Catching situation shifts daily

The Twins are trying to figure out how many catchers they will need this weekend.

By La Velle E. Neal III, Star Tribune

Last update: September 5, 2007 - 9:04 PM

The Twins are trying to figure out how many catchers they will need this weekend.

Chris Heintz is the only healthy one. Joe Mauer, working his way back from a strained left hamstring, might still be several days away. Mike Redmond is out a few days -- maybe several -- after aggravating strained ligaments in his left middle finger on Tuesday while batting in the 10th inning.

That forced Mauer to finish Redmond's at-bat (he swung and missed at strike three on the first pitch) and catch the 11th inning despite his hamstring being about 50 percent.

It seems as if the Twins need to call up someone from Class AAA Rochester, such as Jose Morales. Maybe Matthew LeCroy, who can dance, eat a couple cockroaches (he did it two years ago) and keep things loose in the clubhouse.

Twins General Manager Terry Ryan said Wednesday that he's monitoring the situation and is willing to call up a catcher if needed. But that might not be the case.

"The doctors tell me that Heintz is fine and Mauer will be fine soon and that Redmond will be ready to go in a couple of days," Ryan said. "If that's the case, I don't know why you'd want a fourth catcher."

The middle finger

Redmond appeared to be in normal game-day mode on Wednesday.

Could Redmond, the indomitable warrior, try to get back in the starting lineup this week?

"No way, man," Redmond said. "It's going to be a while."

Redmond soon had his middle finger in a cup of ice water as he tried to get the swelling down.

An X-ray revealed nothing more than strained ligaments. The only way for the injury to heal is with rest. When he does come back, he'll try to play with the finger taped to another finger for stability.

Teammates have watched Redmond gut out several bumps and bruises over the past couple of years.

"You know he has to be in some serious pain to come out of the ballgame," infielder Nick Punto said, "especially in that situation. It's tough to see anybody in that much pain."

Buscher back

Brian Buscher started at third base on Wednesday for the first time in eight games. He has been taking extra grounders while he adjusts to the speed of the major league game.

"What Buscher has tried to learn at third base is to step back on the Astroturf on the hard hit balls, and he's gotten himself out of whack," manager Ron Gardenhire said.

Eventually, Gardenhire said, the extra drills will pay off. Buscher will get chances to play over the last few weeks of the season as the Twins try to figure out their third base situation for 2008.

"I like his bat," Gardenhire said. "I think he handles the strike zone pretty good, and he puts pretty good swings on the ball."

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