--OF Denard Span started in left field and led off Monday night, but manager Ron Gardenhire said not to expect that to continue past opening day. With four outfielders and three positions, he said, the outfield makeup will change consistently, and the day-to-day uncertainty for the players is not an issue.
"These guys are going to come and prepare themselves and play. We've talked about it. The only people that are going to bring it up every day is you guys," Gardenhire said, referring to reporters' questions. "I don't want to sit here and discuss all the reasons. Read the stats, check them out. That'll tell you a little bit more about who's in and who's out, and we'll go from there, but I'm going to play them all. They're all going to play all year long. I don't have any other way I can do it." --INF Matt Tolbert was optioned to Class AAA Rochester late Friday, a decision that was "the worst feeling I've ever had as a manager," according to Ron Gardenhire. "He's one of my favorite young players." But Tolbert was edged out by veteran INF Brendan Harris, who unlike Tolbert is out of options.
--LHP Brian Duensing has been a starter his entire career, but manager Ron Gardenhire explained, "We started looking at him, thinking 'Why not?'" So the 26-year-old rookie, a member of the bronze medal-winning U.S. Olympic team in Beijing, made the Twins as a relief pitcher. He'll eventually be a starter again, Gardenhire told Duensing, but "getting some outs in the bullpen, learning what it's all about, it's not a bad thing."
--RHP R.A. Dickey remained in Florida for a day after the Twins broke camp, so he could pitch in a minor league game as a tuneup for his first start for the Twins. Dickey will take the mound Friday in Chicago, filling in for Scott Baker, who is on the disabled list with a sore shoulder. Dickey will be the first knuckleball pitcher to start for the Twins since Jim Perry.
--C Joe Mauer is close to running for the first time since last fall, a significant step forward in his recovery from inflammation of his SI joint at the base of his spine. Running is the only activity that causes the pain to return, but Mauer said the soreness has nearly disappeared. He remains in Florida to continue his rehab, but said his return to the Twins is "weeks, not months" away.
BY THE NUMBERS: 4 -- Home runs hit off Minnesota pitching alone this spring by former Twins DH Craig Monroe, who finished Grapefruit League play with eight homers for the Pittsburgh Pirates. No Twin hit four home runs the entire spring.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It stinks. I would have loved to go opening night. But that's not the best thing for the team." -- RHP Scott Baker, whose opening night start was scratched when he was placed on the disabled list with stiffness in his pitching shoulder. Baker is expected to miss only one start.
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