Live from Fort Myers: Feb. 19

Last update: February 18, 2008 - 11:12 PM

Teams' new names a bit of a mouthful

For an organization known for its Mientkiewiczs, trying to figure out hard-to-pronounce names on the Twins is old hat.

But a newcomer to camp simplified the process on Monday when he walked right up to a reporter, firmly shook his hand and said, "Hello, I'm Deolis Guerra.''

That's Day-OH-leese. As in one of the four players the Twins received from the Mets for Johan Santana. And Guerra looks all of the 6-5 and 200 pounds he's listed as. He turns 19 in April.

Another name worth learning is Philip Humber, another ex-Met. First of all, it's never Phil, but Philip. One L. And the H in Humber is silent.

"A guy named Bill Smith never has [a pronounciation] problem,'' the Twins GM said.

First casualty

The first injury of spring training goes to ... Twins manager Ron Gardenhire.

Gardenhire actually reported to camp with a sore right shoulder and was determined to get a cortisone shot in Fort Myers on Monday.

Being able to throw during camp, sadly, isn't the only reason Gardenhire wanted the shot. He has golf games scheduled this week and needs to be ready for his annual spring bowling spree.

Midget power

Right fielder Michael Cuddyer, during a Twins caravan stop at Dickinson (N.D.) High School this winter, asked to be hooked up with a T-shirt from there because he had never heard of a school nicknamed the Midgets.

On Monday, Cuddyer reported to camp and found a stack of envelopes in his mailbox that included nine Dickinson T-shirts, including ones from the athletic director, football team and baseball team.

"It seems like they're state champions in everything,'' Cuddyer said.

LA VELLE E. NEAL III

3?s

THREE QUESTIONS WITH: BOBBY KORECKY

RH pitcher • Age: 28

2007: 5-6, 3.71 ERA, 35 saves at Class AAA Rochester

1 What's it like being in your first major league camp?

"It's exciting. You kind of wonder what's going on over here. I've played with a lot of these guys. It's good to be around everybody. It's a different ballgame over here, it really is."

2 What's in your repertoire?

"Fastball, slider and changeup, mainly fastball, slider. My slider is kind of my out pitch.''

3 Since you played at Michigan, how about that Rich Rodriguez hiring?

"That's where I work out during the offseason, so I get a chance to see what the football team is doing and it's pretty different. It looks pretty exciting. They have a whole different energy over there right now.''

CAMP CHATTER

"Did you throw that two-seamer [fastball] all through winter ball? Did you keep it in the park?''

Bullpen coach Rick Stelmaszek to reliever Juan Rincon following his bullpen session.

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