Players curious about park design

While Twins Nation buzzed on Thursday with discussions about the design of the new ballpark, many Twins players were unaware of the event.

By La Velle E. Neal III, Star Tribune

Last update: April 12, 2007 - 10:40 PM

While Twins Nation buzzed on Thursday with discussions about the design of the new ballpark, many Twins players were unaware of the event.

There were no sketches of the new ballpark in the clubhouse for players to examine, so many of them don't know what the new park will look like.

Torii Hunter, Boof Bonser, Justin Morneau, Nick Punto, Mike Redmond, Rondell White and Joe Mauer were among the players asking about the designs.

"Does it have a roof?" Mauer asked, hoping for a late design change.

"I'm not going to look at it. I may not be here in 2010," said Hunter, a free agent after this season.

Morneau just wanted assurances that the dimensions suit his wheelhouse, and they appear to be. The right field foul pole is 328 feet from home plate with a power alley in right-center that's 367 feet away.

Mauer wasn't concerned about right field: "I don't hit it over there anyway," he said.

Center field will be 404 feet away, with a left-center power alley of 377. The righthanded-hitting Twins have a left field foul pole that's 339 feet away

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said he had input on the design of the clubhouse, such as the location of the workout room and the trainer's room.

"My manager's office door won't be right inside the front door so I don't have to say hello to you every day," Gardenhire joked.

Hunter upset

Hunter was the talk of the nation on Thursday after expressing unhappiness in USA Today and on ESPN that more than 150 players will wear Jackie Robinson's No. 42 on Sunday on the 60th anniversary of him breaking baseball's color barrier.

Hunter said he believes the honor should go to a select few, which he said was Ken Griffey Jr.'s intention when he called the league for permission to wear the number.

Five entire teams will wear No. 42 on Sunday. Hunter said he has no problem with the Dodgers, Robinson's team, wearing the number. But he found it ironic that Houston, a team with no African-American players, will have all of its players wearing No. 42 on Sunday.

"It's just my opinion," he said. "Someone asked me if I was commissioner, what would I do on that day. I said that all the black players in the game wear it that day."

Player updates galore

Righthander Juan Rincon, who missed Wednesday's game to be with his wife after learning his mother-in-law died, returned to the team Thursday. He struggled, giving up two runs in a one-third of an inning, including a homer.

Lefthander Glen Perkins, who joined the team on Thursday, could be used in a variety of roles out of the bullpen. "He can get righties and lefties out if he throws the ball over," Gardenhire said.

Righthander Jesse Crain was unavailable for a second day as he rests a sore shoulder.

Jason Bartlett, nursing a sore groin, was given a second consecutive day off, which allowed Gardenhire to start Alexi Casilla at short.

Awards

The Twins held a ceremony before the game to present Hunter with his sixth Rawlings Gold Glove award. Hunter invited Kirby Puckett Jr. to throw him the ceremonial pitch, which Hunter flubbed.

Justin Morneau will receive his AL Most Valuable Player award today. Johan Santana will receive his AL Cy Young Award Saturday. Mauer will be honored as the AL batting champ Sunday.

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

Recent Twins stories

Cuddyer option is first order of business for Twins - April 12, 2007

Cuddyer option is first order of business for Twins - When the World Series ended Wednesday, the clock began ticking on some key offseason decisions for the Twins. More