Coaches wary of baseball risks

By La Velle E. Neal III, Star Tribune

Last update: July 24, 2007 - 12:03 AM

TORONTO - Twins first base coach Jerry White doesn't take for granted the danger of getting hit with a batted ball in the coaching box, because he was hit in the kidney by a Bob Hamelin line drive in 1997.

Since then, whenever a batter who has a shin guard reaches base, White will take it, hold it in his left hand and raise it toward his face for protection.

"I do that all time," White said. "I take my eyes off the hitter a lot and I worry about that every time I do it."

White was visibly saddened at the news that minor league first base coach Mike Coolbaugh died Sunday after being struck in the head by a line drive.

The Blue Jays, who selected Coolbaugh in the 16th round of the 1990 draft, held a moment of silence before Monday's game. Coolbaugh played briefly in the majors for Milwaukee and St. Louis.

White remembers speaking to Coolbaugh on several occasions during spring training one year. "He was a great guy, based on the time I spent with him in spring training," White said.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said coaches and players will cringe and close their eyes when hard hit balls go into the stands. When he was coaching, he used to ask parents to switch seats with their children to make sure they are sitting closer to the batter and can protect their little ones.

"I don't know exactly what happened [to Coolbaugh] but I know it can happen," Gardenhire said. "Very sad."

Less than 100 percent

Rondell White flied out to center field in the second inning Monday, his first at-bat since April 4 before a torn right calf muscle -- and later on hamstring problems -- shelved him for more than two months. White finished 0-for-4 with a strikeout in the Twins' 6-4 loss.

White had only seven at-bats over two rehab games in Fort Myers, Fla., following his latest setback, so he's not in game shape and no one knows how sharp his swing will be until he gets a few more at-bats.

But he's back. The Twins need offense badly. So White will play as much as he can.

"I'll play him according to how he's feeling day to day," Gardenhire said. "I'm going to use him as best I possibly can.

"He's here and we're going to play him and see how it goes. I don't expect him to steal bases. I expect to take him out in the late innings. I'm not going to put him in the field when his legs aren't underneath him."

When that will be is unknown. White on Monday revealed that his right thigh is bigger than his left thigh and the imbalance is causing problems. So he's expecting to play at less than 100 percent the rest of the season.

Obviously, it's been very tough on him.

"I live off I-75 in Georgia and I took I-75 every day to get to my apartment [in Fort Myers]," White said. "A couple days, you wanted to keep on drivin' [back to Georgia], but you know you can't do that. Got to try to help my teammates out."

Mr. Canada

Justin Morneau has been seen doing television ads for the Canadian version of "SportsCenter." And the Toronto press was lined up all afternoon for interviews.

"He's Mr. Canada," Twins catcher Joe Mauer said.

But Mr. Canada entered Monday batting .043 in his career in Rogers Centre, a strong indication that he tries too hard in his native land.

Not anymore. He homered in his first two at-bats, in the second and fourth innings, keeping the game close. It was Morneau's ninth career multihomer game.

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