Twins notes: Illness, injury shake up Twins bullpen

La Velle E. Neal III
Star Tribune

FORT MYERS, FLA. -- Relievers Jesse Crain and Terry Mulholland have joined other ailing players in Twins camp.

Crain strained his right hamstring Tuesday during a fielding drill and is considered day-to-day.

"He made a kind of an unusual reach for the ball and when he did, he tweaked his hammy," manager Ron Gardenhire said.

Mulholland, slowed by bronchitis, didn't work out Tuesday but is expected to be out a couple of days.

If you're keeping track, that makes three projected relievers who are sputtering out of the gate at camp. The third is Grant Balfour, who has a sore right forearm.

This allowed Gardenhire to attack assumptions that his bullpen is set.

"How about now?" Gardenhire said. "We've got people. But they have to be healthy. Balfour is not healthy. Crain is not healthy. You come into camp and your expectations are for these guy to take and run with these jobs. They did pretty good last year, but you just don't know how it is going to turn out."

Needling LeCroy

The coaching staff was all over designated hitter Matthew LeCroy on Tuesday.

During batting practice, LeCroy popped up a pitch, causing bench coach Steve Liddle to quip, "It's really hard for Matty to concentrate with that concession stand so close."

Then, when a reporter jokingly suggested that LeCroy bat leadoff, Gardenhire said: "It takes three singles and a homer to score him. If he scores from first in the first inning, he's done. I have to take him out."

Etc.

The Twins still are waiting for the official go-ahead to complete the signing of Johan Santana's four-year, $40 million deal, but all the test results appear to be fine. General Manager Terry Ryan said Tuesday that he is waiting for the final go-ahead. Not only was Santana examined for the contract, but the insurance policy as well.

Gardenhire said he plans to open the season with 11 pitchers. "I don't like the thought of 12," he said. He also said he will not need a fifth starter for the first couple weeks of the regular season.

Outfielder Michael Restovich said his broken right collarbone was so severe that doctors considered putting a rod in the area to help its stability. Restovich said it might be a couple of weeks before he is 100 percent. He said his collarbone is fine but his right shoulder needs some rehab.

Outfielders Torii Hunter and Jacque Jones arrived Tuesday and worked out with position players on a back field. First baseman Justin Morneau, who battled several illnesses and conditions during the offseason, could arrive today, Ryan said.