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Ailing Bonser delays throwing

Boof Bonser was expected to begin throwing, but still had pain in his shoulder.

Star Tribune Staff Writer

Last update: February 18, 2009 - 7:22 AM

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Ailing Bonser delays throwing

After indicating that Boof Bonser's shoulder would be well enough for him to throw a bullpen session by today, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Tuesday that Bonser's next session has yet to be scheduled.

Bonser received a cortisone shot in his shoulder Thursday to help battle tendinitis. So it appears he needs more time to get the soreness out of the area.

"Day to day," Gardenhire said. "He's not throwing. He had an injection. He's doing all the other stuff. I have not gotten an update on when he will start his throwing program. All we have to do is calm down the inflammation in his shoulder. Which, through all the exercises and treatment that he's getting, is going to happen here pretty soon."

Bonser, who lost his spot in the rotation last season, is expected to work out of the bullpen this season and could be a candidate to help set up closer Joe Nathan. But he battled a sore shoulder late last season and still had problems last week.

Setting Cruz control?

Twins General Manager Bill Smith said that he's contacted the league office as he seeks clarification of the procedures that have been changed to allow Type A free agents to join clubs without those clubs losing a first-round pick.

"I left a message with the office this morning," he said. "You are more concerned about this than I am.''

The Twins remain on the lookout for relief help, and reliever Juan Cruz, a Type A free agent, remains on the market. One way the Twins could land Cruz is for Arizona to sign Cruz to a contract the Twins are willing to take on, then the two clubs could work out a deal. The challenge with this scenario is which players the Diamondbacks would want.

The Twins' willingness to look into the rules suggests that they are at least considering engaging Arizona in talks.

Etc.

• Denard Span and Delmon Young are the only projected members of the Opening Day roster who haven't reported to camp yet.

• The Twins will not play Concordia (St. Paul) in an exhibition game. It will be the first time in several years in which the teams won't meet.

3?s

BEN JULIANEL

Lefthander

Age: 29

2008: AA New Britain

1 At age 29, why are you still chasing the dream?

"It's one of those things that just wakes you up in the morning. You are chasing your dream instead of working 9 to 5. So many times I've set limitations -- if I finish school by this time and haven't made it to the big leagues [I'll quit]. It's been about four or five of them and all of those have been out of the window. I love playing, and I love competing and I can't get this level of competition anywhere else."

2 What do you throw?

"Fastball, changeup, slider. Pretty basic.''

3 But you kill lefties, right?

"I like to think so. That's your job, to get lefties out. And you have to be better than most to get to the big leagues. That's one of the things I pride myself on.'' (He held lefties to a .223 batting average last season at Class AA New Britain).

LA VELLE E. NEAL III

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