Patrick Reusse: March 9, 1991

The exhibition season opened on Friday and Dan Gladden made a quick statement on the Twins’ crowded outfield situation. Gladden led off the bottom of the first with a long home run against Pittsburgh’s Neal Heaton.

Gladden missed another hit in the fifth inning when he was called out by first base umpire Tom Hallion. The groundout drove in a run, but Gladden wanted the hit. The Gladman lingered a moment to tell Hallion that he had beaten the throw.

Gladden played six innings in the hot Florida sun, put in his running yardage along the outfield fence and then retreated to the clubhouse. The Twins clubhouse is off limits to reporters while an exhibition game is in progress. A Minneapolis sportswriter sent in word that he would like to ask a few questions.

The word came back from Gladden that the sportswriter should come into the clubhouse. No doubt, the Gladman wanted this pleasant chat to take place in comfortable surroundings. The new and opulent Twins clubhouse is comfortable, at a minimum.

Gladden finished his postgame grooming and approached the intruder. “I heard about that (noun) you wrote,” Gladden said.

“Yesterday, you wanted to trade my butt, and now you are in here trying to kiss up to me.”

A recent story made the point that the Twins’ outfield situation was crowded. Assuming Kirby Puckett and Shane Mack will make up two-thirds of the outfield, that would leave Gladden, Pedro Munoz, Randy Bush, Gene Larkin and rookie Pat Howell trying to squeeze at-bats out of the remaining outfield position. The story also suggested that, if Munoz outplays Gladden this spring, then the Gladman will be traded.

“You didn’t read the story,” the sportswriter said. “It said the Twins had a lot of talented outfielders, that (general manager) Andy MacPhail’s phone would be ringing, and that you might be traded.”

“Talented outfielders,” Gladden said. “Do you say we have a lot of talented outfielders? You wouldn’t know a good outfielder if you saw one, because you never played the game.”

Gladden was asked if the Twins should say the Opening Day outfield will be Gladden in left, Mack in center and Puckett in right, and leave it at that?

“I’m a player,” Gladden said. “I can’t answer a question like that. That’s not my call to make. Other people make that decision.”

If it was Gladden’s decision, would he put an end to the speculation and go that way — Gladden, Puckett and Mack?

“Hypothetical,” Gladden said. “I’m not answering that. It’s a stupid question. That’s all you guys ask me — stupid questions. You might as well ask me what I hit. It was a changeup, and the wind was blowing out. Stick to the easy ones.”

Gladden was asked to evaluate himself as a player. “I’m a damn good player,” he said. “I help this team with good defense. I can run the bases. I have good knowledge of the game.

“I’m mentally and physically healthy. I like the new faces and the new attitude I see here. The Twins are going to surprise a lot of people. There is a lot of enthusiasm. I love to be here. I plan to be here.”

Gladden, 33, has one year to go on his contract. The front office has given no indication that it is willing to extend that contract. The wrong guy — the sportswriter — mentioned this to Gladden.

“I can see where this article is going right now,” Gladden said. “You come down here for a week, hang around the clubhouse, try to stir up the pot, and then we won’t see you for a month. And you wonder why guys don’t like to see you around here.”

We were nearing the end of this insightful interview. Gladden was asked again about the crowded Twins outfield.

“I’m not worried about competition,” Gladden said. “I enjoy competition. My biggest competition is myself. If I stay consistent, I’m the type of player any team would like to have in the lineup. Look at my record. It’s there to see. I don’t have to blow smoke up my resume.”

Gladden came to the Twins on March 31, 1987, the end-of-spring-training trade that filled a large opening in Tom Kelly’s lineup. The Twins needed a left fielder. Gladden was that. The Twins needed a leadoff hitter. Gladden was that.

In four seasons, his batting average for the Twins is .272. He has averaged 73 runs and 24 stolen bases per season. These are the type of numbers the Twins were looking for when they sent three minor league pitchers to the Giants for the Gladman.

It looked as though he was losing his durability in 1989, when injuries limited him to 461 at-bats. He came back with 534 at-bats and another respectable season in 1990.

Behind the scenes, the Twins talk about wanting a leadoff hitter with a higher on-base percentage. Gladden walked only 26 times last season.

“Munoz isn’t a guy who is going to walk a lot, either,” Kelly said. “Gladdy usually starts off hot and — after last year — we’re a team that could use a hot start.”

That is an endorsement of the Gladden-isn’t-going-anywhere theory. The Gladden-is-available theory surfaces when the line drives leap off Munoz’s bat. That has happened only in batting practice so far. The only way Gladden would be traded is if Munoz creates a tempest this spring.

“There are a lot of outfielders in camp,” Gladden said. “So what? The object is not to have a team of pretty good players. The name of the game is to win.”

What was left unsaid is Gladden’s firm conviction that he is the left fielder the Twins need to be a winner again.