Cuddyer's finger is slow to heal

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Twins outfielder Michael Cuddyer probably won't be ready to come off the disabled list Sunday because he's slow on the mend from a dislocated and lacerated right index finger.

By LA VELLE E. NEAL III, Star Tribune

Last update: April 17, 2008 - 7:10 PM

Twins outfielder Michael Cuddyer probably won't be ready to come off the disabled list Sunday because he's slow on the mend from a dislocated and lacerated right index finger.

And it's driving him nuts.

"It's frustrating because 99.5 percent of my body is healthy," he said.

He went to the outfield before Wednesday's game to shag fly balls but he only can roll them or flip them with the other three fingers and thumb. He can't grip a bat to swing it.

Cuddyer was injured diving into third base against Kansas City on April 4. His daily routine consists of working the swelling out of the finger, but it hasn't gone down as fast as anticipated and his finger is still Shaq-sized.

"The main thing is just trying to get the swelling down," he said.

Denard Span, Cuddyer's main replacement in right field, entered Wednesday batting .300 in seven games since being called up from Class AAA Rochester and likely will stick around a little longer because Cuddyer isn't ready.

Then there's Everett

Continuing with the frustrated injured Twin theme, shortstop Adam Everett had a MRI on his right shoulder Wednesday afternoon as the club tries to figure out what's wrong with him.

Everett said Wednesday that he doesn't remember a recent play where the injury might have occurred. All he knows is that he woke up about 10 days ago with a sore shoulder, and it's puzzling to him to watch some of his throws fail to reach first base with any zip on them.

Twins physicians were expected to read Everett's MRI shortly before the first pitch Wednesday, then confer with him. The Twins haven't brought up the possibility of placing Everett on the disabled list, but Twins manager Ron Gardenhire didn't sound optimistic when discussing the matter.

"He has no arm strength," Gardenhire said. "It's not getting better, it is getting worse."

Everett, for now, is only available as a pinch runner. Gardenhire said Matt Tolbert and Nick Punto would split time at short for the time being.

Crain train chugging?

Righthander Jesse Crain gave up three runs in the eighth inning against Detroit on Tuesday, but his fastball was clocked in the mid-90s, his curveball had bite and he's given the Twins more reasons to believe that he's fully recovered from last year's shoulder surgery.

"[Tuesday] Jesse was throwing the living fire out of the ball, and they hit some good pitches off him," Gardenhire said. "You're talking about some great hitters over there."

The Twins left spring training with the plan to not use Crain in back-to-back games for the first month, but Gardenhire said he's close to using him in those situations because he's recovered so well after his outings.

Forbes evaluation

The Twins franchise is valued at $288 million, the sixth lowest in the majors, according to Forbes magazine's annual report.

The Yankees have the highest value at $1.28 billion, followed by $736 million by the Mets.

The bottom five are Florida ($244 million), Tampa Bay ($267M), Pittsburgh ($274M), Kansas City ($282M) and Milwaukee ($287M).

Etc.

• Tampa Bay placed righthander Al Reyes on the 15-day disabled list because of a shoulder impingement and activated lefthander Kurt Birkins from the disabled list.

• Twins righthander Kevin Slowey, who is on the disabled list because of a right biceps strain, threw in the bullpen Wednesday with no problems. If he has a couple more pain-free sessions, he will be sent out on a minor league rehabilitation assignment.

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