SID's JOTTINGS
• Things are not looking good for former Twins first baseman Justin Morneau, now with the Rockies. The Denver Post reported Friday that there is no timetable for the 2014 NL batting champion's return to the lineup after suffering a concussion on May 13. "It's difficult for Justin, given his history with concussions," Colorado manager Walt Weiss said. "This is a process, and we have to wait it out." If Morneau can't return, he might retire due to his history with concussions.
• Pitching is the name of the game, as Tom Kelly always says, and the difference in ERA is why the Twins are 32-23 and in first place through 55 games this year, compared to 26-29 and six games out of first place last season. Their team ERA was 4.43 at this time last year compared to 3.91 this season.
• Joe Mauer has played in 54 games for the Twins and is hitting .273 with 34 RBI, 24 runs and 15 extra-base hits. Last year through 54 games, he was hitting .269 but with only 15 RBI, 31 runs and 11 extra-base hits.
• It's no surprise that Torii Hunter can still play.
In 49 games he has hit .280 with eight homers, 36 RBI and 29 runs. Those are even better numbers than last year when he played for the first-place Tigers; through 49 games in 2014 he was at .264 with eight homers, 29 RBI and 26 runs.
• Aaron Hicks, who hit only .206 in spring training for the Twins and was sent down to Rochester where he hit .336, is now the starting center fielder for the Twins and hitting .244. He said he was confident he would be recalled. "I think I had a pretty good chance. Right when I was sent down I knew it was all about being able to produce and being able to swing the bat better," Hicks said. His defense has been excellent, but he has only driven in two runs, coming on a two-run homer off Boston's Rick Porcello.
