It was only a game of soft-toss in the infield, followed by fielding a few ground balls, including a handful while on his knees. But for the Twins and their injured first baseman, Joe Mauer's light workout Saturday was an excellent sign.
"At least he's [doing] baseball activity," General Manager Terry Ryan said. "Let's wait and see what he comes in feeling like tomorrow. Maybe he'll be able to swing pretty soon."
That would be an even better sign, considering it has been nearly three weeks since Mauer strained an oblique muscle July 1. It's an injury that sometimes can linger for six weeks or more, so the Twins are happy to see any progress.
"He said there are certain things he does right now — coughing and sneezing and things — where he still feels it," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "So he's obviously not ready to take swings. He just wanted to get out on his feet a little bit."
Vavra still sidelined
Third-base coach Joe Vavra stayed in the dugout for a second game in a row Saturday, because "putting him on the field is a little too dangerous," Gardenhire said. "I don't want to see one of my coaches go down."
After a series of MRIs taken over the All-Star break, Vavra was diagnosed with a torn labrum in his left hip, an injury he attributes to simple wear and tear from working on a baseball field for decades. "It's substantial pain. There were times this year when I wasn't sure I could run down to third base," he said. "I don't know if I can get out of the way of a hard foul ball anymore."
He is due for a painkilling shot on Monday, and hopes to return to his post then, while he mulls having surgery. In the meantime, Scott Ullger has moved from first base to third, and Paul Molitor is at first.
"It's a different feel, different responsibilities," Molitor said. Longtime Brewers first base coach Frank Howard once told Molitor that the job is to be "the master of the obvious," Molitor said.
