Gardy still prefers Mauer third

Joe Mauer moved into the No. 2 position in the batting order and knocked in six runs. Will the move be permanent?

By JOE CHRISTENSEN, Star Tribune

Last update: May 22, 2009 - 10:17 AM

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CHICAGO - Thursday made it look so simple. The Twins moved Joe Mauer into the No. 2 spot and defeated the White Sox 20-1.

Manager Ron Gardenhire said he'll "try it again [tonight] and see what happens," but he prefers Mauer batting third.

"I would really like to have a guy [in the two-spot] that handles the bat -- a guy that can bunt, a guy that can run, all those things," Gardenhire said. "That's the way it's supposed to be in the lineup.

"Alexi Casilla should be there. And if we can get Lexi back up here playing good, get his confidence back up, he should be right back in there. But right now, he's scuffling a little bit. Maybe we'll get [Matt] Tolbert swinging a little better, [Brendan] Harris, who knows?"

Casilla entered Thursday batting .326 for Class AAA Rochester, but reports were less positive in recent days.

Rochester bound at .358

Catcher Jose Morales went 3-for-4 with two walks and raised his batting average to .358 but got the expected news: The Twins optioned him to Rochester again and reinstated Delmon Young from the family emergency medical list.

Young isn't expected to rejoin the team until Sunday, after his mother's funeral Saturday, but baseball allows players to stay on the list for only seven days.

"It's all part of the game," Morales said. "You've just gotta keep your head down and keep playing."

Owners approve Pohlad

Major League Baseball's owners approved Jim Pohlad as the new controlling owner of the Twins, rubber-stamping the team's decision following the death of his father, Carl Pohlad, in January.

In a February interview with the team's beat writers, Jim Pohlad said he would prefer not to be called the team's owner, since his brothers Bob and Bill are also part of the executive board. Jim Pohlad's official title is chief executive officer, but MLB requires each team to name one controlling owner.

Blackburn not upset

Nick Blackburn does not have a shutout, or even a complete game in 42 major league starts, but he didn't mind being pulled after seven innings and 89 pitches, with the Twins leading 20-0.

To keep loose during those long half-innings when the Twins were batting, Blackburn did stretching exercises with strength coach Perry Castellano. The Twins didn't want to push Blackburn, and Gardenhire wanted to get relievers Jose Mijares and Joe Nathan some work.

"I'm not going to be mad about not getting a chance at a shutout," Blackburn said. "That opportunity will come later in my career."

Swarzak in relief?

Anthony Swarzak threw a light bullpen session to prepare for Saturday's major league debut against the Brewers. The Twins don't expect Glen Perkins to be on the 15-day disabled list for long, but Swarzak could make a case to stick around as a reliever.

Scouts have said he has two "plus" pitches -- his fastball and a curveball with a 12-to-6 break -- that would translate well to the bullpen.

Gardenhire said when the time comes, the Twins will weigh what's best for Swarzak and the organization. Asked if he would welcome a role as a big league reliever, Swarzak said, "Absolutely, anything I can do to help this team win."

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