Kurt Suzuki walked into the home clubhouse at Target Field early Wednesday and immediately took a right. Eduardo Escobar was sitting parallel to a locker and Suzuki gave him a gentle slap to the back of the head.
"It's too early, man … 9:21," said Escobar, pointing to the large digital clock across the room. "Get a cup of coffee first."
Escobar had played left field in Tuesday night's rain-delayed game, slid around on the wet warning track and played David Ortiz's second-inning fly ball into a double. The fact that Ortiz eventually scored Boston's lone run in the Twins' 2-1 victory made Escobar's adventure fair game Wednesday morning.
"Are you playing today?" Suzuki asked.
Escobar hung his head in dramatic concern and said: "I don't know, man … I don't know."
Suzuki said: "Be sure to wear spikes. Don't put on ice skates again."
A couple of minutes earlier, Escobar had labeled the catcher as his "best friend" in a conversation with a reporter and Twins director of communications Dustin Morse.
Suzuki was asked where Escobar rates with him in the circle of baseball friendship.