Gardenhire: Don't judge Ankiel just yet

KANSAS CITY, MO. - Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Monday that it's unfair to judge St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Rick Ankiel negatively after last week's report that Ankiel received shipments of human growth hormone in 2004.

By Joe Christensen, Star Tribune

Last update: September 11, 2007 - 12:40 AM

Ankiel defended himself by saying that any drugs he received were prescribed by a licensed physician to help him recover from reconstructive elbow surgery, though he declined to list specifics.

"I think he explained himself pretty well," Gardenhire said. "Coming off an injury, he had to go through a doctor and stuff like that gets prescribed."

Gardenhire related a story from his playing days. He said one winter in Wichita, Kan. -- either 1979 or 1980 -- he was trying to recover from an elbow injury.

"I actually had a doctor give me steroids for my elbow," Gardenhire said. "A packet. He broke it down -- like three pills a day, two pills the next day, whatever -- to get the tendinitis out of my elbow. And it worked."

Gardenhire was referring to anti-inflammatory steroids, which are different from the muscle-building anabolic steroids.

Major League Baseball has banned anabolic steroids but has no test for HGH, and there are concerns that players have turned to HGH for performance enhancement.

A converted pitcher, Ankiel has been one of baseball's feel-good stories this year, batting .316 with nine home runs and 29 RBI in 27 games after getting recalled last month, his first major league stint since 2004.

"Before guys get dragged through the mud, people should look into that stuff before it goes national," Gardenhire said. "I'm just reading newspaper articles. ... It's pretty sad you have go out to prove yourself innocent before you're really guilty. He was doing something to health-wise get back on the field.

"I don't know if he deserves [the scrutiny] or not, but it doesn't sound like he does."

Jones spells Morneau

Garrett Jones started at first base, enabling Justin Morneau to move to designated hitter for Monday's 4-2 victory over Kansas City. Gardenhire said he might use the same alignment Wednesday.

Morneau has been battling a sore back, and Gardenhire said it's time for a closer look at Jones, who hit 32 doubles, three triples and 13 home runs for Class AAA Rochester this season.

"I want to see [Jones] get some at-bats because I know he can drive the baseball, and maybe if he gets a few consistent at-bats, maybe he will," Gardenhire said.

Jones went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts.

Casilla returns

Second baseman Alexi Casilla returned to the starting lineup and said he had no problem with Gardenhire's decision to bench him for the previous four games.

"They explained it to me, so I understand," Casilla said. "They have a lot of experience, and I've only been playing [professionally] for five years. They're doing it because they want me to do better."

Etc.

• Torii Hunter was named one of six finalists for the 2007 Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award, which is given annually to a member of player's union for on-field performance and community contributions. The other finalists are Tom Glavine, Vladimir Guerrero, Derek Jeter, Jake Peavy and Albert Pujols.

• By waiting until Saturday to make his next start, Santana might get only three more starts this year, instead of four. He would be in line to pitch Sept. 21 and Sept. 26, and then he would have to return on three days' rest to pitch the season finale. Gardenhire said because Santana threw 116 pitches Sunday, the decision was made to give him an extra day's rest this week.

Joe Christensen • jchristensen@startribune.com