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Strained back forces Morneau to the bench

Darren Calabrese, Associated Press

Minnesota Twins' Justin Morneau

Justin Morneau, who also has been playing with a sore wrist, is batting .100 (7-for-70) with two homers and six RBI in his past 20 games.

By JOE CHRISTENSEN, Star Tribune

Last update: September 13, 2009 - 10:46 PM

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Twins first baseman Justin Morneau missed Sunday's 8-0 victory over Oakland because of a strained back and will be checked by a doctor today, manager Ron Gardenhire said.

Morneau, who also has been playing with a sore wrist, is batting .100 (7-for-70) with two homers and six RBI in his past 20 games.

Though Morneau hasn't blamed injuries, Gardenhire said, "He's really been fighting through it with everything."

Gardenhire said Morneau's headfirst slide into first base to avoid a tag on Friday didn't help. The Twins appreciate Morneau's hustle, but they would prefer that their RBI leader didn't take those dangerous risks.

"He was trying to make a play," Gardenhire said. "You applaud it because he's trying to play the game, and you cringe because he's trying to play the game."

Kubel sits with sore neck

Jason Kubel was scheduled to play right field Sunday but was scratched after going to the batting cage and coming away with a kinked neck.

Gardenhire said Kubel was given a muscle relaxer but wasn't able to play.

"All you can do is see how he comes back [today]," Gardenhire said.

Crede whiffs in return

Joe Crede returned to the lineup for the first time since Aug. 21 after being out because of a lower-back strain and went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts.

Though Crede has been resistant to play third base, the Twins hoped his back could handle a day at designated hitter, helping get his timing back so he could give them a righthanded bat down the stretch.

After Sunday's game, Gardenhire didn't sound too sure.

"Basically Joe told me after his first at-bat, he was going to try to play through it," Gardenhire said. "He wanted to see if he could loosen up, but it didn't go too awful well after that. He didn't feel great, and obviously his at-bats didn't look right. We gave him a shot and we'll see where we go from there."

Seeking to anchor Span

Gardenhire said he would like to find one set position for Denard Span next season instead of roving him among the three outfield spots.

This was Gardenhire's preference last winter, the manager said, but the Twins have been trying to fit four regular outfielders -- Span, Michael Cuddyer, Delmon Young and Carlos Gomez -- into three spots. And Kubel has started 39 games in the outfield, too.

To keep Span in the leadoff spot and still find playing time for Young and Gomez, Gardenhire has rotated Span almost daily.

"This four-outfielder thing, trying to get them all playing time is really hard," Gardenhire said. "You know you need an extra outfielder, you always do with injuries and everything, but this has been real hard this year."

With Span and Cuddyer locked in as everyday regulars, Gardenhire has managed to divide Gomez and Young's at-bats almost equally. Gomez is batting .238 with a .295 on-base percentage in 324 plate appearances, and Young is batting .261 with a .284 OBP in 328 plate appearances.

On his weekly show on KSTP Radio (1500 AM), Gardenhire mentioned keeping Span in center field, though he later said that could hinge on which outfielders come back.

"We'll see where we're at this winter, with all those things," Gardenhire said. "We have some players who may not be coming back. There's going to be moves, it's just going to be which way we go."

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