Some Twins would not mind the tossing of the playoff coin toss

By LA VELLE E. NEAL III, Star Tribune

Last update: October 1, 2008 - 8:19 PM

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Twins players, still frustrated that the site of Tuesday's playoff game against the White Sox was based on a coin flip, will contact their union for help in getting the policy changed.

The Twins and White Sox finished 88-74 after 162 games. Instead of using head-to-head records as a tiebreaker to determine which team would host the game -- the Twins won the season series 10-8 -- the league flipped a coin on Sept. 12. The Twins lost the flip -- then lost the game 1-0.

Twins closer Joe Nathan hopes the players' association takes up the matter with the league office.

"For us to win the head-to-head series this year and not get anything for it is pretty tough," Nathan said.

A league spokesman said Tuesday that clubs deserve as much advance notice as possible to prepare to host such games -- and that the tiebreaker rule has been in baseball's bylaws for decades.

"This may come back to bite us," Nathan said, "but we'd rather have it come back and get us if it is the right thing to do."

Twins assistant general manager Rob Antony said he wouldn't be surprised if the subject comes up at the annual GM meetings, but "we're not going to have sour grapes over it," he said.

Punto wants to stay

Infielder Nick Punto, a free agent, hopes to re-sign with the Twins.

After batting .210 in 2007, Punto rebounded to hit .284. He's versatile and a favorite of Twins manager Ron Gardenhire.

"There's a bright future here," Punto said. "Five years is a long tenure with any team. It's definitely home."

Etc.

• Matt Tolbert will play winter ball in Venezuela.

• Michael Cuddyer is contemplating having Lasik eye surgery.

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