Oliva trying to stay low key while waiting to find out if he made Hall

La Velle E. Neal III
Star Tribune

FORT MYERS, FLA. -- Tony Oliva was asked if he will be nervous today.

"I don't know," he said. "The best way to deal with this is stay low-key."

The Twins great will find out today if he has been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by its Veterans Committee. In order to be elected, Oliva has to receive 75 percent of the vote of all Hall of Famers, Veterans Committee members, winners of the Frick Award for broadcasting excellence and winners of the Spink Award for writing excellence.

"I really don't know what my chances are this year," said Oliva, a career .304 hitter who amassed 1,917 hits. "I just have to wait and see."

Oliva, Ron Santo and Gil Hodges have been mentioned as top candidates among the group of 25 (former Twins pitcher Jim Kaat is also on the ballot). The next veterans vote is scheduled for 2007.

Stewart equals go

Outfielder Shannon Stewart is dropping hints that he might drop more bunts and attempt more stolen bases this season.

Stewart batted .304 in 92 games last season but stole only six bases because of plantar fasciitis in his right foot. He hasn't reached double digits in steals since 2002, when he had 14.

"I'm training harder this year to do more things," Stewart said. "I'm not going to tell you what they are. But it's going to be different than what you've seen the last couple of years."

Rivas' little friend

Over the years, the coaches have had to whistle at Luis Rivas to get his attention so they could signal defensive adjustments to him. The hope is that Rivas will be more attentive this season and move on his own.

When asked if he hopes he doesn't have to whistle for Rivas' attention this season, manager Ron Gardenhire revealed an interesting tidbit.

"I just hope that little guy who sits on his shoulder listens more than he did," Gardenhire said. "That was Nanu. We saw Luis talking to him all the time on the field. All the time. That's a true story. We'd look at Luis, and he'd be talking. And we just knew that Nanu was sitting there. Wasn't it Nanu?"

No. Gardenhire meant to say The Great Gazoo from the old "Flintstones" cartoon, the green alien who would appear at times to talk to Fred and Barney.

Hall of Fame

The Twins announced that owner Carl Pohlad and lefthander Frank Viola will be the 14th and 15 members of the Twins Hall of Fame.

Pohlad has owned the team since 1984, during which time the team has won two World Series and five division titles. Viola, pitched for the team from 1982 to 1989, winning the AL Cy Young Award in 1988.

Injuries

First baseman Justin Morneau began weight training and is awaiting the OK from doctors to increase activities. Morneau is just getting over pneumonia.

Reliever Grant Balfour (strained right forearm) continues to make progress.

Reliever Jesse Crain (pulled right hamstring) has started some limited running.

Lefthander Terry Mulholland has some swelling in his left elbow, but it's not considered serious.

Infielder Nick Punto, out because of a sore lower back, felt better on Tuesday, played catch and took a few ground balls.

Infielder Glenn Williams pulled a groin muscle.