Morneau faces first live pitching

La Velle E. Neal III
Star Tribune

FORT MYERS, FLA. -- First baseman Justin Morneau on Monday took live batting practice for the first time this spring as he regains strength after being sick all offseason.

"He took swings today," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He took some ground balls today. Just a slow process. He felt better. Strength-wise, he's still not there. But he's back on the field. That's what we want to see."

Morneau, however, is expected to miss the first several spring games as he mends. He dealt with appendicitis, chicken pox, pleurisy and pneumonia this spring and must get stronger.

"Eventually, we will get to a point where he can go," Gardenhire said, "He's behind. He's not going to play in the games early until he gets his strength back."

Other injuries

Righthander Grant Balfour still is trying to work his way through a sore forearm, and said Monday that he only felt, '65 to 70 percent." He's not expected to pitch in early spring games.

Shortstop Nick Punto still is taking it easy with his sore lower back.

Sox yarns

The White Sox still are talking about the swagger they lost when Torii Hunter ran over Chicago catcher Jamie Burke late last year.

"You look at a team like Minnesota and it's not like they have a bunch of superstars," Burke told the Chicago Tribune on Sunday. "But they play the game hard, and they are tough. That's why you have to respect a team like that."

When Orlando Hernandez, recently in camp, threw a brushback pitch to a rookie, manager Ozzie Guillen actually praised Hernandez.

And the White Sox feel new catcher A.J. Pierzynski, a former Twin, will give them the toughness they lacked last year.

St. Peter honored

Twins President Dave St. Peter on Monday was heralded as among the elite of the nation's younger sports executives.

St. Peter, 38, he was named to the list of "Forty Under 40" by Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal, the widely read industry weekly. The list is intended to honor the sports execs younger than 40 years old who are most accomplished and show the most promise. Among his cohorts is Boston Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein.

St. Peter, who grew up in North Dakota, has worked for the Twins since 1990.

Etc.

Spring training ticket sales are 21 percent ahead of last season. Nine home games have been sold out.

Twins public address announcer Bob Casey, who lost 37 pounds during the offseason because of various ailments, is scheduled to come down to spring training Monday.

The Twins released their 2005 media guide on Monday, with Johan Santana, Frank Viola and Jim Perry -- all Cy Young winners -- on the cover.

The Twins held a media luncheon Monday to unveil their new 6,000 square-foot weight room and conference center. The name: "Gardy's Buff Shop," the manager claimed.

Gardenhire hinted righthander J.D. Durbin could start Wednesday's exhibition game against Concorida (St. Paul).

While speaking during the media luncheon, Gardenhire noticed a picture of Hunter, Jacque Jones, Doug Mientkiewicz and Pierzynski on the wall. "We fire guys and we still put their pictures on the wall," Gardenhire said.