DETROIT - The two slugging Twins players headed for the July 10 All-Star Game in San Francisco have different views on the Home Run Derby held the day before.
First baseman Justin Morneau, who is second in the American League with 20 homers, sounded as if he was eagerly awaiting an invitation to participate in the made-for-TV event.
"I'd love to, if they ask me to," Morneau said before Sunday's 1-0 loss to Detroit. "I know I'll be incredibly nervous if I'm in it. I've been in a couple of them in the minor leagues and it's a lot of fun, especially if you get in a groove."
Actually, Morneau lost to then-Seattle prospect Bucky Jacobsen in a home run hitting contest during the Class AAA All-Star Game in 2004.
Torii Hunter, who has 17 homers, participated in the 2002 derby in Milwaukee but didn't make it out of the first round, hitting only three homers.
Hunter said he will decline the invitation if asked this year.
"No, no, no, no, no," Hunter said. "No chance. I'm just going to watch and enjoy it this time."
Hunter said the event requires a lot of energy, plus he doesn't want to risk coming out of the event with bad habits. He was asked about the redemption opportunity, but he said he is satisfied knowing he hit more homers in the '02 derby than Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez did (both hit two).
"I beat two home run kings," Hunter said.
Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, who likes to throw batting practice, would throw to Morneau if asked, but Hunter cautioned against it, saying that Gardenhire's pitches have too much movement.
Gardenhire agreed.
"If he asks me to, I'd doggone sure do it," Gardenhire said, "but I think he'd probably want someone to throw some balls straighter than I do."
Morneau back at first
Morneau started at first base Sunday for the first time since June 22, when he suffered a bruised lung during a home plate collision with Florida catcher Miguel Olivo. Morneau missed five games, then was the designated hitter for three games just to be safe.
The only concern was what could happen when he dives for a ball, but Morneau said he's not going to hold anything back.
"It's just instincts," he said. "You just react. You're playing a team you're chasing in the standings and if a ball is hit down the line, my reaction is going to be to dive. Hopefully the results are good."
Santana's campaign
It will be interesting to see next week how the Twins use lefthander Johan Santana after his Fourth of July start against the Yankees. Santana appears to be campaigning to pitch out of the bullpen, if needed, on Sunday against the White Sox.
twins/mlb
resize text 
Newspaper Subscriptions
eEdition
RSS
Newsletters
