Twins/Cardinals lineups

The Twins got a late start to batting practice today because of the MLBPA meeting that lasted about two hours. Things are running on time here in Fort Myers, though ... here are your lineups for today:

Minnesota
Luis Castillo, 2B
Nick Punto, 3B
Joe Mauer, C
Michael Cuddyer, RF
Justin Morneau, 1B
Torii Hunter, CF
Rondell White, LF
Jeff Cirillo, DH
Alexi Casilla, SS
Johan Santana, P

St. Louis
David Eckstein, SS
Chris Duncan, DH
Albert Pujols, 1B
Scott Spiezio, 3B
Tag Bozied, RF
Ryan Ludwick, LF
Yadier Molina, C
So Taguchi, CF
Adam Kennedy, 2B
Kip Wells, P

Good morning from Ft. Myers

It's a lovely day in Florida, though I hear the weather up north isn't so bad, either. The clubhouse just closed for the annual MLB Players Association meeting, so I thought I'd take a minute to introduce myself ... my name is Kelsie Smith, and I'll be your Pioneer Press blogger for the rest of Spring Training 2007.

To get the day started ...

Matt Garza woke up with no neck pain after pitching pain free for the first time this spring yesterday. Garza said the pain started during the first live batting practice when hitters reported to camp in February. As previously written, he woke up with headaches in the morning and neck pain. He went to a chiropractor, who readjusted some misalignment in Garza's neck and then Garza received the lidocaine shot, he said, to loosen up the muscles in his neck. The shot was a one-time deal, and he hasn't felt anything since.

The Twins face the world champion St. Louis Cardinals today at Hammond Stadium, with Johan Santana getting the ball first.

Check back for more updates throughout the day ...

Ortiz loves it here

FORT TRAFFICJAMBURG, Fla. -- Emptying the notebook from good 'ole Fort Misery one last time.

• New Twin Ramon Ortiz continues to praise pitching coach Rick Anderson for the things he's doing to help the veteran right-hander. And after playing for a big-money team (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Calif.) and two lousy teams (Cincinnati and Washington), Ortiz is loving life in the Twins' feel-good, championship clubhouse. “It’s unbelievable this team here," Ortiz said. "I’ve never seen a team like Minnesota. Everyone is together, and everyone is happy. There are no superstars here. Everybody is the same. They make me feel very good.”

• "The, ahem, Real Deal" did a nice job today, bouncing back from Wednesday's horrible outing to strike out two batters in a scoreless inning of relief in the extra-innings win over Tampa Bay. With Lew Ford out for at least a month, thus leaving the Twins with essentially two vacant Opening Day roster spots, Minnesota could end up keeping 12 pitchers. So, Durbin, who is out of contract options, now has a fighting chance to remain with the Twins. Gardy called Durbin's latest outing a "confidence booster."

• I'm predicting second baseman of the future Alexi Casilla makes the Opening Day roster now. In a perfect world, Casilla would start the season in the minors to further develop. But with Rule 5er Alejandro Machado out indefinitely with a bum shoulder and the Twins' desires to have a capable backup shortstop, I don't see how Casilla doesn't start the season with the big club. Gardy on Alexi: “Our preference is to let him play more. But you know what? He’s out there playing now. He’s hitting the ball all over the place, and he has a lot of tools. So he absolutely is an option.”

• And, finally, I am leaving the Pioneer Press for another opportunity. You, the readers, made this job worthwhile. I appreciated every e-mail, blog comment and call I received from readers, whether you loved or loathed what I wrote. My personal rule has always been: It's not about me, it's about the people that I cover. For those of you who are loyal Twins fans, I can't say enough about the class and integrity of the organization you follow. I'm about as cynical and critical as they come, and let me tell you, the people in the Twins organization are, to borrow a phrase from J.D. Durbin, the real deal -- from Dave St. Peter, Terry Ryan and Jim Rantz to Gardy, Rick Anderson, Joe Vavra, Jerry White and the other coaches to Torii, Rondell, Cuddyer, Mauer, MVP, Big Sweat, Bartlett, Silva, Rincon, Kubel, Guerrier, Crain, Redmond, Punto, Santana, Nathan and most of the other players. And I must mention the four people who you probably don't know but help make the Twins the fan/media friendly organization that it is: traveling secretary Remzi Kiratli and media relations officials Mike Herman, Dustin Morse and Molly Gallatin. And while I'm at it, I gotta give some love to my fellow baseball-writing buddies for all of their help along the way: Gordon Wittenmyer, Tony Jackson, Marc Lancaster, Mark Sheldon, Jeff Horrigan, Joe Cowley, Troy Renck, John Donovan, III, Joe-Joe and KT. I will always love the comraderie among baseball scribes.

Ford to undergo surgery

FORT TRAFFICJAMBURG, Fla. -- Outfielder Lew Ford is scheduled to undergo surgery to repair torn meniscus in his right knee next week, Gardy said this afternoon.

Ford is expected to be sidelined four to six weeks, meaning there will be an Opening Day roster spot up for grabs.

"People ought to take notice out there in the clubhouse," Gardy said. "They ought to see that and try two times as hard."

With Jason Kubel showing his knees are back to full strength, the Twins still have outfield depth. The Twins still have Jason-squared -- Kubel and Tyner. So, the club could go several different directions. Will they go with an extra pitcher? Will they go with an extra infielder? Does that mean Alexi Casilla makes the team? Or Luis Rodriguez? Should be interesting.

Sidney assesses Sidney

VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Sidney Ponson hit the showers after giving up four runs on seven hits and a walk in two innings against a Dodgers lineup that featured about half of the regulars.

"I'm not going to beat myself up for it," Ponson said. "Giving up four runs in two innings is not proving anything to anybody."

It was Ponson's second spring-training start, his first in Grapefruit League play. Trying to prove himself on a minor-league deal, Ponson said he didn't put pressure on himself today.

"If I do get my walking papers, then I walk," Ponson said. "It's no secret. I know the situation. I have to work for (the job)."

Garza, get ready

VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Sidney Ponson gets the start this afternoon against the Dodgers, and so far he looks like the same pitcher who was designated for assignment twice last year.

In the first inning, Ponson allowed three runs on four hits and a walk. The big blow was Andre Ethier's rocket of a double into right-center that drove in a run.

A Twins fan sitting off to my left here in cozy and beautiful Holman Stadium seems ready for Ponson to be released. "Hey, Joe!" the fan shouted. "Tell him to throw strikes! He's going to hit his pitch count in the first inning!" I heard the same fan grumbling about the rotation prior to the start of the game.

Yes, it's Ponson's first official spring outing. But I'm sticking with my prediction that Matt Garza will fill the open vacancy in the rotation.

Garza OK

FORT TRAFFICJAMBURG, Fla. -- Matt Garza says his two-week headache/neck pain is all gone, thanks to a Novocain injection the pitcher received Wednesday.

Garza said he immediately felt better after receiving the injection, and he proceeded to throw a light bullpen session this morning. He is scheduled to throw another bullpen session Friday. If all goes well, he will return to game action Sunday or Monday, thus keeping the hotshot prospect in the mix for the vacancy in the starting rotation.

My money's still on Garza to beat out Sidney Ponson for the job. I've told a few people around here I believe Garza is this year's Francisco Liriano. Haven't had anyone object to that notion yet.