Denard Span is back in the starting lineup for the first time since Aug. 13 as the Twins prepare to face the Mariners.
For how long tonight, we're not sure.
Span said that he's scheduled to play a few innings tonight, and it sounds like Twins manager Ron Gardenhire will limit his time on the field in other games this week. Seems like the right thing to do. Span hasn't played in over a month because of migraine symptoms. With the minor league season over, he's been unable to play in any rehab games. He's coming into tonight's game without a sharp bat.
But Span feels this hurdle needs to be cleared so he can go into the offseason feeling better about his chances in 2012.
So it's Ben Revere in left, Span in center and Joe Benson in right. It could be the No. 1 outfield before 2012 is over. Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel are free agents after this season and both could sign elsewhere.The way things look now, I don't see how the Twins bring both back and I think there's an increasing chance both walk.
But I'm also the guy who thought the Twins had no chance of bringing Carl Pavano back.
Mariners (65-89)
1. Ichiro, RF
2. Kyle Seager, SS
3. Dustin Ackley, 2B
4. Make Carp, LF
5. Justin Smoak, DH
6. Miguel Olivo, C
7. Adam Kennedy, 1B
8. Alex Liddi, 3B
9. Trayvon Robinson, CF
Pitching: Michael Pineda, RHP
Twins (59-94)
1. Denard Span, CF
2. Ben Revere, LF
3. Michael Cuddyer, DH
4. Chris Parmelee, 1B
5. Danny Valencia, 3B
6. Trevor Plouffe, SS
7. Brian Dinkelman, 2B
8. Joe Benson, RF
9. Rene Rivera, C
Pitching: Kevin Slowey, RHP
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La Velle E. Neal III has covered baseball for the Star Tribune since 1998 (the post-Knoblauch era). Born and raised in Chicago, he grew up following the White Sox and hating the Cubs. He attended both the University of Illinois and Illinois-Chicago and began his baseball writing career at the Kansas City Star. He can be heard occasionally on KFAN radio, lending his great baseball mind to Paul Allen and other hosts.
Phil Miller covered three seasons of Twins baseball, but that was at a different ballpark for a different newspaper. Now Miller returns to the baseball beat after joining the Star Tribune as the Gopher football writer in 2010, and he won't miss the dingy dome for a minute. In addition to the Twins and Gophers, Miller covered the Utah Jazz and the NBA for six years at The Salt Lake Tribune.
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