Twins pitcher R.A. Dickey said the baseballs will feel like they have been pulled from a refrigerator tonight, when he faces the White Sox in Chicago.
According to the Weather Channel, the forecast calls for a game-time temperature of 41 degrees, with a stiff breeze blowing from the north. The elements can pose challenges for any pitcher, but particularly a knuckleballer, and this could be a one-start audition for Dickey. Scott Baker, who is on the disabled list because of right shoulder stiffness, pitches for Class A Fort Myers tonight. Manager Ron Gardenhire confirmed that if all goes well, Baker could return Wednesday against Toronto.
That would be Dickey's turn to pitch, but for now, he is focused on the White Sox.
"The challenge is going to be to rub up the ball, get a little moisture on it to make the leather a little bit softer so I can get my fingernails in there good," Dickey said.
He pointed to the success Tim Wakefield has had on cold days in Boston. "A good knuckleball's a good knuckleball, no matter what the climate is," Dickey said.
Catching the unpredictable pitch presents a whole different challenge, of course. Twins catcher Mike Redmond's only experience with the knuckleball was with former Marlins pitcher Russ Springer.
"It's kind of like riding that bull," Redmond said. "You just try to hold on for eight seconds."
Young's new role
Delmon Young, who sat out two games against Seattle, was the designated hitter Thursday for the first time since he joined the Twins and went 0-for-3 before being pulled for pinch hitter Jason Kubel in the ninth inning.
Young swung at the first pitch in his first two at-bats, grounding to shortstop and then grounding into a 6-4-3 double play. He hit the ball hard that second time, and center fielder Franklin Gutierrez made a running catch to rob extra bases from Young in the seventh inning.
"Delmon is Delmon; he's going to swing," Gardenhire said, adding: "It's hard to tell a guy, `Go in there and change your style.' ... He'll get some hits that way too."
Mauer's program
Gardenhire said the Twins have Joe Mauer's rehab program mapped out so they can predict exactly how much progress he will make each day. They even have a target date for his return. Of course, they're not telling the media.
Mauer has been running in the pool to keep pressure off his inflamed sacroiliac joint, and this is designed to keep him pain-free when he starts running on dry land. "He's champing at the bit to go harder," Gardenhire said.
