Monroe is the forgotten option in center field

FORT MYERS, FLA. - You walk into the home clubhouse at Hammond Stadium and there are long lines of lockers on both sides of the room. Way down in the left corner has been the location where most of the black guys with veteran status have hung out.

Kirby Puckett was the man in the extreme corner when the Twins moved to this spring training complex in 1991. His buddy Shane Mack was down there, as were several other brothers.

This was the loudest place in the room for one reason: Puckett.

Puck's last spring training was in '95. Torii Hunter was a young player in that camp and spent his time on the field and in the clubhouse at Puckett's side.

He wasn't ready to assume the honored Puckett clubhouse position in 1996. Matt Lawton was the next black player to establish himself as a Twins regular, but he preferred a location in the middle of the room.

It wasn't until 1999 that Puck's Corner regained its personality, when Hunter moved to the farthest chair on the left. The noise level never equaled the Puckett era, although there were a lot of laughs with Torii and Jacque Jones and the clubhouse version of a Soul Patrol.

"I realize the history associated with this locker ... that it belonged to Puck and then Torii," Craig Monroe said. "I'm honored that the clubhouse guys gave it to me."

Monroe, Delmon Young and Tommy Watkins have been the occupants of Puck's Corner this spring. It's not real loud down there, since Monroe and Young come off as soft- spoken, and Watkins is waiting to hear the inevitable news that it's time to go across the parking lot to the minor league complex.

Monroe's prominence in the pecking order of the clubhouse is not all that has made Monroe feel welcome as a 31-year-old outfielder on the rebound. There is also the time he has spent around a batting cage with Rod Carew and Tony Oliva.

"It's a great combination, because Rod talks about mechanics, the technical part of hitting, and Tony talks about approach ... being aggressive," Monroe said.

He was 27 before he became a regular with Detroit in 2004. For three seasons, he became increasingly important to the Tigers and also developed a habit of destroying the Twins. Monroe went 91-for-280 (.325) for Detroit against the Twins, with 13 home runs and 48 RBI.

In 2005, he played mostly left field, started 29 games in center and hit 20 home runs with 89 RBI. In 2006, he upped those totals to 28 and 92 and the Tigers went to the World Series.

"I came in when things were bad with the Tigers and was there to contribute to the turnaround," he said. "I'm very proud to have worn that Olde English D.

"I'm very close to some people there. Willie Horton was there for me from Day One. And [manager] Jim Leyland ... the day he called me in and told me they were letting me go, I think it hurt him more than it did me."

Monroe batted .193 last April and never was able to regain his foundation as a hitter. On Aug. 17, he was batting .222 and the Tigers designated him for assignment. One week later, they traded him to the Cubs.

The Twins acquired him from the Cubs last Nov. 13 for nothing more than a vague promise of a future favor. Monroe agreed to the maximum 20 percent paycut -- $3.82 million -- to get this shot with the Twins.

His wild hack of '07 has been replaced by a better-looking swing this spring. He made a spectacular catch in right field last week. A couple of days later, manager Ron Gardenhire raised the possibility of Monroe playing center field, if Carlos Gomez didn't come around.

The youngster followed with two good days at the plate. "That kid [Gomez] has so much talent," Monroe said. "If he just keep things simple and hangs in there against big-league pitching, his speed and defense can add a lot to this team."

And if not? "I'm a good athlete," he said. "I can play center. If you can play center in that airport in Detroit [Comerica Park], you can play it anywhere."

Patrick Reusse can be heard weekdays on AM-1500 KSTP at 6:45 and 7:45 a.m. and 4:40 p.m. preusse@startribune.com