White, Cirillo feeling good

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Rondell White (calf) is feeling much better and, if that continues, White would run the bases tomorrow and could return in a couple days. Luis Castillo (quad) is increasing his activity, but still doesn't want to move around too much.

And, one final injury update: Jeff Cirillo (knee) hit out of the cage and took batting practice. He's also taking ground balls. Gardenhire said the utility infielder should be ready to return to the lineup in a week to 10 days.

Jason Tyner is hitting leadoff tonight as the designated hitter. Alexi Casilla, starting at second for Castillo, is moving to ninth in the order. Gardenhire said that, because Casilla hasn't seen any of the pitchers in the majors, hitting ninth could help him get an idea of how to approach that night's pitcher.

With that, the lineups ...

Minnesota
Jason Tyner DH
Nick Punto 3B
Joe Mauer C
Michael Cuddyer RF
Justin Morneau 1B
Torii Hunter CF
Jason Kubel LF
Jason Bartlett SS
Alexi Casilla 2B
Johan Santana P

Cleveland
Grady Sizemore CF
Casey Blake 3B
Travis Hafner DH
Victor Martinez C
Ryan Garko 1B
Trot Nixon RF
Jason Michaels LF
Mike Rouse SS
Josh Barfield 2B
Fausto Carmona P

Take the Morning Off

Ron Gardenhire was lamenting his team’s bad baserunning again Sunday morning, when a strange voice from just outside his office door began a booming chant that soon consumed the entire clubhouse: “No B-P! No B-P! No B-P!”
The Twins’ manager hopped up, ran out of his office … and quickly gave in. “OK,” he said with a broad grin. “I’m easy.”
Truthfully, it probably didn’t require an organized uprising to convince the manager; the Twins skip Sunday batting practice more often than they take it. But a not-so-subtle suggestion from a badly disguised voice made the decision that much easier for Gardenhire.
Funny, that voice sounded a lot like Torii Hunter with a bad accent. Didn’t it, Torii?
“Wasn’t me, wasn’t me,” Hunter protested, with a wry smile -- and the same accent.

Today’s lineups, after the Royals scratched leadoff hitter David DeJesus with a sprained ankle:

TWINS
Casilla 2b
Punto 3b
Mauer c
Cuddyer rf
Morneau 1b
Hunter cf
Redmond dh
Rabe lf
Bartlett ss

ROYALS
German 2b
Gload lf
Teahen cf
Sweeney dh
Gordon 3b
Sanders rf
Buck c
Shealy 1b
Pena ss

Pitchers: Ramon Ortiz vs. Jorge de la Rosa. (And keep in mind -- Cuddyer is 0-for-8 lifetime against de la Rosa.)
-- Phil Miller

Hunter still recovering; out of the lineup

Torii Hunter is taking another day off to rest his shoulder. I saw him after he took some swings in the batting cage, and he said he felt really good. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said he thinks Hunter will return to the lineup tomorrow against Kansas City.

Nick Punto has returned to third base and the second spot in the order. Gardenhire opted to use both his catchers for the second day in row, this time putting Joe Mauer (who turns 24 today) behind the plate to catch Johan Santana and Mike Redmond in the DH slot. Josh Rabe got the start in left field, and Jason Tyner's back in center filling in for Hunter.

The sun is shining in Seattle today and the roof at Safeco Field is open. That means that around 4:30, according to hitting coach Joe Vavra, it will get wicked tough to see the ball through the shadows. Right now the shade is such that the batter is in the sun but the catcher is not.

Twins face red-hot Felix Hernandez

Center fielder Torii Hunter is out of the lineup after bruising his left shoulder attempting to make a diving catch during Tuesday's game. Hunter said he woke up feeling sore but thought he might feel good enough to play tonight, if necessary.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Hunter would be available to pinch hit.

Jesse Crain (shoulder) is available for tonight's game. He was also available last night but did not pitch. Crain hasn't pitched since Tuesday, April 10 against the Yankees.

Nick Punto is getting another day to rest his sprained ankle. Gardenhire said Punto came to the park today sore from all the exercises he's been doing to speed his recovery.

Finally, apologies for my lack of blogging lately. Look for the blog to be regularly updated from now on.

With that, lineups ...

Minnesota
Luis Castillo 2B
Jason Tyner CF
Joe Mauer DH
Michael Cuddyer RF
Justin Morneau 1B
Mike Redmond C
Jason Kubel LF
Luis Rodriguez 3B
Jason Bartlett SS
Carlos Silva P

Seattle
Ichiro Suzuki CF
Adrian Beltre 3B
Jose Vidro DH
Raul Ibanez LF
Richie Sexson 1B
Jose Guillen RF
Kenji Johjima C
Yuniesky Betancourt SS
Jose Lopez 2B
Felix Hernandez P

Twins, Devil Rays lineups for Friday

Jason Bartlett returns to the lineup this evening for game 2 of this four-part series against Tampa Bay.

Jesse Crain (shoulder) is still on the mend and said he could return as soon as Saturday.

Lineups ...

Minnesota
Luis Castillo 2B
Nick Punto 3B
Joe Mauer C
Michael Cuddyer RF
Justin Morneau 1B
Torii Hunter CF
Josh Rabe LF
Luis Rodriguez DH
Jason Bartlett SS
Johan Santana P

Tampa Bay
Rocco Baldelli CF
Ben Zobrist SS
Carl Crawford LF
Ty Wigginton DH
Delmon Young RF
Akinori Iwamura 3B
Carlos Pena 1B
Josh Paul C
B.J. Upton 2B
Scott Kazmir P

Cirillo to have surgery Wednesday

Jeff Cirillo will have arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Wednesday morning, manager Ron Gardenhire said Tuesday.

Josh Rabe and Alexi Casilla arrived in Minneapolis this morning, and Rabe is in the starting lineup batting seventh and playing left field.

Here are your lineups ...

Minnesota
Luis Castillo 2B
Nick Punto 3B
Joe Mauer C
Michael Cuddyer RF
Justin Morneau 1B
Torii Hunter CF
Josh Rabe LF
Mike Redmond DH
Jason Bartlett SS
Boof Bonser P

New York
Johnny Damon CF
Derek Jeter SS
Bobby Abreu RF
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Jason Giambi DH
Jorge Posada C
Robinson Cano 2B
Doug Mientkiewicz 1B
Melky Cabrera LF
Andy Pettitte P

Cirillo: surgery is likely

Perhaps you've already read the news on www.twincities.com, but if not, here you go: Jeff Cirillo said the irritated minscus tear in his left knee is not improving and he will likely have arthroscopic surgery to repair it.

Cirillo said doctors would evaluate him before tonight's game and the final decision would be made after that.

Juan Rincon's neck is still pretty stiff, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. Gardenhire did not yet know if Rincon would be available when he spoke with reporters before the series opener against the Yankees.

Lineups:

Minnesota
Luis Castillo 2B
Nick Punto 3B
Joe Mauer C
Michael Cuddyer RF
Justin Morneau 1B
Torii Hunter CF
Jason Kubel LF
Mike Redmond DH
Jason Bartlett SS
Sidney Ponson P

New York
Johnny Damon CF
Derek Jeter SS
Bobby Abreu RF
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Jason Giambi DH
Jorge Posada C
Robinson Cano 2B
Doug Mientkiewicz 1B
Melky Cabrera LF
Carl Pavano P