Twins day at camp

By A Daily Update By Our Staffers

Last update: February 22, 2007 - 7:05 PM

Smell 'em again

That was the phrase the Twins fed off last season as they reversed their season in June and won the AL Central title on the final day of the season. Catcher Mike Redmond had teammates flicking their noses whenever they drove in big runs. "Smell those RBI!" Redmond would yell from the bench.

Every player who has reported to camp has found a red T-shirt draped over his locker room chair. The message: "Smell 'em again in 2007."

Camp visitors

Bob Watson, Major League Baseballs's czar of discipline, Marty Springstead, who represents MLB umpires, and veteran umpire Charlie Relaford met with the Twins coaching staff before Thursday's workout.

The subject: rule changes for 2007. The changes include new provisions for ending tie games, a player no longer being able to go into the dugout to catch a foul ball and scoring revisions.

It was the first of many meetings the club must have during spring training.

LA VELLE E. NEAL III

LET'S MEET ...

Alexander Smit

Age: 21 • Ht: 6-3 • Wt: 210

2006: 7-2, 2.99 ERA at Class A Beloit. Opponents batted .199 against him.

Scouting report: Signed with the Twins for $750,000 in 2002, turning down larger offers from the Yankees and Braves. He will throw his fastball as slow as 85 miles per hour but will hump it up to 93 to finish off hitters. Also throws a changeup and curveball, but some in the organization feel the curve might be ditched for a slider. Still a work in progress, but his talent is starting to show.

Outlook: Should start the season at Class A Fort Myers.

CAMP CHATTER

"If you go to them just a little bit and challenge them, they really step up. We challenged the first group out there in fundamentals -- 'You guys are slop, you were really sloppy yesterday.' There was a whole different level. They were really into it. That's all you have to do to these guys."

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire on the effort during drills on Thursday

BEST OF THE BLOGS

La Velle E. Neal III: Watched Joe Mauer take B.P. Mauer's stages of batting practice are more noticeable than anyone's. If he hits a ground ball, it's usually during the first turn through the cage; then there's the line-drive stage; then there's the rocket-launcher stage. Quite impressive.

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