FORT MYERS, FLA. - The Grapefruit League season began Sunday night with Twins director of baseball communications Mike Herman turning his microphone on and announcing, "Hello. Good evening. Welcome to Hammond Stadium."
In Japanese.
The foreign media on hand to cover Tsuyoshi Nishioka's first game with the Twins nodded in approval, and Carl Pavano rocked and fired to Darnell McDonald to start the Twins' exhibition season.
Or has it started?
The lineup manager Ron Gardenhire penned on Sunday missed many of the usual suspects. Joe Mauer is taking lubrication injections in his left knee and is easing into spring training. Justin Morneau, the Twins hope, is in the final stages of his return from a concussion suffered in July. Delmon Young is out because of turf toe, and Michael Cuddyer has a wart on his left foot that, if it has to be removed, could keep him out of action for a couple of weeks.
Until the Twins field a lineup with their key players involved, spring training might not seem like spring training to Twins fans.
Even players are looking ahead to the point of camp when everyone is healthy -- or as healthy as they can be.
"Getting the full squad in uniform and out there together is what everyone is shooting for going into the season," outfielder Denard Span said. "I think it will be fun once we all get out there and feed each other."