White, Cirillo are placed on DL

By La Velle E. Neal III, Star Tribune

Last update: April 9, 2007 - 11:41 PM

The Twins placed outfielder Rondell White and infielder Jeff Cirillo on the 15-day disabled list Monday and called up outfielder Josh Rabe and infielder Alexi Casilla from Class AAA Rochester.

White missed both games against the White Sox last weekend because of a strained right calf muscle. White tried to run before Monday's game but couldn't, leading to the move.

"It came out of the blue," White said of the injury. "The toughest part is how hard I worked during the offseason. The way I look at it on the positive side is that it's not two months or anything like that. I can come back this month and help the team out."

Cirillo, expected to be a key reserve, will be out longer because he'll need surgery to repair a left knee that has a torn meniscus. Cirillo had a cortisone shot last week, but the knee hasn't responded well.

"We'll start with three to four weeks [out] and go from there," Gardenhire said. "Everyone is going to be different in how much detail they do when they get in there."

Rabe, the last player cut in camp, homered Monday for Rochester and is batting .429 after two games with the Red Wings. Rabe is expected to start in left field tonight when the Twins face Andy Pettitte and the Yankees.

"We'll get him out there and let him swing," Gardenhire said, "It's been a little crazy so we'll let him get some swings."

Casilla is batting .125 through two games but is considered the Twins' second baseman of the future with Luis Castillo a free agent after the season and Jason Bartlett solidified as the shortstop. Casilla will come off the bench initially but could get an occasional start at second or short.

Santana tips pitches?

Twins lefthander Johan Santana has heard claims that he tips his pitches, although outings such as Sunday's -- during which he held the White Sox to one hit over seven innings -- suggest otherwise.

Then again, hitters might know what's coming, but still can't hit him.

"A lot of guys say I tip my pitches, and I don't try to do anything different," said Santana (2-0). "We work on it and we make sure everything looks the same. If that's what they are seeing, take advantage of it."

Actually, the Twins occasionally have noticed Santana tipping off a pitch or two and continue to work with him on it. Pitching coach Rick Anderson has had hitters stand in against Santana during bullpen sessions to see if they can pick anything up.

"We've addressed it," Anderson said. "It has been an ongoing thing in the bullpen. I hear it all the time."

Reports date to 2005, when Toronto scored seven runs off Santana in 5 1/3 innings during a 10-3 loss. Word was that the Blue Jays had spotted something.

Santana faced Toronto 10 days later -- and held the Blue Jays to two runs over seven innings.

Anderson said he thinks some of the tipping claims are false.

"People think they get it," Anderson said, "then he throws another pitch and it all goes out the window."

Etc.

• Righthander Juan Rincon, who has a sore neck, threw in the bullpen before the game and said he could pitch if needed.

La Velle E. Neal III • lneal@startribune.com