Live from Fort Myers: Feb. 23

Last update: February 23, 2008 - 6:01 PM

Spring, when pitchers are ahead of hitters

The Twins held their first full-squad workout Saturday, and the hitters were immediately thrown into the fire, facing pitchers throwing full-speed.

"You just hope to make a little bit of contact,'' Twins catcher Mike Redmond said.

Most of the hitters were overmatched.

Redmond lined a single to center off Julio DePaula but didn't get the sweet part of the bat on it.

"That hurt,'' he said. "That really hurts.''

As a common courtesy during these early sessions, the pitchers tell the hitters what's coming.

But Delmon Young said he didn't want to know.

Casey Daigle threw a breaking ball right past him.

"Wow,'' Young said. "You sure you don't want to know?'' Redmond asked.

Michael Cuddyer came up next, and he practically begged Daigle to let him know what was coming.

Coaches replaced the pitchers for the final cuts of batting practice. Young and Cuddyer put on a show, hitting several balls over the fence.

T-shirt rallying cry

Cuddyer had T-shirts made for the players and staff. On the front, they say:

Goal: 162+

(No Excuses)

On the back, they say:

PROVE THEM WRONG!

Cuddyer declined to comment, other than to say, "It stays inside" the clubhouse.

3?s

RANDY KEISLER

Pitcher

Age: 32 (Today is his birthday)

2007: Went 0-0 with a 5.19 ERA in four games, including three starts, for the St. Louis Cardinals. Also went 8-11 with a 4.79 ERA for Class AAA Memphis.

The Twins are your ninth organization. How do they compare?

"I see why they win a lot. They run it right. Oakland was the closest thing to this, where all the guys are laid back and fun. It's kind of just that kids-playing-ball attitude, instead of like the Yankees and Cardinals, where it was all kind of a business attitude."

How frustrating was last spring, when you posted a 0.00 ERA and still got sent to Class AAA?

"It kind of put a bad taste in my mouth. I've got a family and kid on the way now. If this doesn't work, it's time to start exploring other things."

What do you need to do this spring?

"I've got to go out there and keep the ball down and get outs, stay within myself. What I've learned over the years is, it's not always in your hands. There's a lot of good pitchers out there and only so many spots. The bottom line is, you've got to have someone who wants you there."

CAMP CHATTER

"They seemed to like it. We didn't really try to kill them today. We will later."

-- Manager Ron Gardenhire after putting the infielders through their first "Good Morning America" drill of the spring. The team does the rapid-fire defensive session soon after hitting the field each day.

LA VELLE E. NEAL III

AND JOE CHRISTENSEN

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