With the weather improving during recent days — especially on Friday — many Twins players have been out on the field for early work. So has Justin Morneau and his trusty hitting tee.
The Twins first baseman, in a 2-for-20 skid heading into Friday's game against the Rangers, brought a tee out to the batting cage and placed it on home plate. Hitting coach Tom Brunansky placed balls on the tee, and Morneau took his cuts.
"Just to see how the ball is coming off of the bat," Morneau said. "You can be fooled in the cage sometimes. The only ball you hit in the cage that you know is coming off true is right back up the middle. If you're on the field and you're hitting the ball the other way or pulling it you can tell whether it's got hook spin or if you are popping it up."
Morneau has been using the tee drill since early in his professional career, when the Twins introduced it during instructional league one offseason. The drill teaches the hitter to focus on making contact with the bottom half of the baseball, which creates backspin and carry.
"Michael Cuddyer did it the year before he hit 30 homers at Double-A [2001]," Morneau said. "Next year, everyone was doing it."
Morneau has been unable to bring the tee out on to the field until this week, as he tries to find a way to get locked in at the plate.
"Morny always liked early work and extra work," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "The last couple of years have been hard on him because of the injuries. His body is healthy, that's why he's able to get out and work on things."
Nothing to do
Outfielder Darin Mastroianni, on the 15-day disabled list because of a stress reaction in his left ankle, walks through the Twins clubhouse with a bat in his hands, despite wearing a protective boot over his injury.
