Mauer could bat in the No. 2 spot

BY GORDON WITTENMYER
Pioneer Press

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Young catcher Joe Mauer, who earned the prestigious No. 3 spot in the Twins' lineup before his knee injury forced him to the disabled list for the second half of last season, could open this season in the No. 2 spot, behind leadoff hitter Shannon Stewart and possibly in front of Torii Hunter in the third spot.

That's just one scenario manager Ron Gardenhire contemplated as he played with possible lineups over the winter. Although he's far from settling on an order, he said Saturday that he expects first baseman Justin Morneau to bat cleanup and Hunter to bat on either side of him, at No. 3 or 5.

He also prefers the left-right balance as deep as he can set it up, which works best with the left-handed hitting Mauer batting second in a spot traditionally reserved for contact hitters adept at bunting and hitting the ball to the opposite field.

"He doesn't strike out. He's going to get on base for the 3-4-5 guys," Gardenhire said. "I'm not too worried about that bunt-'em-over stuff all the time. If the first guy gets on and you're down a run in the eighth inning and you have a Mauer come up instead of a little guy come up, he can jerk the ball through the hole (on the right side) when I put a hit-and-run on, or can go deep. That's not bad. …

"I would put Mauer batting second in a heartbeat if it balances the lineup."

That would make the Twins' Opening Day lineup look like this: 1, Stewart (right); 2, Mauer (left); 3, Hunter/Lew Ford (right); 4, Morneau (left); 5, Hunter/Ford (right); 6, Jacque Jones (left); 7, Michael Cuddyer (right); 8, shortstop (right or switch); 9, Luis Rivas (right).

Way to start

Near the end of the first official full-squad workouts of the spring Saturday, Mauer got knocked in the helmet by a foul tip while catching Juan Rincon during batting practice.

It hit hard enough to crack the helmet, but Mauer seemed fine afterward.

"Can you believe that?" Mauer said as he left the cage with the damaged hat. "First day of practice, and I'm already getting cracked in the head."

Could have been worse. Could have been a knee. Mauer has been able to participate in almost every drill through the first week of spring training with no apparent adverse effects on the surgically repaired left knee that sidelined him most of last season.

Briefly

With the full squad all present and accounted for, the Twins have 55 players working out in camp, including 23 pitchers.

Former Twins manager Tom Kelly joined several other special instructors, including Tony Oliva and Terry Steinbach, for the first full-squad practice Saturday.

Twins general manager Terry Ryan said the team has no immediate plans to look outside the organization for more help at shortstop in light of the back-muscle strain that has Nick Punto sidelined. Punto, hurt swinging the bat several days before infielders and outfielders officially reported, has been shut down and is likely at least a week away from doing more than light work in camp.