Two off to slow starts

Morneau, Punto take the field with lingering ailments

BY GORDON WITTENMYER
Pioneer Press

FORT MYERS, Fla. — The sun came out on Monday in Fort Myers as the fog began lifting from at least two ailing Twins.

First baseman Justin Morneau, battling the final rasps and hacks of pneumonia, took batting practice against live pitching, his first major baseball activity since he arrived in spring camp.

Infielder Nick Punto, hoping to rejoin the shortstop battle after straining a muscle in his back a week ago while swinging a bat, was cleared Monday to participate in light baseball work on the field for the first time since the injury.

"Strength-wise, (Morneau's) not there, but he's out on the field," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "That's what we want to see... . It's a good start."

Morneau is still well behind the rest of the position players in his conditioning and is expected to be held out of the first several exhibition games. The opener is Thursday against Boston.

Punto spent most of Monday getting treatment in the trainer's room, but he also started playing catch again. He, too, will be held back from early-spring games, probably longer than Morneau.

"We're not going to let him go out there and kill himself and hurt himself," Gardenhire said. "We want to take care of this now while we have the opportunity here in spring and not let him reaggravate it."

Back on schedule

After rain-shortened workouts in two of the previous three days, the Twins got enough work done Monday to make up for the lost time.

"We're on line again," Gardenhire said.

Gardy weighs in

After several days of quiet on the subject, Gardenhire was asked Monday about steroids in baseball.

"I think baseball's doing a very good job" of addressing the issue with a tougher testing policy, he said. "The unfortunate part is right before spring training, Canseco comes out with his book and starts naming people, and that's pretty sad. I look at that as a guy who may be a little desperate for money and starts ripping people, and he sold his teammates out. We always talk about being accountable for your own actions, and he tore down a lot of other people, and I think that's sad. But that's him.

"But we talk about it. Hopefully our players are understanding (the risks involved), and major league baseball's doing the right thing."

Briefly

Twins catcher Joe Mauer has been able to participate in every drill and bullpen session any other catcher in camp has done. He said his surgically repaired left knee feels normal after nine days of spring workouts.

Before the Twins open their Grapefruit League schedule Thursday, they will play Concordia University of St. Paul in an exhibition here Wednesday morning.