The Twins have a timetable in mind for Joe Mauer's return, and while they won't reveal it, the date is almost certainly in April. Mauer has made "a lot of progress" during his extended spring camp in Florida, and will begin a running program -- the final step in his rehab, because of the impact running has on his inflamed sacroiliac joint -- this week. The All-Star catcher is already hitting, throwing and catching, and doing fitness exercises to get in shape. The Twins vow they won't speed up his rehab based on their own needs, but the offense has sputtered without Mauer hitting in front of 1B Justin Morneau.
PLAYER NEWS: --C Joe Mauer "is champing at the bit" to start playing games, manager Ron Gardenhire said Thursday, but the Twins want him to wait until next week to begin taking part in extended spring training games. Mauer missed all of spring training with an inflamed sacroiliac joint at the base of his spine.
--LHP Glen Perkins, despite his 0-1 record, is the only Twins starting pitcher with an ERA below 5.00. Perkins, who faces the Angels on Sunday, owns a 1.69 ERA in 16 innings, which also leads the Twins. Minnesota's cumulative ERA by its starting pitchers is 5.74.
--RF Michael Cuddyer launched a fastball from Blue Jays reliever Bill Murphy over the center field fence in the eighth inning, his first home run of the season. The Twins had hoped Cuddyer's return from injury this year would boost their sagging power production from the right side, but it hasn't happened yet. The Twins have only seven home runs, and only Justin Morneau, with two, has more than one.
--2B Alexi Casilla earned the ire of manager Ron Gardenhire with a careless play in the first inning that cost the Twins a run. With one out and Marco Scutaro at second, Michael Cuddyer made a leaping catch at the right field wall, then fired the ball to Casilla. But the second baseman allowed the ball to glance off his glove and roll 20 feet away, and Scutaro tagged up and scored from second base. "We've got to be more careful with the ball," Gardenhire growled.
MEDICAL WATCH:
C Joe Mauer (inflamed sacroiliac joint in his lower back) went on the 15-day disabled list April 2. He began running, a key step in his recovery, in mid-April. The Twins hope he can return before May 1.
RHP Boof Bonser (torn right labrum and rotator cuff surgery in February 2009) went on the 15-day disabled list April 2. He is out for the season.
RHP Pat Neshek (right elbow surgery) went on the 60-day disabled list Feb. 21. He will remain in Florida all summer and targets a return by next spring.
ROTATION:
LHP Francisco Liriano
RHP Nick Blackburn
RHP Kevin Slowey
LHP Glen Perkins
RHP Scott Baker
BULLPEN:
RHP Joe Nathan (closer)
RHP Jesse Crain
RHP Matt Guerrier
LHP Craig Breslow
RHP Luis Ayala
RHP R.A. Dickey
RHP Philip Humber
CATCHERS:
Mike Redmond
Jose Morales
INFIELDERS:
1B Justin Morneau
2B Alexi Casilla
SS Nick Punto
3B Joe Crede
INF Brian Buscher
INF Brendan Harris
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Delmon Young
CF Denard Span
RF Michael Cuddyer
DH Jason Kubel
OF Carlos Gomez
