Twins catcher Joe Mauer missed his second consecutive game Sunday because of what manager Ron Gardenhire described as a deep bruise in his left heel.
The chances of Mauer playing in this week's three-game series with the Tigers don't look good. On his weekly radio show on KSTP-AM 1500, Gardenhire agreed Mauer might be more week-to-week than day-to-day.
But asked if it looks like Mauer might have to go on the 15-day disabled list, Gardenhire said, "No not at all. It's a situation where if you try to get him out there too quick, then this thing will never heal. We just don't want that to be the case. You've got to give this a couple extra days here, so that's why we brought in another catcher."
The Twins promoted catcher Wilson Ramos from Class AAA Rochester on Sunday, clearing space on their roster by placing reliever Pat Neshek on the DL.
How bad is Mauer's injury? Gardenhire said Mauer tried putting on spikes Saturday "and just couldn't walk."
Neshek's request
When the Twins told Neshek they were optioning him to Class AAA Rochester after Saturday's loss, he instead asked to be placed on the DL, which led to some heated conversations behind the scenes.
"I couldn't make any announcements because there was a lot of confusion on what was going to happen," Gardenhire said Sunday, after the Twins finally placed Neshek on the 15-day DL because of inflammation in his right middle finger.
Neshek, 29, opened the year with three scoreless appearances but did not pitch from April 14 to 24 because of a strained flexor tendon in the finger.
"I tried to battle through it," Neshek said. "I'm competitive. When they didn't put me on the DL, I wanted to go out there and do my best for the team. In hindsight, it might have been best to take a little time."
Neshek retired both batters he faced April 24 at Kansas City but then missed the strike zone on seven of his eight pitches in a big spot Wednesday at Detroit. That night, Neshek told reporters his finger felt fine."It's one of those things where I don't want to make an excuse," he said. "It's a ton better than it was two weeks ago, when I first did it, but for me, it's to the point I want to be 100 percent."
Neshek said he thinks he could be completely past the issue in five to seven days.
"I was able to pitch, but I was hurting," said Neshek, who missed all of 2009 and most of 2008 because of an elbow injury that required ligament replacement surgery. "And you have that right, if you're feeling hurt, to ask to be placed on the DL. I just felt like that was the option I thought would work best for me. I've only pitched to four batters in the last three weeks, and I need to pitch. But right now, my main concern is making sure my finger feels fine."
Punto shines
Twins starter Francisco Liriano was in trouble in the fourth inning Sunday, when Cleveland put runners at first and second with one out. But third baseman Nick Punto speared a bouncer down the line from Matt LaPorta and started a 5-4-3 double play.
"Not too many people make that play," Gardenhire said.
Punto also had one of the game's biggest hits. The Twins had a 4-3 lead when they loaded the bases with one out in the seventh inning. Ramos flied out to shallow right field before Punto hit a two-run single to right. He finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and a sacrifice bunt, raising his average from .233 to .265.
The chances of Mauer playing in this week's three-game series with the Tigers don't look good. On his weekly radio show on KSTP-AM 1500, Gardenhire agreed Mauer might be more week-to-week than day-to-day.
But asked if it looks like Mauer might have to go on the 15-day disabled list, Gardenhire said, "No not at all. It's a situation where if you try to get him out there too quick, then this thing will never heal. We just don't want that to be the case. You've got to give this a couple extra days here, so that's why we brought in another catcher."
The Twins promoted catcher Wilson Ramos from Class AAA Rochester on Sunday, clearing space on their roster by placing reliever Pat Neshek on the DL.
How bad is Mauer's injury? Gardenhire said Mauer tried putting on spikes Saturday "and just couldn't walk."
Neshek's request
When the Twins told Neshek they were optioning him to Class AAA Rochester after Saturday's loss, he instead asked to be placed on the DL, which led to some heated conversations behind the scenes.
"I couldn't make any announcements because there was a lot of confusion on what was going to happen," Gardenhire said Sunday, after the Twins finally placed Neshek on the 15-day DL because of inflammation in his right middle finger.
Neshek, 29, opened the year with three scoreless appearances but did not pitch from April 14 to 24 because of a strained flexor tendon in the finger.
"I tried to battle through it," Neshek said. "I'm competitive. When they didn't put me on the DL, I wanted to go out there and do my best for the team. In hindsight, it might have been best to take a little time."
Neshek retired both batters he faced April 24 at Kansas City but then missed the strike zone on seven of his eight pitches in a big spot Wednesday at Detroit. That night, Neshek told reporters his finger felt fine."It's one of those things where I don't want to make an excuse," he said. "It's a ton better than it was two weeks ago, when I first did it, but for me, it's to the point I want to be 100 percent."
Neshek said he thinks he could be completely past the issue in five to seven days.
"I was able to pitch, but I was hurting," said Neshek, who missed all of 2009 and most of 2008 because of an elbow injury that required ligament replacement surgery. "And you have that right, if you're feeling hurt, to ask to be placed on the DL. I just felt like that was the option I thought would work best for me. I've only pitched to four batters in the last three weeks, and I need to pitch. But right now, my main concern is making sure my finger feels fine."
Punto shines
Twins starter Francisco Liriano was in trouble in the fourth inning Sunday, when Cleveland put runners at first and second with one out. But third baseman Nick Punto speared a bouncer down the line from Matt LaPorta and started a 5-4-3 double play.
"Not too many people make that play," Gardenhire said.
Punto also had one of the game's biggest hits. The Twins had a 4-3 lead when they loaded the bases with one out in the seventh inning. Ramos flied out to shallow right field before Punto hit a two-run single to right. He finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and a sacrifice bunt, raising his average from .233 to .265.
