Twins-Halos: Gardy healthy, Hicks at home, Bernier in lineup

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire was back at work on Monday after spending the weekend recovering from a stomach virus that knocked him out of half of Saturday's game and all of Sunday's game. "I felt better [Monday].

"I can't take [acting manager] Terry Steinbach anymore." Gardenhire said. "He walks too slow to the mound."

His first order of business was to get infielder Doug Bernier, a rookie at age 33, into the starting lineup. It was Bernier's second start in four major league games.

Berrnier played a couple spring training games this season with the Twins, so Gardenhire knew a little bit about him. But he did give Class AAA Rochester manager Gene Glynn for more background.

"Quick hands, really sound baseball player. Kinda like Jamey Carroll," Gardenhire said.
Gardenhire said that Carroll would probably get a start on Tuesday when they face the Angels

Hicks at home

Aaron Hicks slept in his own bed Sunday night.

Hicks is from nearby Long Beach and was able to do as the locals do on Monday before he headed to the park. He had a breakfast burrito in the morning than hit the legendary In-N-Out burger before heading to the park.

He was the target of local media before the game. He grew up a big Angels fan and rooted for them in the 2002 ALCS when they turned back the Twins. Now he gets to face the team he cheered for.

He said his ticket list for Monday's game was, ``more than 30," with more friends paying their own way to the game.

Hicks entered Monday batting .191 with eight homers but has shown all the tools of being a top-notch defensive player.

"He still has his moments," Gardenhire said."Yesterday a ball dropped in front of him where he just didn't go get it. I have to talk to him about it. He says, `Well, maybe I should have ran a little harder than I did.' That's a bad answer at this level. So he's got to learn how to answer questions, something other than, 'I should have run harder.' "

I tried to ask a couple of Twins about the Ryan Braun suspension, and they preferred to wait until they had more information before talking about it. But the people I spoke with feel this is just the beginning. And suspending the player who plays for a team the commissioner used to own sends a message.

Monday's lineups

Twins (41-54)

1. Brian Dozier, 2B
2. Doug Bernier. SS
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Ryan Doumit, RF
6. Trevor Plouffe, 3B
7. Chris Colabello, DH
8. Clete Thomas, LF
9. Aaron Hicks, CF

Pitching: Samuel Deduno, RHP

1. J.B. Shuck, LF
2. Mike Trout, CF
3. Albert Pujols, DH
4. Howie Kendrick, 2B
5. Alberto Callaspo, 3B - .314 career avg v. Twins
6. Mark Trumbo, RF
7. Brad Hawpe, 1B
8. Hank Conger, C
9. Erick Aybar, SS