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Home | Sports | Twins

Crede decides not to risk it

By LA VELLE E. NEAL III, Star Tribune

Last update: June 15, 2009 - 3:56 PM

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TEAM NOTES

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CHICAGO - The road trip wore down the Twins roster and wore out the trainers as three players are recovering from ailments.

Third baseman Joe Crede woke up Sunday with a sore back and tried to get it loose, but it bothered him throughout batting practice. So he took himself out of the lineup.

"It's better to take a day than to go out there, make it worse and be out a lot longer,'' Crede said.

He's had two back surgeries, but Crede said he's had aches and pains there before, knows the warning signs and was prepared for days like Sunday.

He feels taking Sunday off and having today's scheduled day off will put him in position to play Tuesday. "Just take a day and make sure everything goes good,'' Crede said.

Crede could return to the lineup the same day as outfielder Michael Cuddyer, who missed the final two games of the Cubs series because of a strained right index finger. Cuddyer missed four games earlier in the month with the same problem, and Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Sunday that Cuddyer's condition had not improved.

But Cuddyer flew to the Twin Cities on Sunday to be examined by Twins hand specialist Dr. Tom Varecka, who decided to drain the finger and inject it with cortisone.

"He really thought he would be available, even Tuesday,'' Gardenhire said. "We'll see how he feels. [Varecka] really thought this would do the trick.''

Outfielder Denard Span's outlook remains cloudy as he's set to see a thyroid specialist Tuesday. He hopes the specialist can determine why he's felt dizzy in recent weeks. Gardenhire indicated that Span's condition has not improved much.

The Twins need to clear a space on the roster for lefthander Glen Perkins, who will be activated from the 15-day disabled list Tuesday. Span could be the DL move that frees up space.

Go-Go's day

Carlos Gomez had his first multihit game since May 18 when he doubled and homered Sunday. He's trying to keep his hitting approach simple.

"I got a good pitch to hit and I don't miss,'' said Gomez, who's batting .227.

But defensively, he's fretting about a ball he did miss: Geovany Soto's RBI double off the wall in the fourth that allowed the Cubs to take a 2-1 lead. It's tough enough going up against Wrigley Field's brick outfield wall; Gomez said he had to time his jump earlier or risk banging his head on the home run basket.

"I be a little bit scared,'' Gomez said of hitting the wall. "That's kind of [how] I miss the ball.''

Soto's drive ticked off Gomez's glove as Gomez's right shoulder banged into the wall. Gomez said he wouldn't be surprised if he's sore today.

Coaching change

It looks like getting shut down by Twins rookie righthander Anthony Swarzak on Saturday was the final straw.

The Cubs pulled hitting coach Gerald Perry off the field during batting practice and fired him, replacing him with Class AAA Iowa hitting coach Von Joshua.

The Cubs were second in the majors in runs scored last season but entered Sunday ranked 26th.

Etc.

• Class AA New Britain catcher Wilson Ramos could miss up to three weeks after pulling a hamstring Friday.

• Class AAA Rochester righthander Kevin Mulvey was named Twins minor league player of the week after throwing a complete-game shutout.

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