Twins' Nick Punto's value comes in the hits he takes away

Nick Punto was on the disabled list from May 29 to June 11 because of a strained groin last season. On Friday night, he was out of the Twins lineup with what again was described as a strained groin.

The Punto bashers out there in Twinsland don't want to hear this, but the absence of the regular third baseman takes a substantial asset away from manager Ron Gardenhire.

OK, a DL stretch for Punto wouldn't be the equivalent of losing the top six in the lineup, but it was demonstrated over the first 10 games of the schedule that fielding excellence comes in very handy.

For decades, the battle cry among baseball executives was that teams were supposed to be built with their power on the corners (first, third, left and right) and their fielding in the middle (catcher, second, shortstop and center).

The game has changed. You have designated hitters in the American League to add to firepower. You have 6-2 middle infielders who hit with power. Hitters are encouraged to go to all fields instead of pulling the ball.

And, in this era of five-man rotations, 12-pitcher staffs and 30 teams, there is a much-greater percentage of sinkerballers than power pitchers.

Meaning, a big-league club will takes its fielding where it can find it -- including third base -- as long as it has enough firepower in the lineup elsewhere.

Note: We're using "as well as" in deference to Corey Koskie, who made himself into an excellent third baseman over the course of his five seasons (2000-04) as a Twins regular.

Punto had started eight of the first 10 games, with the people's choice -- Brendan Harris -- getting the other two. Punto made several outstanding plays on the 5-2 road trip to Los Angeles and Chicago.

The Twins came home Monday and opened Target Field with a 5-2 victory over Boston. Punto charged to make a one-handed play that assisted starter Carl Pavano. Then, in the ninth, he raced to the unfamiliar territory well behind third to backhand a foul pop and get an out for closer Jon Rauch.

On Thursday, the Twins took the series from the Red Sox with an 8-0 victory. Early in that game, Punto went behind third to make a play on a ball that no other Twins infielder would have touched.

"Nick turns a hit into an out every game -- and like the other day [Monday], more than one," Gardenhire said.

Punto was plagued by muscle pulls earlier in his career. The Twins encouraged him to do less weight lifting and more flexibility drills. He has become a yoga aficionado over the past couple of years.

Yet, he remains a rock, and those muscles have a tendency to pop on occasion. The Twins are hopeful this wasn't one of those, but rather a mild tug.

Punto's absence was evident in the first inning. With one out, Kansas City's Scott Podsednik slapped a ball to Harris' left. He was playing in for a possible bunt and wasn't quick enough with the stab of his glove.

It would have been a routine play for Punto, which might have been the thinking when the play was originally called an error on Harris. On further review, it was changed to a hit for Podsednik.

Harris did show his competence as a hitter later. He took a called third strike from Zack Greinke, the 2009 Cy Young Award winner, in the third. An inning later, he singled off Greinke.

Harris is an asset as a right-handed bat, but the Twins are a better club with him as an extra player and Punto as the regular third baseman.