White hopes to return in June

By La Velle E. Neal III, Star Tribune

Last update: May 16, 2007 - 12:26 AM

CLEVELAND - Twins outfielder Rondell White has checked the schedule to figure out when he'll rejoin his teammates after recovering from a slightly torn right calf muscle.

He's eyeing the June 1-6 trip to Oakland and Los Angeles.

"I brought clothes, just in case, for the West Coast trip," White said, "but I don't want to jinx myself."

White was speaking by telephone from Fort Myers, Fla., where he's rehabbing his calf at the Twins' year-round facility. He's at the point where it no longer hurts to walk and can lightly jog.

White was 1-for-9 in three games before injuring himself April 6 while skipping out of the dugout. He had a setback April 26, and the tear showed up during an MRI exam.

"From what I've been told, you'll be feeling it and feeling it and then one day it will be gone," he said. "That's what they say happens to other people with this injury."

White said the whole process has been frustrating, especially watching the Twins struggle offensively and put Joe Mauer on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained left quadriceps muscle.

"We just have to stay healthy until we can get everyone healthy," White said.

Bunting on C.C.

The Twins always talk about bunting on Cleveland lefthander C.C. Sabathia, especially when he's dominating them. His height is listed at 6-7, and the theory is that getting him to chase bunts will rattle him.

But recently, they haven't done it much. When they have in the past, Sabathia has shown his annoyance.

In 2003, Bobby Kielty was hit by a pitch and Lew Ford buzzed by another inside one when the Twins attempted three bunts on Sabathia.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire wants his team to use the bunt, especially against lefthanders such as Sabathia, who will start tonight's game.

"We always try to irri, I mean, bunt on him," Gardenhire said. "We've tried dropping bunts on him. It irritates the crap out of him. He gets mad. His hat goes farther to the side.

"You have to, you can't just stand up there and let him wing it. He will kill you, wear you out. That's always our game plan against him. You have to do something to him on the mound. He's too good not to. And if you can frustrate him with a few bunts here and there, that sometimes has him get a little wacky."

Jones' debut

Garrett Jones was released by Atlanta when he was 20 and signed with the Twins. He's just a month away from turning 26. So finally making the majors put him in a reflective mood.

"I was thinking about it a little [Monday] night," said Jones, who was called up from Class AAA Rochester to replace righthander Sidney Ponson on the roster. "I started thinking about what I've gone through and just about everything. It means a lot. Seven-and-a-half years is worth one day to be up here to be able to play this game. And starting the first day is unbelievable."

Jones, who went 1-for-3 Tuesday and got his first major league hit, might not be here long. Gardenhire said the club will go with 12 pitchers this weekend in Milwaukee, meaning a position player must go when the Twins call up a pitcher from Rochester to start on Saturday, presumably righthander Scott Baker.

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

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