Koskie slowly improves from concussion

By JOE CHRISTENSEN, Star Tribune

Last update: April 2, 2008 - 11:28 PM

The last time Corey Koskie was at the Metrodome, he got so dizzy he had to leave.

So the former Twins third baseman noted the progress he'd made Wednesday, after stopping by batting practice.

"This is a pretty nice little step for me," he said.

Koskie hasn't played a game since July 5, 2006, when he went to catch a foul ball for the Milwaukee Brewers and fell backwards, causing a concussion that just won't go away.

The Brewers released Koskie this past offseason. He still keeps a home in the Twin Cities, so he took Angels center fielder Torii Hunter to lunch on Wednesday. And, yes, Hunter picked up the tab.

Koskie dropped off Hunter at the Dome and stayed for batting practice, but kept his distance from the batting cage.

"I'm not going to lean on the cage until I'm either retired or back in uniform," he said. "So I don't want to go halfway because I still would like to be able to play baseball. But physically I'm not able to right now."

Koskie, 34, said he has made slow but steady progress since last June, when he tried coming for a Twins/Brewers game but had to leave.

"One thing I'm amazed at with this injury, is you look back six months, you thought you were fine," he said. "I look back a year, I shouldn't have been driving; I was like scrambled eggs.

"It's really hard to explain, until you've experienced a concussion and lived through one."

Koskie said he busies himself with his three boys -- ages 3, 5, and 7 -- taking them to school, along with hockey and swimming practice.

"It's always fun to see him," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He's a good friend, and boy, you hate to see something like that. It's sad for him and his family, but he's doing the best he can."

Lineup shuffle

Gardenhire cleared off his bench, putting all four of Tuesday's reserves into Wednesday's starting lineup.

With a day game today, following a night game Wednesday, Gardenhire said he wanted to give certain players a one-game break.

The Twins were facing lefthanded pitcher Joe Saunders, so Gardenhire rested catcher Joe Mauer, third baseman Mike Lamb and designated hitter Jason Kubel -- all lefthanded hitters. Mauer later pinch hit in the ninth inning and grounded into a double play to end the game.

Mike Redmond caught, Nick Punto played third base and Craig Monroe was the DH.

Shortstop Adam Everett was a late scratch, after he left the ballpark to tend to a medical issue, so Matt Tolbert made his first major league start at shortstop.

Baker getting stronger

Scott Baker has gained back eight of the 12 pounds he lost from last month's flu bout. Baker said he's literally trying to eat every couple hours.

He was pleased with his strength and stamina in Tuesday's bullpen session and looks forward to making his season debut Friday vs. the Royals.

"I really can't feel the effects of those four-five [missing] pounds," he said. "I can only see it on the scale."

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