twins/mlb

FORT MYERS, FLA. - Something seemed to be missing for a while at the Twins' spring camp. Something big -- like the heart of the batting order.

Before spring training games began Feb. 27, manager Ron Gardenhire apologized for the lineups he was about to submit.

That was because Joe Mauer (left knee), Justin Morneau (concussion), Delmon Young (left big toe) and Michael Cuddyer (wart on left foot) weren't close to playing. Consequently, the Twins struggled to field lineups with four regulars, which the league recommends.

Young and Morneau returned to action last week. Mauer could return as soon as Wednesday against the Mets. Cuddyer had the wart removed and is getting closer to playing. Over the next few days, the Twins could have their best players available for games for the first time all spring.

Gardenhire was as upbeat this week as he has been all spring training.

"We have been waiting patiently to get those guys back out there," Gardenhire said. "It will be exciting after this day off [on Tuesday]."

The Twins know, for the most part, what they have. They scored 781 runs last season -- the sixth-most in baseball -- with most of the key players returning.

It's also a lineup in which leadoff hitter Denard Span (.264 batting average, .331 on-base percentage), Jason Kubel (.249, 21 homers, 92 RBI) and Cuddyer (.271, 14, 81) all had down years.

Mauer, who admitted last week that his sore left knee hurt him at the plate, hit 38 points lower, hit 19 fewer home runs and drove in 21 fewer runs than in 2009.

The Twins offense was buttressed last year by Young (.298, 21, 112) and the ageless antics of Jim Thome (.283, 25, 59). But the Twins can point to the players who didn't hit to their expectations -- plus the fact that Justin Morneau was batting .345 with 18 homers and 56 RBI in 81 games before suffering a season-ending concussion -- and feel like the offense can be even more robust than last year.

And they might have finally found their long-term answer at third base after Danny Valencia hit .311 with seven homers and 40 RBI in 85 games as a rookie.

On a team in which a re-tooled bullpen might need some time to stabilize, the offense could take pressure off of the relievers.

"It's a very, very deep lineup," Cuddyer said. "You're going to have either me or Delmon hitting seventh. That's pretty deep to run that out there."

On Sunday, the Twins got a glimpse of what new second baseman Tsuyoshi Nishioka can do for them. He was 1-for-3 with a double, run scored and stolen base.

He bunted Span over to second in the first inning -- then asked him afterward if that was the right thing to do. Span liked that. He told Nishioka that, yes, there will be times when he's on first base and the opposing pitcher is quick to home plate, so being bunted over will be better than Span trying to steal.

"It's a lot of fun playing with him," Span said. "He can take pitches. He can handle the bat. The most impressive thing is that he can hit the ball to the right side of the infield."

Table-setting for a more healthy Mauer, a fully healthy Morneau and a surging Young could lead to a big offensive year for the Twins.

The Twins still have to sort out their bullpen, and Luke Hughes is making a push to make the team as a reserve. The exhibition season is down to a 13-game sprint to the finish. But spring training is just picking up for a few players.

"I think there's some positives coming out right now," Gardenhire said. "We are actually starting to see some guys feel really good."