NewsCuddyer picks up pace with Morneau out
Minnesota (77-73) at Chicago (73-78), 7:11 p.m. CT
By Kelly Thesier / MLB.com
09/22/09 2:29 AM ET
CHICAGO -- Twins manager Ron Gardenhire knew that he had a big hole to fill when first baseman Justin Morneau was lost for the season last week with a stress fracture in his lower back. He said it would be up to the team as a whole to step up and help make up for the loss of one of the Twins' biggest offensive producers. And so far, Michael Cuddyer has been one of the bigger boosts for the club. Since taking over at first base for Morneau a little over a week ago, Cuddyer has batted .357 with four home runs and 13 RBIs in seven games before Monday's opener with the White Sox. He was even recognized with American League Player of the Week honors. "[Cuddyer's] made the transition of losing Morneau a lot better," Gardenhire said. "Offensively, he's picked up the pace. He was having a good offensive year before Mornie went down. Now he's starting to shine a little bit because other guys are gone." While his production at the plate has increased since he shifted to first base, Cuddyer said there is no real explanation for why it's happened. "Baseball is one of those things where you have good weeks and bad weeks," Cuddyer said. "Fortunately for us and fortunately for me, the good week came when [Morneau] went down. It was just good timing, a good coincidence, I guess. My mentality hasn't changed. I didn't sit down and meditate or try to flip a switch. It's just coincidence. It's just baseball. " Gardenhire also credited Cuddyer for giving the club solid defense at first base since the move. It wasn't the only adjustment that the team had to make with Morneau out. Since Cuddyer moved to first, it left one open spot in the outfield. Jason Kubel has been playing the outfield every day to help fill the hole and Cuddyer credits Kubel for having just as much of an impact on the team's success. "Kubel playing the outfield has been huge and so has Delmon [Young] being able to play every day," Cuddyer said. "Those things have been more important than me going over there to first base. If we didn't have anybody that could be in the outfield, then I couldn't have gone to first." For Cuddyer, it's been a strong season overall and one that he perhaps appreciates a little more following his injury-plagued 2008 season. After being limited to just 71 games last season while batting .249 with three home runs and 36 RBIs, Cuddyer has rebounded to bat .272 with 86 RBIs and acareer-high 28 home runs. "I've talked about it, time and time again going back to Spring Training, but just being able to get back on the field has been great," Cuddyer said. "Being able to contribute on the field, being able to give the high-fives because of something I've done has been nice. I mean I love cheering on and being a cheerleader when other guys do well. But being able to contribute yourself, there is nothing like it." Pitching matchupMIN: RHP Jeff Manship (0-1, 5.31 ERA)
Walks proved costly for Manship in his third career Major League start. The right-hander lasted just four-plus innings, giving up four runs -- three of which stemmed from the pitcher issuing a free pass. It was a pair of walks in the fifth inning after he had retired seven straight that ended Manship's day. The Twins hope that he can find a little more consistency when he faces the White Sox for the second time. In his first start vs. Chicago, Manship allowed one earned run over five innings. CWS: LHP John Danks (12-9, 3.59 ERA)
Danks certainly deserved a better fate against the Mariners on Thursday and should be sitting on a career-high 13th victory entering Tuesday's start against the Twins. But after Danks held Seattle to one run on four hits over eight innings, walking two and striking out three, Bobby Jenks couldn't hold the lead in the ninth. So Danks goes after win No. 13 once again, while trying to inch closer to his personal goal of 200 innings pitched. Danks needs 19 2/3 innings to reach that total. The left-hander has a 1-1 record and a 3.91 ERA against the Twins this season, and he has a 5-6 mark at U.S. Cellular. Tidbits
The Twins will make one slight alteration to their pitching rotation during the road trip. Gardenhire confirmed Monday that his team will have their "four big guys going for sure" in the Tigers series. That means that everyone but Manship will start against Detroit. With an off-day Thursday, the Twins will keep Manship on his regular five days rest and have him pitch Sunday in Kansas City. Nick Blackburn will then be pushed back to Monday, the first game of the series in Detroit. ... Infielder Justin Huber took 23 swings in the batting cage on Monday and felt OK. The Twins hope Huber might be available soon as a right-handed bat off the bench. ... Triple-A Rochester manager Stan Cliburn and hitting coach Rich Miller were informed Monday that their contracts would not be renewed. ... Shortstop prospect Trevor Plouffe hit a two-out, walkoff home run to lead Team USA to a 4-3 victory over Australia in the World Cup on Monday. Tickets
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• Wednesday: Twins (Brian Duensing, 4-1, 3.22) at White Sox (Mark Buehrle, 12-9, 3.84), 7:11 p.m. CT
• Thursday: Off-day
• Friday: Twins (Carl Pavano, 12-11, 4.82) at Royals (Robinson Tejeda, 4-1, 2.94), 7:10 p.m. CT
Kelly Thesier is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
