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Home | Sports | Twins

Gardy not mimicking La Russa

Charles Krupa, Associated Press - Ap

Minnesota Twins manager Ron Gardenhire

By LA VELLE E. NEAL III, Star Tribune

Last update: June 27, 2009 - 8:57 AM

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ST. LOUIS - Cardinals manager Tony La Russa likes to bat his pitcher eighth in the order.

That way, the No. 9 hitter has a chance to be on base for Albert Pujols, who normally is the No. 3 hitter. La Russa also feels the No. 9 hitter can be like a second leadoff hitter. And the Cardinals have, at times, scored more runs that way than with the pitcher batting ninth.

So while Cardinals rigthander Adam Wainwright was penciled in as the No. 8 hitter on Friday, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire was asked if he would ever do that.

"I don't want to take the time and go, 'Tony, why are we doing this?'" Gardenhire said with a chuckle. "I don't want to hurt my brain any more.

"He understands this league. He has been in it forever and he likes it. I don't want to kill my brain any more that. All I know is that I have a guy who doesn't hit all year long and he's going to hit tonight. So I'm going to bat him ninth, and if there's anybody out there with less than two outs, he's going to bunt.''

Then Gardenhire, a career .232 hitter in the majors, couldn't resist taking another shot at himself.

"I hit eighth in the National League and I had pitchers who should have hit eighth [instead if me]," he said. "I should have been the one bunting them over."

Cuddyer to second?

Michael Cuddyer took grounders at second for the second consecutive day in anticipation of getting a start there sometime this weekend.

"I understand the reason why," he said. "I'll do the best I can wherever I play."

Cuddyer has appeared in 60 games at second base and started there in the 2004 division series against the Yankees.

"I'm telling these guys, 'I've got more playoff experience at second than any of you,'" he joked.

He's ready to step in at second if needed. Gardenhire might start Cuddyer there this weekend because Nick Punto is out with bruised ribs and Matt Tolbert hasn't been tearing it up. But it also allows Gardenhire to get either Carlos Gomez or Delmon Young in the outfield.

"I'd like to get all my outfielders some at-bats here," he said. "Delmon started swinging better. Gomez starts swinging better, then all of a sudden they are on the bench.

"If I put Cuddy [at second] that gives me one more spot."

Speaking of Punto

Punto took 50 swings off a tee before Friday's game and said he's still sore after injuring himself Saturday while diving into first base.

He said he could be available in an emergency but feels he could be ready to return to the lineup on Sunday.

Gardenhire, however, expects Punto to be sidelined for all three games in St. Louis.

"I doubt it," Gardenhire said of Punto playing this weekend. "He's got bruised ribs and I don't know what he can do."

Full circle

Righthander Bob Keppel couldn't ignore the irony.

"The last time I was here,'' he said. "I got sent out."

Keppel was with the Royals in 2006 when they arrived in St. Louis, his hometown, for an interleague series. As Keppel tells it, he was sent down to the minors once the club arrived in St. Louis.

Keppel pitched in four games with Colorado in 2007 and hadn't been back in the majors until the Twins called him up on Monday. Just in time for about 40 of Keppel's family and friends to show up for Friday's game.

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