.
Seeing the camaraderie of the players was enough to put a smile on pitching coach Rick Anderson's face. For him, the little jokes are just one of the small reminders of just how great a time this is for players to bond and to anticipate what may lie ahead.
"It is exciting to see the guys again," Anderson said. "I've talked with a lot of them the last few weeks, but to see them and talk to them face-to-face -- you get to see the excitement that they are showing for the upcoming season."
Excitement was the name of the game on a laidback Sunday, but the players know that hard work is right around the corner. Exactly which areas the Twins need to work on is pretty clear, but one that isn't much of a concern is the pitching staff.
The Twins' rotation is all but set, with the only opening coming at the fifth spot. Johan Santana will once again lead off one of the strongest staffs in the American League. Joining him will be Silva, Brad Radke and Kyle Lohse, who have collectively steadied the rotation for each of the last two seasons.
Scott Baker and Francisco Liriano are expected to be the top two candidates for the No. 5 role, but there is plenty of competition from within the organization as well. Other young arms such as Boof Bonser, Wille Eyre and J.D. Durbin have all been discussed as possible candidates for the spot.
All-Star closer Joe Nathan will anchor a Twins bullpen that returns Rincon, Jesse Crain and Matt Guerrier. The left side of the bullpen is likely the biggest question mark for the club heading into Spring Training, but there are plenty of options there as well. Veteran lefties Dennys Reyes, Darrell May and Gabe White are all non-roster invites who should produce quite the competition for the role.
While the Twins have spots to fill in the bullpen, there is no such concern at catcher. After entering camp last year with many questions at the catching position, due to Joe Mauer's knee injury and a new backup in Mike Redmond, the Twins are much more comfortable with the situation behind the plate this spring. Mauer's health is no longer an everyday question, and the young catcher appears eager to start preparing for his second full season in the big leagues.
"The knee isn't a concern to me at all right now," Mauer said. "I'm just ready to get going and start playing baseball again."
Though pitching will once again be the cornerstone of the Twins this season, the team isn't relying merely on its strength on the mound. Building a team around the strong pitching has long been Ryan's approach, but he knows the team can't succeed if it's one-dimensional.
"Obviously, [relying solely on our pitching] didn't work last year, because we had a nice pitching staff last year and we didn't get it done," Ryan said. "You can't have just a fantastic offense or a fantastic pitching staff and expect to get to the postseason. You have to have a little bit of a combination."
The Twins will get to see more of that combination when the rest of the club reports on Friday. The first full-team workout will then take place on Saturday, and no one seems more ready to get everything started than Silva.
"The whole idea of Spring Training is exciting because you know all this month-and-a-half, we have the opportunity to get ready for the season," Silva said. "I can't wait to get started working. I'm ready to go."

Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/

Notes: Rincon in no rush to return

02/20/2006
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- It's a sight that can always be counted on during the first day of Spring Training workouts -- pitchers throwing their first bullpen session of the season.
But there was one Twins pitcher who was noticeably absent from throwing on the mound on Monday.
Juan Rincon stood on the side and watched as some of his teammates shook off some of the dust that had gathered over the offseason. Rincon underwent surgery in October to remove bone chips and a bone spur from his right elbow. Though he has yet to throw off a mound, Rincon has been able to maintain some level of activity.
"I've been playing catch and tossing and all that stuff, but I'm not going to throw off the mound," Rincon said. "It's just a matter of time to get my arm back, used to throwing again. It's just a little weak right now."
Before coming up to Minnesota for the team's annual winter caravan, Rincon had been starting to toss the ball around, but he started to feel some soreness. He talked with team doctors when he arrived in Minnesota and decided that it was best to quiet down the activity.
"I had [gotten] up to throwing about 150 feet, but they told we that I was way ahead of time and not to be throwing that far," Rincon said. "I was feeling good and thought it was OK, but it started to get a little sore, so I shut it down."
Since arriving in Fort Myers, Rincon has once again started his throwing routine. The right-handed reliever is already throwing about 120 feet. Though it's a bit of a delay in his usual workouts, it's nothing that concerns the Twins' staff.
"Everything is fine and everything is good -- he's just not going to be in the rotation for pitching right away," manager Ron Gardenhire said.
Rincon said that he expects to start throwing off the mound in about a week or so. Despite not having thrown a pitch since the last game of last season, Rincon isn't in a huge hurry to rush back.
"I'm feeling good, but I don't want to go too fast," Rincon said. "Better safe than sorry."
Difficult to evaluate: Determining exactly who should be the No. 5 starter in the Twins rotation may be even harder that the club had anticipated.
That's because one of the top two candidates for the role, lefty Francisco Liriano, could miss some time at camp to participate in the World Baseball Classic. Gardenhire said on Monday that Liriano was added to the provisional roster for his home country, the Dominican Republic. It was something that the Twins skipper found out only Sunday afternoon, and he acknowledged that it adds a little wrench into the evaluation process.
"It does make it a little bit more difficult if he's pitching for the World Games and not in our rotation," Gardenhire said. "But you can't do anything about those things. That's what baseball wants and we're all being a part of it."
It is still unknown if Liriano will compete, as rosters don't have to be finalized until five days before the start of the tournament. As for whether it will affect Liriano's chances of earning the final spot if he does get the opportunity to go, Gardenhire was pretty adamant that wouldn't be the case.
"I'm not going to punish a guy just because he's going to the World Games," Gardenhire said. "It's hard to get a look at him there, but all you can do is see how he does."
Like the first day of school: There was no doubt about what part of the team's first workout on Monday was the favorite for Gardenhire.
"The trainer says no injuries," Gardenhire said with a smile. "That's a good thing."
The club's pitchers and catchers saw a light day of drills and workouts on Day 1. Three separate stations were set up for the pitchers to go through signs on one field, fundamentals on another and then the bullpen sessions. Catchers also took part in some batting practice and caught a few pop flies.
"That's pretty much what you get on the first day," Gardenhire said. "We can only do so much with the pitchers, so that was a good first-day workout."
New faces: Due to the number of pitchers that the Twins will be losing to the WBC and the extra caution in starting off Rincon slow, the team added two more pitchers to the list of non-roster invitees on Monday.
Right-handers Kevin Cameron and Julio DePaula joined the Twins in Fort Myers on Monday. Cameron pitched last season for the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats, while DePaula spent all of 2005 with the Class A Fort Myers Miracle.
The extra arms should give the team a little more leeway since it will lose Joe Nathan, Carlos Silva, Johan Santana, Dennys Reyes, Jesse Crain and possibly even Liriano for an unknown number of Spring Training games.
"We want to make sure that we're not short on people, so we added those two young men from our Minor League system," Gardenhire said. "We're very excited to have them, and I'm sure they're very excited to be here."
Overheard: "Be careful! You've got to remember I've got a bad hammy here," -- Gardenhire, as he jumped to catch a ball over his head. The Twins manager recently pulled that same hamstring while bowling in a celebrity tournament in St. Paul.
Bits and pieces: Four players in the Twins organization were named to the Australian team for the WBC. Infielders Luke Hughes and Glenn Williams and outfielders Trent Oeltjen and Paul Rutgers were selected for the country's 30-man roster. Williams is the only one of the four participating in Major League camp. ... A few notable position players that have reported early and taken part in some early hitting on Monday are Michael Cuddyer, Lew Ford, Jason Bartlett, Justin Morneau and Nick Punto. ... The Twins will have 139 of their regular-season games televised this upcoming season. Fox Sports Net will air 113 games, including the Twins' season opener on April 4 at Toronto. The other 26 broadcasts will be shown on Channel 29 WFTC.

Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/

Mailbag: Can Redmond serve as DH?

02/20/2006
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Finally, it has arrived.
With the official start of Twins workouts beginning on Monday, baseball has finally returned once again. For me, it's been a much shorter offseason than any I can remember after covering through the World Series last year. But even though it feels that way to me, there is still an excitement in the air, knowing that Opening Day is about a month and a half away.
Though my golf game will once again begin to suffer due to the real start of the season, I, like many of you, am really ready to start discussing actual baseball rather than what a player may or may not look like.
Even as the offseason comes to an end, the chance to e-mail questions to me will not. The mailbag will continue to run each Monday through the end of Spring Training. So as you follow along with the Twins' daily workouts and Grapefruit League games, continue to send me your questions about anything that is going on down here in beautiful Fort Myers.
All right, before heading out to watch the pitchers get their first official throws of the year under way, let's get to those questions.
I was very impressed with Mike Redmond during the 2005 season. He not only was excellent behind the plate, but he had a good batting average and was successful hitting in clutch situations. With three catchers on the roster, why haven't the Twins used Redmond as a DH?-- Clark C., Beaumont, Texas
Redmond definitely impressed a lot of people in the 2005 season, including those in the Twins front office. With his solid glove and more than adequate bat that drove in 26 runs and hit an impressive .452 with runners in scoring position, Redmond more than earned the confidence of the club as the backup catcher for Joe Mauer.
But as for hitting in the DH spot, Redmond isn't exactly the offensive type of player needed to fill that spot. The 34-year-old veteran hit only one home run and nine doubles in 148 at-bats last year. Many of his other offensive numbers stood out, but there is the notion around the organization that Redmond overachieved a little offensively last season, and they don't expect those numbers to be quite so high once again.
The Twins have plenty of other options to consider for the role aside from Rondell White. Lew Ford, Mauer and non-roster invite Ruben Sierra have all filled the role before. Also, once the season begins, there will likely be only Redmond and Mauer as the two catchers on the club, so with the team wanting to keep Redmond available to catch at any time, it can be considered highly unlikely that you will see Redmond as a designated hitter.
With the right field position essentially up for grabs and the desire to improve the overall power in the lineup, is there any chance that the Twins would show interest in going after Sammy Sosa? He would act as a solid right fielder and be able to put up some good power numbers in the Metrodome. If the offer by Washington is any indication of his current value, he should be well within what the Twins could afford.-- Josh S., Owatonna, Minn.
This was by far the most common question from Twins fans this week. With Sosa's rejection of the Nationals' offer, it appears likely that the veteran slugger will retire, and soon. Many of the e-mails I received asked why the Twins wouldn't take a risk on such a power bat for so little money.
The problem is that while Sosa has proven to be a strong hitter in his career, last year was just another bad year in what has been a downward spiral for him. Sosa's batting average has dropped in each of the past four years, and with only 14 homers last season, it appears that his power is disappearing, too.
Sosa also has some questions around him as to what type of player he is in the clubhouse. Twins general manager Terry Ryan is known for finding players that he believes will fit the chemistry of his club and focus more on the team than the individual. Sosa hasn't done much of late to make himself worth the risk of what type of player he will be in the clubhouse, and after last season's bit of strife in the Twins locker room, it doesn't appear like a good idea to take on another possible problem case.
I noticed that Ron Gardenhire has chosen Shannon Stewart to bat leadoff and Luis Castillo to bat second. Wouldn't the lineup be more productive the other way around? It seems that Castillo would be able to steal more bases, and since Stewart has more pop in his bat, he would have a chance to bring in Castillo with a shot to the gap or a home run.-- Daren S., Minnetonka, Minn.
It may appear that way, but first, you must consider some of the facts. While Castillo became known as a base stealer early in his career, those numbers have drastically dwindled the past few years. Since nabbing 62 bases in 2000 with the Marlins, Castillo has come close to that number only once, with his 48 steals in 2002.
Injuries have limited Castillo's speed over the past few years, and running on the FieldTurf of the Metrodome likely won't help increase that, either. The Twins are looking at Castillo more as a steady on-base guy at the top of the order than one who will steal bases.
As for Stewart, he has seemed to take a liking to the leadoff role. While injuries have limited Stewart over the past few seasons, the addition of Castillo behind him may be just the type of threat that will give Stewart the confidence he needs to have a more productive season.
What is the possibility of Jason Tyner making the roster this year? Is he also competing for the right field job as well as Michael Cuddyer, Ford and Jason Kubel? Tyner has got some real speed, and I think that would be a great asset for the Twins to have more of.-- Ryan S., New Brighton, Minn.
There is a chance that you could see Tyner as a part of the Twins' roster this year. It's a very slight chance, but still a possibility. Tyner is at Spring Training with the Twins for the second straight year, and the 28-year-old showed the team last year in the 18 games he saw action that he could hit, with his .321 batting average and five RBIs.
The problem for Tyner is that the competition for right field is pretty tight already. He would have to make a pretty dominant impression to truly fight for the starting nod, but the one area where he may find a position on the squad is as a platoon outfielder. It's more likely, though, that role would go to a utility guy like Cuddyer or an all-purpose outfielder like Ford -- whoever doesn't earn the starting spot.

Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/

Notes: White slips into camp early

02/21/2006
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Quietly going about his business of working on his swing in the batting cages below Hammond Stadium, Rondell White almost slipped completely under the radar of Twins fans standing nearby watching the pitchers and catchers work out.
Under the dark shade of the cages it was difficult to tell right away it was White, indeed, hitting the ball off the tee -- that is until he flashed the trademark bright smile.
The smile was all it took for fans to gather around the first of the club's new acquisitions to arrive at camp. The Twins' new designated hitter arrived in Fort Myers on Monday night around 11 p.m., after an eight-hour drive from his home near Macon, Ga.
It was a quiet entrance for White, who came to the field after all the players and even managed to slip by Twins manager Ron Gardenhire. Though he hadn't seen White quite yet, it didn't surprise the skipper to hear of his early arrival.
"You expect that," Gardenhire said. "He's been in this game a long time. He'll do what he has to do to get ready."
Though he had to adjust to a new setting for Spring Training and new teammates, this isn't the first time in White's career that he has arrived a few days early. In fact, the veteran has made a habit of arriving early to Spring Training throughout his career. Knowing that it takes some time to adjust to hitting, White said he prefers to make sure he is ready for the first day of batting practice.
But even White was unprepared to hear that the Twins' games begin only five days after the club's first full-squad workout. Nothing like getting started early, right?
"Wow, the fastball is going to look like 100 mph," White said with a laugh.
The jovial nature of White seems to have a lot to do with how good he is feeling physically these days. After taking a few swings off the tee in the cages on Tuesday morning, White said his shoulder was feeling just fine. He underwent surgery on his left shoulder last August. Dr. Timothy Kremchek, the medical director for the Cincinnati Reds, performed the surgery to repair tears in the rotator cuff, labrum and capsule that occurred when White was playing for the Tigers and made a diving catch in the outfield.
With such an extensive surgery, rehabilitation became an everyday habit in the offseason for White. Dr. Kremchek told the 34-year-old to go at least five days a week to stretch the shoulder and keep it loose. The intense rehab worked well for the player who is so happy to be able to hit without pain.
"It's a blessing considering how I tore it up," White said. "Dr. Kremchek did a great job on the surgery. Now I can just focus on keeping it healthy by just being a DH and swinging ... no sliding for me."
Missing in action: Things have gone smoothly for the Twins during the first two days of camp, except for one missing piece.
As of Tuesday afternoon, pitcher Jose Mijares had yet to report to camp. He is the only one of the 33 Twins pitchers and catchers invited to take part in the Major League Spring Training that has yet to arrive.
Mijares, a 21-year-old left-hander, spent most of last season with Class A Beloit, going 6-3 with a 4.31 ERA in 20 appearances before being promoted to Class A Fort Myers. He had a 1.50 ERA and no decisions in five games with the Miracle.
Exactly where Mijares is and why he hasn't reported yet is still unknown to the Twins.
"We are in the process of tracking him down to find out what's going on," Gardenhire said. "We don't know when he'll be in."
A man of many trades: The sight of one lone glove atop Michael Cuddyer's locker couldn't be a better indicator of where the player's attention is this season.
"Right field is my focus," Cuddyer said. "That's where I'll play the majority, if not the whole time, at Spring Training and hopefully the season. That's pretty much my mindset right now, and really I think everybody's mindset going in."
That isn't to say that the man who has become the Twins all-purpose player is abandoning all ties to the infield. Though the other gloves aren't visible right away, Cuddyer made sure not to leave them at home just yet.
"They are all here," Cuddyer said with a smile. "The only difference is that the rest of them are all in the bottom of my locker this year instead of all up top."
Taking notice: Outfielder Jason Kubel seems to be the one player gathering the most attention during batting practice, and it's not just from the fans eager to see how the Twins prospect is doing.
Many of the Twins coaches have taken the time to watch Kubel swing a bit and were pleased by what they have seen from him during the informal hitting sessions.
"I've already got my coaches going, 'Oh my goodness, you should see him swinging,'" Gardenhire said. "I'm going, 'Easy guys, it's been like a couple days of spring.'"
The main reason Gardenhire remains cautious likely has to do with concerns about how Kubel's knee will respond to the outfield.
"He's going to run around in the outfield and see if his knee swells up," Gardenhire said. "So we're guarded. I'm just in a wait-and-see to see how he does."
Hello neighbor? A story ran in Tuesday's Fort Myers News-Press that confirmed that the Cleveland Indians have been looking at possibly moving their Spring Training complex to nearby Cape Coral.
Team officials told the Cleveland Plain Dealer that talks were in the "very, very preliminary" stages. Even if a deal were to be completed soon, the club likely wouldn't move to the area until at least 2008.
Having another team close to Fort Myers would cut down on the travel time for the Twins, but for Gardenhire the concept isn't necessarily all good for his club.
"That would be a little hard, having a team in your own division, playing them 19 times," Gardenhire said. "But that's a business decision for them to make. It definitely makes less travel for us, but we'd be playing a team in our division."
Twins tidbits: The Top 50 Prospects list by Baseball Prospectus was released Monday, and Twins left-hander Francisco Liriano was ranked No. 4 on the list. ... Kent Hrbek visited with fans at Tuesday's workout while filming some video for his weekly outdoors show.

Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/

Notes: White slips into camp early

02/21/2006
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Quietly going about his business of working on his swing in the batting cages below Hammond Stadium, Rondell White almost slipped completely under the radar of Twins fans standing nearby watching the pitchers and catchers work out.
Under the dark shade of the cages it was difficult to tell right away it was White, indeed, hitting the ball off the tee -- that is until he flashed the trademark bright smile.
The smile was all it took for fans to gather around the first of the club's new acquisitions to arrive at camp. The Twins' new designated hitter arrived in Fort Myers on Monday night around 11 p.m., after an eight-hour drive from his home near Macon, Ga.
It was a quiet entrance for White, who came to the field after all the players and even managed to slip by Twins manager Ron Gardenhire. Though he hadn't seen White quite yet, it didn't surprise the skipper to hear of his early arrival.
"You expect that," Gardenhire said. "He's been in this game a long time. He'll do what he has to do to get ready."
Though he had to adjust to a new setting for Spring Training and new teammates, this isn't the first time in White's career that he has arrived a few days early. In fact, the veteran has made a habit of arriving early to Spring Training throughout his career. Knowing that it takes some time to adjust to hitting, White said he prefers to make sure he is ready for the first day of batting practice.
But even White was unprepared to hear that the Twins' games begin only five days after the club's first full-squad workout. Nothing like getting started early, right?
"Wow, the fastball is going to look like 100 mph," White said with a laugh.
The jovial nature of White seems to have a lot to do with how good he is feeling physically these days. After taking a few swings off the tee in the cages on Tuesday morning, White said his shoulder was feeling just fine. He underwent surgery on his left shoulder last August. Dr. Timothy Kremchek, the medical director for the Cincinnati Reds, performed the surgery to repair tears in the rotator cuff, labrum and capsule that occurred when White was playing for the Tigers and made a diving catch in the outfield.
With such an extensive surgery, rehabilitation became an everyday habit in the offseason for White. Dr. Kremchek told the 34-year-old to go at least five days a week to stretch the shoulder and keep it loose. The intense rehab worked well for the player who is so happy to be able to hit without pain.
"It's a blessing considering how I tore it up," White said. "Dr. Kremchek did a great job on the surgery. Now I can just focus on keeping it healthy by just being a DH and swinging ... no sliding for me."
Missing in action: Things have gone smoothly for the Twins during the first two days of camp, except for one missing piece.
As of Tuesday afternoon, pitcher Jose Mijares had yet to report to camp. He is the only one of the 33 Twins pitchers and catchers invited to take part in the Major League Spring Training that has yet to arrive.
Mijares, a 21-year-old left-hander, spent most of last season with Class A Beloit, going 6-3 with a 4.31 ERA in 20 appearances before being promoted to Class A Fort Myers. He had a 1.50 ERA and no decisions in five games with the Miracle.
Exactly where Mijares is and why he hasn't reported yet is still unknown to the Twins.
"We are in the process of tracking him down to find out what's going on," Gardenhire said. "We don't know when he'll be in."
A man of many trades: The sight of one lone glove atop Michael Cuddyer's locker couldn't be a better indicator of where the player's attention is this season.
"Right field is my focus," Cuddyer said. "That's where I'll play the majority, if not the whole time, at Spring Training and hopefully the season. That's pretty much my mindset right now, and really I think everybody's mindset going in."
That isn't to say that the man who has become the Twins all-purpose player is abandoning all ties to the infield. Though the other gloves aren't visible right away, Cuddyer made sure not to leave them at home just yet.
"They are all here," Cuddyer said with a smile. "The only difference is that the rest of them are all in the bottom of my locker this year instead of all up top."
Taking notice: Outfielder Jason Kubel seems to be the one player gathering the most attention during batting practice, and it's not just from the fans eager to see how the Twins prospect is doing.
Many of the Twins coaches have taken the time to watch Kubel swing a bit and were pleased by what they have seen from him during the informal hitting sessions.
"I've already got my coaches going, 'Oh my goodness, you should see him swinging,'" Gardenhire said. "I'm going, 'Easy guys, it's been like a couple days of spring.'"
The main reason Gardenhire remains cautious likely has to do with concerns about how Kubel's knee will respond to the outfield.
"He's going to run around in the outfield and see if his knee swells up," Gardenhire said. "So we're guarded. I'm just in a wait-and-see to see how he does."
Hello neighbor? A story ran in Tuesday's Fort Myers News-Press that confirmed that the Cleveland Indians have been looking at possibly moving their Spring Training complex to nearby Cape Coral.
Team officials told the Cleveland Plain Dealer that talks were in the "very, very preliminary" stages. Even if a deal were to be completed soon, the club likely wouldn't move to the area until at least 2008.
Having another team close to Fort Myers would cut down on the travel time for the Twins, but for Gardenhire the concept isn't necessarily all good for his club.
"That would be a little hard, having a team in your own division, playing them 19 times," Gardenhire said. "But that's a business decision for them to make. It definitely makes less travel for us, but we'd be playing a team in our division."
Twins tidbits: The Top 50 Prospects list by Baseball Prospectus was released Monday, and Twins left-hander Francisco Liriano was ranked No. 4 on the list. ... Kent Hrbek visited with fans at Tuesday's workout while filming some video for his weekly outdoors show.

Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/

Blue-chippers fighting for starting gig

02/21/2006
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Depth has never been a problem when it comes to the Twins' pitching but such a tremendous asset can also create a bit of a dilemma.
That seems to be the case once again as the Twins have an overload of pitchers who could compete for an open spot in the team's pitching rotation for the 2006 season.
But while there have been plenty of names mentioned for the Twins' fifth spot, the race appears to come down to a battle of two players who have each earned the honors as the Twins' Minor League Pitcher of the Year in the last two seasons. Scott Baker, 24, and Francisco Liriano, 22, have both been touted as the next wave of Twins starters, but who will get the chance to make his presence felt this coming season has yet to be determined.
Both of the Twins' young arms made their debut at the Major League level in 2005 with Baker getting slightly a few more starts than Liriano. Judging exactly who will emerge as the No. 5 starter is difficult as each pitcher brings his own strengths to the role. But as Spring Training opens, it appears that Baker has the slight edge.
"We look at Baker as probably being the guy, but anything can happen," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Liriano is a great pitcher with some great stuff. You just never know. We don't want anyone taking it for granted that they've got this club made."
The good news for the Twins is that Baker is taking that exact approach, despite having had the chance to show that he could compete at the Major League level with his 3-3 record and 3.35 ERA in nine starts. Baker isn't treading on his past success. The 24-year-old approached this year's time in Fort Myers as a job interview and did his best to prepare for that.
"I'm coming into this spring in the best shape of my life," Baker said. "I've worked hard knowing what this Spring Training entails for me.
A big, strong pitcher with plenty of deception in his pitches, Baker has what it takes to join a staff as strong as the Twins. The one area the right-hander may have to improve on to earn the nod this spring is to make sure that he keeps his pitches down.
"We saw a couple of times at the end where he was out of the strike zone a little bit too much and he got behind a little bit," Gardenhire said. "Maybe with some experience and being around the other guys will help him. But no matter what, he's a good competitor. He'll battle."
As to whether or not Baker feels ready to take on the top spot, there is no question about his feelings on the issue.
"I feel like I've proven myself in the Minor Leagues," Baker said. "I don't feel like I have anything else to prove there. I feel like I pitched well enough to try to solidify a spot but there are a lot of other guys who did the same thing."
One of those pitchers who did just that is Liriano. The southpaw did more than enough to impress anyone who saw what he did in his tear through the Minors last season. He enjoyed a rapid ascension from Double-A New Britain, where he put together back-to-back 10 strikeout games, to Triple-A Rochester, where he went an astounding 9-2 with a 1.78 ERA. Even more impressive may be that the young lefty led all Minor League pitchers in strikeouts with 204.
"If you look at his numbers, people would say no wonder you talk about him," Twins general manager Terry Ryan said. "But the first thing you talk about with him is, No. 1 he's left-handed and No. 2, he throws hard. When you find a lefty who throws hard and can get in the same area code as the strike zone, there is a good chance you are going to talk about him."
With the hype surrounding the 22-year-old phenom comes the comparisons to the Twins' other dominant left-hander -- Johan Santana. A hard-throwing lefty with a good slider, a strong fastball and a better-than-average changeup, Liriano's similarities to Santana are almost too numerous to mention.
"I just take it as a compliment," Liriano said of the comparisons. "I feel really good about that. He's the Cy Young winner. He's one of the best pitchers all of baseball and my friend, too."
Being only 22 years old though, the age issue inevitably becomes a bit of a question for Liriano. His inexperience may play a slight factor as it showed in his four starts for the Twins in September. But Ryan warns that the 1-2 record with a 5.70 ERA he put together during his time up with the club may be a bit misleading.
"Don't look at his stat sheet in September and all of a sudden think that's who he is," Ryan said. "The kid is 21, he's trying to make an impression and he's pitching against the White Sox and the Indians who are quite talented. I thought he did as much as you can expect a young guy to do. All he has to do now is get comfortable and have a little more command of his fastball."
Proving that he's ready could make the significant leap a little more difficult. The slight edge that Baker has at the position now might grow into a chasm as Liriano is a possibility to pitch for his home country, the Dominican Republic, in the World Baseball Classic.
Though Gardenhire has said that he wouldn't punish a player for taking part in the prestigious event, the fact that Liriano won't be able to do the impressing right in front of the coaching staff could hinder his chances. On the other hand, performing well on a national stage could also make his case stronger.
"You've got a guy competing for the world games, but yet he's trying to make my ballclub here," Gardenhire said. "If he's pitching somewhere else and one of the other pitchers here is dominating, what do you do? That makes it tough on all parties, but it's something we can't control."
Though it may not be the ideal way for the Twins to conduct the search for the No. 5 role, it appears that whoever wins the spot will have the full support of the organization.
"The only downside to these two guys is that they don't have a track record," Ryan said. "There are a lot of things that a Liriano and a Baker are going to have to prove up here before you start giving them the confidence you would with a [Brad] Radke and a Santana. But we are excited about our pitching because we have guys like those two."

Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/

Twins look to fill lefty void in 'pen

02/22/2006
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Summing up the biggest question mark for the Twins this Spring Training was as simple as looking at one snapshot.
The picture: Left-handed pitchers Darrell May, Dennys Reyes and Gabe White huddled in their chairs, chatting in a corner of the Twins clubhouse at Hammond Stadium on Wednesday morning.
Three different men, three similar stories, all competing for one job.
With the departure of J.C. Romero this past offseason, the Twins are left with a gaping hole when it comes to lefties in the bullpen. It's the motivation that made all three veteran pitchers come to the Twins Spring Training camp on Minor League contracts.
"They are all here for a reason, because there is every opportunity here for a left-hander to win a job," Twins general manager Terry Ryan said.
While it's a competition between all three pitchers for a spot in the Twins bullpen, it is a friendly one at best. They know each other well from playing both together and against each other, and have shared the same frustrations over the past few seasons.
Hearing each player recount his story is almost like listening to a broken record. All three are veterans who spent the past few years being shuffled from team to team. Each has proven his ability to pitch at the Major League level while suffering through his own series of slumps that has brought him to his journeyman status.
It's a common bond that has brought the three pitchers together, even though they know it's likely only one will remain at the end of the process.
"When it comes down to it, it's not our decision as to who they go with," May said. "We all know what the other has gone through. All of us may pitch very well, but it's just the way they decide. No matter what, nothing changes as far as our friendship goes."
As similar as their struggles have been, exactly what each contender brings to the table is quite different.
The youngest of the three, and maybe the most natural fit for the spot, appears to be Reyes. The 28-year-old has made a career out of being a situational reliever. He went 5-2 with a 5.15 ERA with San Diego last season before being placed on waivers in July, but showed his ability to get lefties out by holding them to a .208 batting average.
Reyes said that tendinitis in his elbow factored into his struggles last season but with the time off, he was able to get healthy.
"Last year I got into a slump at a bad time because our team was desperate," Reyes said. "We were losing a lot of games and they made a lot of moves during that time, and I was one of them. Instead of going with another team, I chose to stay home and get healthy to be 100 percent for Spring Training this year."
Reyes also may have a bit of an advantage in that he will likely pitch for Mexico during next month's World Baseball Classic. Though it will require time away from the club to compete, his participation is something that Ryan viewed as a positive rather than a negative.
"Dennys Reyes has a grand opportunity this year to open some eyes up by going to pitch for his country," Ryan said. "I would rather have Reyes pitching for Mexico in big games than here in March to get a little better feel of what he's going to do."
Experience in the bullpen role may be on Reyes' side but May, 33, is the most well known to the Twins, thanks to his three seasons with the Royals. Success at the Metrodome has been a strength of May's with his 2-3 record and 3.12 ERA at the Metrodome. How he will fare as a reliever there is another question. Most of May's career has been spent as a starter. Despite the change to the bullpen, May thinks it's something he can do well at.
"My attitude coming in is more of a mental change than anything," May said. "A stronger mental attitude in that it's my job and I'm here to prove it's my job."
For White, it's about whether this is the end of the line or a new beginning. The Twins aren't sure exactly how much the 34-year-old has left as he approaches the 17th Spring Training of his career.
After pretty much forcing his way into camp last season with the Braves, White found himself the odd man out on the last day of Spring Training and was once again left to look elsewhere. He joined up with the Cardinals for six games, going 0-0 with a 2.16 ERA, but once another pitcher recovered from injury he again was shipped home, where he spent the rest of the season. The frustration may have built up, but the time away from the game proved to White that he wasn't quite ready to quit just yet.
"At the end of last year after sitting at home for so long, I was like, 'This isn't what I want to do,'" White said. "I'm ready to go play somewhere. So it's nice to be in Spring [Training] and get back to playing baseball."
"Everybody fails at some point," White said. "You have to learn how to deal with failure to deal with success. I've had ups and I've had downs. In this game, anyone will tell you that you are going to fail a lot more than you are going to succeed. I'm just hoping that this is another chance for me to succeed."
A chance it might be, but there are no guarantees -- even for the lefties -- that a spot will emerge. The Twins enter camp with two openings in the 'pen, but one won't necessarily be given to a lefty. The prospect of not having a left-hander in the bullpen isn't something that scares manager Ron Gardenhire.
"I don't have to have a lefty," Gardenhire said. "If one of these guys comes in and proves he can do the job, then good, that's a bonus."

Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/

Mauer hands off sideburns in TV ad

02/23/2006
If there is one thing that Twins catcher Joe Mauer is known for besides his natural swing, it may be his trademark sideburns.
And it's those mutton chops that are on display in one of the Twins' newest television commercials set to begin airing Monday, Feb. 27.
Mauer's commercial is a takeoff of the famous soft drink commercial from the 1970s featuring Mean Joe Greene. In that well-known ad, Greene is handed a pop from a young child and the scene ends with Greene throwing his jersey to the kid.
Only in the Twins' version, it's the team heartthrob drinking water and instead of throwing his jersey to the young fan nearby, Mauer places his sideburns on the face of the kid.
"I don't know what the big deal is with the sideburns," Mauer said with a laugh. "But it made a funny commercial out of it, that's for sure."
The theme once again of this year's ad campaign, designed by the Minneapolis-based marketing group Periscope, is "This is Twins Territory." The idea behind the commercials is to combine Twins players with fans in humorous-type spots that display the excitement of attending a Twins baseball game.
Another ad set to run Monday shows Torii Hunter dropping in on a children's birthday party. From bobbing apples to playing with a piñata, Hunter almost seems to enjoy the event in the commercial more than the kids do.
"It was so much fun working with these young kid actors," Hunter said. "We had a great time and those kids are truly amazing."
Similar commercials ran last year with one featuring former third base coach Al Newman waving "home" an office employee into an elevator. This year's ads hope to capitalize on that same type of humor. By the sounds of laughter coming from the office of Twins manager Ron Gardenhire as players viewed the new ads, it seemed like the goal was accomplished.
"Last year, I just kind of remember Newmy's being pretty funny but all the ads are pretty good this year," Mauer said.
Two more ads will be released in the coming weeks with one featuring Gardenhire and the other, Twins mascot T.C.

Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/

Notes: Durbin refocuses in 2006

02/22/2006
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Cleaning with a dust cloth in his hand isn't exactly how many would imagine pitcher J.D. Durbin spending his time after practice.
But that's just what the 23-year-old pitcher has found himself doing some afternoons this Spring Training. As a roommate of Joe Mauer's, Durbin has been trying to adjust to the laidback lifestyle of the Twins catcher and it hasn't been easy.
"I clean his house and stuff because I can't sit there and do nothing," Durbin said with a laugh. "Really it's been just a focus thing for me. Being with Joe has humbled me a little bit and kept me in tune with what I'm doing. It's helped me out quite a bit."
Focus has been a necessity for Durbin as he enters another season without having yet reached the goals that many had set for him -- or, for that matter, his own goals. Just a year ago, Durbin was mentioned as one of the top candidates to fill the No. 5 role in the Twins' rotation. Now, as the spot is once again up for grabs, Durbin's name is surprisingly absent from rotation talk.
Though it's Scott Baker and Francisco Liriano getting all the consideration for the fifth spot now, Durbin isn't frustrated by the lack of attention coming his way.
"My name may not come up, but I'm still in there," Durbin said. "Even if not for the starting job, then for the bullpen."
Part of the reason behind Durbin's slow progression is a string of injuries. Surgery during the 2004 season on a torn right labrum in his throwing shoulder caused the pitcher to miss over a month of action. Then in 2005, recurring shoulder problems forced Durbin to miss another month of the season. The vocal pitcher knows that injuries often can't be prevented, but he feels like he didn't help the process, either.
"It's kind of to my own accord, not maintaining myself better," Durbin said. "I'd do stuff for my shoulder until it felt better and then quit. Now I'm doing it more religiously and hopefully it works out better."
The pressure is on Durbin to produce better this season as he has only one option left with the Twins. He's hoping the Twins' lack of arms due to the World Baseball Classic will allow him to display just how much progress he's made. Exactly what the Twins are hoping to see from the young pitcher during camp is pretty clear.
"He's just got to learn to control everything a little better," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He did a lot better last year, they told me, but he had the arm injury and it's just got to keep improving. He has a chance to be a great pitcher in this organization, whether it is as a starter or a 'pen guy. We haven't really decided. He will dictate that."
The one thing that the Twins won't have to worry about is Durbin's confidence.
"I'll turn some heads again sometime," Durbin said. "It might not be right away, but I'll get back to the way I used to throw and be comfortable with it and get talked about a little more."
Just put me in coach: With three veteran pitchers in camp to compete for the left-handed spot in the Twins' bullpen, not much has been mentioned of some other southpaw pitchers on the team's 40-man roster.
Lefty Dave Gassner finds himself in that spot. Though his name hasn't been brought up frequently, the pitcher clearly has an interest in doing anything and everything to make it to the big leagues.
"I'll take bat boy if they want me to, whatever it takes," Gassner laughed. "If there is a bullpen spot, I'll take it."
Gassner's history as a command and control pitcher doesn't exactly fit the mold of a situational lefty, but the pitcher believes that he has what it takes to fill whatever role is open.
"Of course, I'd rather be a starter because that's what I've always done, but my goal in life is not to pitch in Triple-A but to pitch in the big leagues," Gassner said. "If that's the role that's open, then I think that's the role I can fill."
Lost and found: The last of the Twins pitchers and catchers have made it to camp.
A search party had been placed to find pitcher Jose Mijares on Tuesday after he didn't report on time. The cause for his delay was a slight bit of miscommunication between the club and Mijares.
A road closing near Mijares' house in Caracas, Venezuela, caused the pitcher to miss his flight to Florida. The 21-year-old Mijares didn't call the club after the missed flight, leading to confusion.
Mijares finally made it to Fort Myers on Wednesday afternoon and is expected to join the club during Thursday's workout.
Down to one: One thing Gardenhire understood when he took over as manager of the Twins in 2002 was that the Twins would have a high turnover rate.
With a low payroll and consistent budget constraints, keeping players is a difficult task for the Twins. But just how few players would be remaining on his roster after four years of managing was something that even Gardenhire had no clue would occur.
Torii Hunter, Johan Santana, Brad Radke and Kyle Lohse are the only four players currently on the Twins roster who started the year in 2002 with the first-year manager.
"It did hit me this year after Jacque [Jones] signed [with the Cubs] that I've got Torii as the last guy of position players left from when I started managing," Gardenhire said. "Four years and only one position player -- that's amazing."

Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/

Notes: Hunter not hindered by past

02/23/2006
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Not even a broken bone can intimidate Torii Hunter.
Despite missing two months of last season and spending a solid five months of hard training to recover from the broken bone in his left ankle, Hunter insists that his game won't change at all.
"If I have to break it again, I'll do it," Hunter said. "I'm going up on the wall every time. That's my game. If I take away my game, then I'm not Torii. So I'll go out there and play hard like I always do, with no fear."
The Twins center fielder arrived to camp a day early on Thursday, ready to embark on a fresh season. Recovery from the injury hasn't been a breeze for Hunter. He spent nearly 4 1/2 hours a day from September until the early part of January working with two trainers on both rehabilitation and strength training.
The increase in activity during the offseason also meant a bit of weight loss for Hunter, who dropped all the way down to 209 pounds, a weight he said he hadn't seen since his time in Double-A back in 1996. He is now at 218 pounds and expects to drop back to around 212 for the season.
"That's a good playing weight," Hunter said. "I haven't been 212 for the past five years."
Hunter got a head start on the weight loss as he took part in the team workout for position players Thursday, and despite the little bit of expected pain, everything went over smoothly. Well, as much as it can for a veteran who joked that the years of camp may be catching up to him.
"That seems like more than we've ever done in camp on the first day," said Hunter, while a little out of breath. "And this isn't even the first full day."
Even a little bit of pain couldn't hurt the extra enthusiasm that Hunter brings to camp this year. While he has never been one to take baseball for granted, the time spent sitting at home and having to watch his teammates play without him brought him a greater appreciation for the sport.
"When I got hurt I told myself I don't want to retire anytime soon, because while I was sitting at home, I was so sad," Hunter said. "I was missing the game. It let me know how much I loved this game. I don't think anybody besides [Jason] Kubel, who's been hurt, is more anxious to get to Spring Training and start baseball than me."
Bring on the arms: The number of pitchers in Twins camp has been increasing by the day.
With the news that Francisco Liriano likely will be heading to camp for the Dominican Republic, the Twins added another arm to camp. Last year's first-round draft pick, right-hander Matt Garza, joined the Twins' Major League camp on Thursday.
Garza spent the majority of last season with Class A Beloit, going 3-3 with a 3.54 ERA in 10 games. Garza's addition brings the number of pitchers in camp to 27. It is likely that Garza won't be the last addition for the Twins, either.
"We're probably going to add even one more pitcher," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We're just trying to protect ourselves from these World [Baseball Classic] games. You need to have 20-plus pitchers here."
Vote for fall: If there is one Twins player who isn't afraid to share his sentiments on something, it's Hunter.
On Thursday, he voiced his thoughts on the World Baseball Classic. Hunter made it known that he didn't like the event due to the large amount of time and players it was taking away from team's camp, which is usually a time for team bonding.
"A different time of the year would help," Hunter said. "Two weeks after the World Series, like the time they usually do the Japanese All-Star tour. When I played in it, we didn't get out of shape and it was early enough that when we got done with that, we still had a lot of time to kick back."
Sprint to the finish: Thursday's workout was cut a little short due to the fact that the team was participating in a charity golf outing that afternoon.
The team's annual celebrity golf tournament was set to begin at 12:30 p.m. ET. Twins players, coaches and former players will participate in the eighth annual tournament, which raises money for Lee Cancer Care.
Combining a shortened workout with a chance to play some golf didn't sound like too bad of an idea to Nick Punto.
"These things are always a great time," said Punto, an avid golfer. "It's always nice to get out on the course and have a little bit of added competition between the guys. Hopefully one of our teams wins."
Twins tidbits: Juan Castro was another early arrival to camp for the Twins. With him and Hunter showing up on Thursday, the only position players on the team's 40-man roster that have yet to arrive are Tony Batista, Luis Castillo and Shannon Stewart. Spring Training non-roster invite Ruben Sierra is also still missing. Position players are required to report on Friday. ... Left-handed pitcher Jose Mijares arrived at the Twins facility Thursday and participated in his first workout. Mijares had been absent the first few days of camp due to a missed flight in his home country of Venezuela.

Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/

Batista reports to Twins camp

02/24/2006
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- With several reporters gathered around Tony Batista's locker, Ron Gardenhire came barreling along to split the throng of media members Friday morning like a well-thrown bowling ball going through pins.
The Twins manager was eager to greet his new veteran slugger, who showed up in the Minnesota clubhouse with rosy visions of what his encore performance in the Major Leagues could be like after a year in the Japanese Pacific League.
"Welcome here. We'll have some fun," Gardenhire said after offering Batista a warm hug.
If Batista picks up in his power game where he left off with Montreal in 2004, the good times could indeed roll at the Metrodome. The Twins generally pitched well but were an offensively challenged club in 2005, which spelled the end of their three-year reign as American League Central Division champions. Along comes Batista, who has hit 26 or more homers in each of the last four seasons.
Before signing a two-year, $15 million contract to play in Japan, Batista hit 32 homers with 110 RBIs for the Expos in '04. He finished at .263 with 27 homers and 90 RBIs for the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks last year, but the club decided to go younger this season. That provided an opening for the Twins to swoop in Dec. 15 and sign Batista to a low-risk deal that could potentially translate into high rewards. Batista still gets all his money from Japan and the Twins get a proven run producer to help bolster their attack.
"Back to the Major Leagues," said Batista, a deeply religious man. "It's going to be exciting. God opened the door for me again to be here on this level."
Batista offered compliments regarding the pitching he faced in Japan last year.
"The pitching there compares pretty good," Batista said. "Almost the same. They just don't challenge as much as they challenge here. They throw more breaking balls on 3-1 [counts]. Sometimes they throw a slider on 3-0. They prefer walking a guy to giving up a base hit."
Batista made it clear he wanted to finish the two-year contract he signed with Fukuoka. But Batista said the team wants to create an opportunity for a younger player, and Batista's mission is to be a regular.
"I'm just going to put my uniform on, practice, play every day and get better," Batista said.
Batista made the early morning rounds in the clubhouse wearing blue jeans and a short-sleeve white shirt. He then headed for the equipment room and returned with jersey No. 77, his number in Japan last year.
"I like No. 7, but somebody had it here and somebody had it over there," Batista said. "So, I take No. 77."
Batista acknowledges that weight reduction will be an issue for him during Spring Training. Hard work coupled with a broiling Florida sun should help him achieve the weight he wants by Opening Day.
"I want to play at 205 and right now I'm 215 or 220," Batista said. "The same Tony Batista you saw for eight years in the Major Leagues ... you're going to see it this year."
If that happens, Gardenhire and the Twins will be delighted. At 32, Batista doesn't have the range at third base that he once had and he's not a guy the Twins can expect to draw a lot of walks. But Gardenhire said Batista potentially brings a lot to the table, both offensively and defensively.
"You read his bubble gum card and those numbers jump out at you," Gardenhire said. "Those two-out home runs sometimes can break a team's back, and he's the kind of guy who can do that."
For now, it's Batista's job to lose at third base.
"Everybody knows his range isn't as good as when he was younger, and that's to be expected," Gardenhire said. "All we ever ask here is that you catch the balls you are supposed to catch and get the outs you are supposed to get.
"Hopefully, this will work out. The general manager (Terry Ryan) is confident this can help us. I'm going with him. He has been pretty good with all his other decisions and we're excited to have Tony in this camp."

Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/

Notes: Sierra expects to contribute

02/24/2006
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Talk to Ruben Sierra for a few minutes and you get the idea this 40-year-old outfielder has been sipping from the Fountain of Youth.
With more than 16 years of service time on his Major League resume, Sierra reported to Twins camp on Friday and expressed the enthusiasm of a rookie.
"I can still hit, I can still do it," Sierra said. "I don't feel my age."
The Twins, searching for the proper blend of youth and experience, feel Sierra can aid the club both on the field and in the clubhouse.
"A presence like his can only help," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He's a pretty classy man. We've always watched him and enjoyed the way he has played the game. We would expect him to come over and get some hits off the bench for us and do some spot playing."
If the young hitters need some advice from a veteran player, Sierra has expressed that he's willing to help in a mentor role as well.
"He told me he's willing to do whatever it takes to help us win," Gardenhire said.
Sierra said he's still open to the possibility of playing for Puerto Rico in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, but prefers to stay in Twins camp if he's not going to get regular work in the Classic.
Speed to burn: If non-roster invite Andres Torres performs as well for the Twins in Spring Training as he performed in the Rangers' camp last year, Minnesota officials will be in for a treat.
A diminutive center fielder with dazzling speed, Torres came close to making the Texas 25-man roster out of Spring Training. He hit .314 in 51 at-bats with five triples, 18 runs scored, 10 stolen bases and a couple of spectacular defensive plays.
The Rangers wound up sending Torres to Triple-A Oklahoma and shoulder and groin injuries ruined his season. But now Torres is healthy again and ready to make an impression.
"I want to have another strong spring and then carry it on through the season," Torres said. "When you get hurt, there's nothing you can do. But I'm 100 percent now and I think my speed is an element the Twins will really like. I'm also driving the ball a lot better than I did earlier in my career."
Two to go: With Sierra and Tony Batista reporting on Friday, the Twins need only Luis Castillo and Shannon Stewart to have a full house.
"Those two guys, I'm not really worried about," Gardenhire said. "They're pretty professional about what they do."
Around the horn: Because of the World Baseball Classic trickle-down effect, the Twins are bringing another pitcher to Major League camp. Left-hander Jason Miller, who played in the Eastern League All-Star Game last year, is the latest Minor Leaguer to get a reinforcement call. He went 2-0 with a 3.81 ERA for Rochester in 2005. Miller, a fourth-round draft pick in 2000, resides in nearby Sarasota ... The Twins will hold their first full-squad workout on Saturday. Forecasts call for the chance of rain on Saturday and Sunday, but Gardenhire said his club will simply work around the elements. "We'll have a little 'pump-'em-up' meeting and then go play baseball," Gardenhire said. "We'll be putting in the whole defensive package. That's where it's fun for me."

Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/

Improving chemistry Hunter's mission

02/25/2006
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Looking around the Twins clubhouse at Hammond Stadium when he reported for Spring Training on Thursday, Torii Hunter couldn't help but be surprised at what he saw.
"There are a lot of new faces in here and a lot of guys I don't really know their names," Hunter said. "It's kind of different for me because I'm used to having Jacque [Jones], J.C. [Romero] and those guys around, the guys that I grew up with in the Minors. We've got a lot of new guys this year, so it's going to take awhile to get that chemistry together."
Hunter's assessment may have been a little skewed with the increased number of Twins Minor Leaguers invited to this year's Spring Training, but there is no doubt that chemistry will be a major theme of the Minnesota clubhouse this season.
Turnover has been something Hunter has had to get used to as part of the Twins organization, but this year appears even more so with at least one-third of the team's lineup likely to be new additions. Combine that with the amount of young players that emerged as starters only last season, and it makes for quite a drastic change in the makeup from the club that won three straight division titles in 2002-04. The change in the team hasn't escaped manager Ron Gardenhire either.
"Only about five or six guys are left that were here during my first year of managing," Gardenhire said. "That's pretty big turnover. And only Torii left of the position players -- that's amazing."
While there are even more new players joining the club this year, it was really last season that the drastic amount of changes on the team seemed to catch up with the Twins. The clubhouse chemistry was far different than in Gardenhire's early years of managing. Between the team pressing to increase run production and falling out of the playoff hunt, the cohesiveness that had been in the Twins locker room early in the season disappeared near the end.
"It's not always going to work," Gardenhire said of a team's chemistry. "Our clubhouse hasn't always been perfect in Minnesota."
Perfect it may not have been, but the strife that occurred near the end of last season wasn't near normal. From incidents between Hunter and first baseman Justin Morneau where punches were almost thrown to pitcher Kyle Lohse taking a bat to Gardenhire's door and Romero snubbing the Twins skipper by dropping the ball as he came off the mound, there was more than usual dissension within the locker room toward the end of 2005. Part of the breakdown in chemistry seemed to be a divide between the younger players and the veterans.
That separation seemed to intensify once Hunter went down with a broken left ankle in July. It's something that baffled Hunter a bit, but not some of the younger players that were left without one of the most vocal leaders on the club.
"Without him, at the end of the season, we did get separated," shortstop Jason Bartlett said of the split between younger and veteran players. "Torii was the guy that would say something if things got out of hand and without him there, no one stepped up to do the same thing."
Being a leader of the club is a role Hunter has embraced over his career, but never has it seemed as important as it does this season. Hunter knows his experience on the team is something that will be counted upon.
"I'm like that old monk that they go to for wisdom," Hunter said with a chuckle. "I haven't really been here that long ,but I have been with this organization for 13 years. It really is like a family to me."
Creating a family atmosphere again is one of the goals for the entire squad as the strife of last season is not something Hunter or his teammates want repeated. Most of the rifts appear to have been patched up over the offseason. Hunter and Morneau moved on from their incident at TwinsFest while Lohse and Gardenhire have seemed to smooth over the tension that existed between them in September.
But while many of the players and coaches have seemed to move on from last year's drama, a new challenge arises in their attempt to develop chemistry during Spring Training -- the World Baseball Classic. The Twins face losing at least eight players for various periods of time due to the event. Key starters like first baseman Morneau, closer Joe Nathan, and pitcher Johan Santana are amongst those participating in the tournament. New additions Luis Castillo, Dennys Reyes, as well as young pitcher Francisco Liriano who hasn't spent much time at the big league level will also be missing time at camp to go compete for their various countries.
Hunter for one wishes that none of the team would leave.
"Spring Training is for getting in shape, knowing your teammates and forming a chemistry," Hunter said.
Though Hunter won't get his wish granted, he will be the main guy counted on to help blend together a mix of players that haven't had much time together. He knows the first step to accomplishing it will be a new approach to the year and forgetting everything that happened last season. That first step will be a players-only meeting at the end of March.
"We'll meet just us players -- no coaches," Hunter said. "We'll just talk ourselves and clear some things up. Last year was last year and now it's time to look forward."
Count Gardenhire among those who feel if anyone can help lead the way into a new perspective for the year, it's Hunter.
"He's got that certain air about him, an aura that people look up to," Gardenhire said. "Between him coming in the clubhouse, motivating guys, not backing down from anybody, standing up and pointing the finger out at the field -- he's our leader."

Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/

Notes: Lineup should be more stable

02/25/2006
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Changes to the lineup throughout a season are a common occurrence for any club, but for the Twins last year, the second slot in the lineup was more chaos than anything else.
Thirteen different players started at the second spot in the lineup, with no one player establishing a permanent home there. Among those hitting in the No. 2 hole were Nick Punto, Luis Rodriguez, Jason Bartlett, Juan Castro and Joe Mauer.
Punto led the team with 63 starts at the spot, with the next most coming from Rodriguez, who had 22. With a combined .244 average in the slot, it was no wonder the team tried to shake things up by trying a number of hitters in the position.
That state of transition appears to be over, though, as there are only two candidates for the top two slots in the order this season. Shannon Stewart and Luis Castillo are the two players Twins manager Ron Gardenhire has planned for the top of the order, but exactly which hole each will occupy remains a question mark.
"I could do it either way," Gardenhire said of which player will bat leadoff. "I'm going to sit back and take it in a little bit [this spring]. I'll start fiddling around with it and go from there."
The likely order seems to be Stewart remaining in the leadoff spot, his primary position the past two seasons, with Castillo batting behind him. Though he has batted in the second slot before in his career, Stewart has never hit there for the Twins. Despite that fact, Stewart told Gardenhire at TwinsFest that he would hit in any spot in the order that he was placed.
"It doesn't matter where I hit, I'm just here to play," Stewart said. "Whether I'm first or second, it would just be nice to be able to feed off (Castillo) and have him feed off me too. If we could get things rolling, good things could definitely come out of it."
Castillo has spent the past three years as the No. 2 hitter for the Marlins after leading off for most of his early career with the club. Since switching spots in the order, Castillo's number of stolen bases has dropped significantly. While many have blamed injuries as the cause, Castillo said that it has more to do with a different approach that he takes to hitting in each spot in the order.
"People maybe don't see it, but when I steal, I'm hitting first," Castillo said. "So when I hitting second, that's a different [approach] for me."
The fact Castillo even has two separate approaches to the different spots in the order is something that impressed Gardenhire.
"If you have two different theories for where you hit in the lineup, you're a pretty good hitter," Gardenhire said.
The Twins manager knows he will have more consistency at the top of the lineup this season if all three players can stay healthy. No matter exactly how the order finally stacks up, it is assured in Gardenhire's mind there will be a more dangerous top of the lineup this season.
"You put Castillo with Shannon Stewart and Joe Mauer in your first three hitters and you're looking at a 38 or 40 percent average of getting on base between those guys," Gardenhire said. "That's pretty good at the top of your lineup. That's three guys that know how to take walks, get on base, how to work counts, and have quality at-bats."
Time table: One of the biggest concerns for the Twins with so many of their pitchers participating in the World Baseball Classic is whether the starters participating will get enough work to make sure they are stretched out for the season.
The worry over one player was squashed when general manager Terry Ryan was assured by the Dominican Republic team that Francisco Liriano will be kept on a similar pitching schedule to what the Twins had planned for him.
Liriano is scheduled to pitch in the country's first game March 5 and will be limited to 30 pitches. He will stay on a regular five-day routine with his next appearance coming March 10, when he will be on a 50-pitch count.
"The good news is that we'll get his innings stretched out and he'll be somewhat ready to start the season," Gardenhire said. "Whether it's here right away or down the road, he'll be on that schedule."
The Twins are still concerned about pitcher Carlos Silva, however, as they have been told that he will be pitching out of the bullpen for Venezuela.
"If they go all the way to the finals, he might be stretched out to two innings while we are trying to stretch him to six, seven innings," pitching coach Rick Anderson said. "That's the biggest concern."
Rallying cry: As has become tradition on the first day of full-squad workouts, Gardenhire met with the entire team to give his players a little pep talk prior to heading out to the fields.
The theme of this year's talk seemed to be what it takes to make a winning ballclub. Though much has been mde of the Twins' shortcomings last season, Gardenhire wanted to stress to his players that he didn't feel they were that far off from success.
"We had too many one-run losses, but if you turn those games around, we were right there," Gardenhire said. "That's how close this ballclub was last year. We've added a few people and we could be right where we want to be if we continue to pitch and catch the ball and get a few big hits here and there. If we can do that, then we'll be right there again at the end where we need to be."
Twins tidbits: The pitching rotation for the early Spring Training games has not yet been set, except that starters Johan Santana and Silva will both see action in the team's first game March 2 against the Red Sox. This assures that both will get work in before leaving camp for the Venezuela team, which plays its first game March 7. Gardenhire also said that the goal was to make sure that every pitcher participating in the World Baseball Classic will see action in a Spring Training game before they leave for their respective national team camps. ... The Twins were able to conduct their first day of workouts with all 63 players expected to be in camp there to partake in the workouts. ... Nine Twins players were signed to contracts for the 2006 season Friday: pitchers Boof Bonser, J.D. Durbin, Willie Eyre, Adam Harben and Jose Mijares; catcher Rob Bowen; first baseman Garrett Jones; and outfielders Jason Pridie and Alex Romero.

Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/

Classic gives prospects playing time