'Bitter' Monroe back in Motown

By JOE CHRISTENSEN, Star Tribune

Last update: April 14, 2008 - 11:30 PM

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DETROIT - Twins outfielder Craig Monroe used the word "bitter" to describe his sentiment toward the Tigers on Monday, so it's fair to say he will be especiall y motivated if manager Ron Gardenhire sticks with his plan to play Monroe tonight.

"I'm excited to see those guys and talk to them," Monroe said. "I'm also excited to get a chance to do some damage and beat them, too."

Monroe had 28 home runs and 96 RBI for Detroit in the 2006 regular season, then hit five more homers that postseason. But they designated him for assignment last August, when he was batting .222, then traded him to the Cubs.

"I'm bitter," Monroe said before the Twins lost 11-9 Monday. "I'm disappointed when I think about the situation.

"I think as players we're forced into -- even when you're not on a good team, like '03, losing 119 games -- still being motivated.

"And to do some of the things I've done, I felt like I would like to have some of it back, when I scuffled the first half. I think I struggled every first half, but when you look up at the end, every September, my numbers are right there."

Monroe has started only five of the Twins' first 13 games, and entering Monday he was batting .133 (2-for-15). But Gardenhire said Monroe would likely be the designated hitter tonight, and Jason Kubel the right fielder, with the Twins facing Tigers lefthander Nate Robertson.

Gardenhire also said he intends to use Monroe in center field to spell Carlos Gomez at some point, too.

Monroe specifically said he has no hard feelings toward Tigers manager Jim Leyland.

"I had a lot of fun that year [2006] playing for him and respect a lot of the things he's done in the game," Monroe said. "But, more so, we were really tight. I think the decision, the way it went down, wasn't his decision. It was kind of out of his control, and I know that."

Cuddyer update

Michael Cuddyer had the stitches removed from his right index finger Monday, as scheduled, but the swelling hasn't decreased completely and probably won't for several days.

The Twins right fielder said he will begin throwing and swinging gradually this week, trying to gain flexibility in the finger as he goes along. He still hopes to return from the disabled list Sunday -- the first day he is eligible.

"If not that day, sometime right around that, for sure," Cuddyer said. "I don't see it being an extra week or anything."

Honoring Jackie

Six Twins will wear No. 42 tonight, on Jackie Robinson Day: Monroe, Delmon Young, Denard Span, Livan Hernandez, Matt Guerrier and coach Jerry White.

Across the majors, more than 330 players, managers and coaches will don the retired number on the 61st anniversary of Robinson breaking baseball's color barrier.

Etc.

• After Nick Blackburn recorded the second out of the sixth inning Monday, 14 of the final 19 Detroit hitters reached base.

• Carlos Gomez and Joe Mauer have combined for 30 consecutive hitless at-bats, though Mauer did draw three walks and score two runs Monday.

• The No. 4-7 hitters Monday -- Justin Morneau, Young, Kubel and Brendan Harris -- each had two RBI.