--C Joe Mauer reported progress in his efforts to rid his lower back of persistent pain but gave no hint of when he might be able to work out again, much less play. That he will miss Opening Night is a foregone conclusion. The Twins are trying to determine whether he can return within weeks or months.
--RHP Jesse Crain appears to be Ron Gardenhire's first choice as eighth-inning setup man after a near spotless training camp, but the manager will consider newcomer Luis Ayala as well. Crain did not allow a run in his first six appearances but blew up for four runs in two-thirds of an inning against the Reds on March 26. Crain was simply overthrowing, Gardenhire said in his defense that he admires "how calm (Ayala) is on the mound. ... We'll mix them both in." --RHP Nick Blackburn will wear a lightweight brace on his left knee for at least the first month or two of the season. Blackburn had arthroscopic surgery on the knee last October and reports no new swelling after some initial worries early in camp. "It's sort of a pain to wear that thing, but the trainers think it's helping," Blackburn said.
--INF Matt Tolbert went 8-for-12 over a three-game span and began taking flyballs in the outfield at manager Ron Gardenhire's request. Tolbert already plays all four infield positions, and now that he has made some adjustments in his swing and begun hitting, it's clear the manager would like to find a roster spot for the Mississippi native. But if Gardenhire keeps 12 pitchers, as expected, Tolbert might get squeezed out.
--C Drew Butera has quietly been earning the confidence of the pitching staff, and his excellent defense behind the plate now makes the son of former major leaguer Sal Butera the favorite to open the season in Minnesota. With Joe Mauer not expected to be ready for several weeks, Butera and Jose Morales became the leading candidates to take his roster spot, and while Morales is the superior hitter, manager Ron Gardenhire has made it clear that defense is the overriding priority for that position.
BY THE NUMBERS: 5 -- Consecutive appearances with at least one run allowed by LHP Jose Mijares, whose terrible spring might mean he opens the season in Class AAA.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We like guys who can hit, but that's not what the job is about. That's hard to understand here because we have a catcher who wins batting titles. That's kind of out of whack." -- Manager Ron Gardenhire, on what he's looking for in a temporary replacement for injured C Joe Mauer, a two-time batting champion.
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