Spring is in the air

From the Seats, February 19, 2005

FORT MYERS - In Minneapolis you can almost smell the fresh cut FieldTurf, the last few warm weekends have put spring in the minds of Minnesotans. Spring Training officially starts on Sunday when pitcher and catchers report.

 

Joe Mays and Joe Mauer are both in Fort Myers working out, trying to make comebacks this season. Mays has been pitching to live hitters, and Gardy has a bit of a threat. According to the Star Tribune he told him if he gets hit by a ball off a bat Anderson and Gardenhire will take him into the office and beat the snot out of him.

 

More good stuff like that is in the Spring Training edition of the Star Tribune. Can you feel it yet?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Twins spring training preview: Ready. Willing. Able?

La Velle E. Neal III,  Star Tribune February 18, 2005 TWIN0218

FORT MYERS, FLA. -- Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, with the help of bench coach Steve Liddle, organized his office Thursday in preparation for Sunday's spring training reporting date for pitchers and catchers.

 

A few hundred yards away, down the dirt path that leads to the Twins' practice fields, righthander Joe Mays -- who has not pitched in a major league game in 18 months -- prepared to face hitters in a 40-pitch session.

 

Gardenhire's take on Mays' pitching program, deemed to be a bit too accelerated by Twins coaches: "I know he's champing at the bit. I told him if he goes down there before we start this thing, and he gets hit with a ball throwing batting practice to hitters, that [pitching coach Rick Anderson] and I will take him into this office, put him over this desk and beat the snot out of him."

 

Mays' take on Mays' program: "Yes, I've talked to Gardy. He's already yelled at me. He has to understand that this is what I need to do to get ready."

 

Ah, the peace and serenity of spring.

 

The sounds of baseball were everywhere Thursday as about two dozen players worked out at the Lee County Sports Complex -- including one ambitious major league pitcher whose rehab program is already causing his manger to rub his temples.

 

Few jobs need to be filled as the Twins, three-time defending American League Central champions, convene for 42 days of workouts and games in Florida before Opening Day on April 4 at Seattle. Two big questions concern the health of a Joe.

 

Catcher Joe Mauer wants to prove that he's recovered from left knee surgery last year and can be a full-time catcher. Mays has been out since September 2003 because of Tommy John surgery, in which a ligament was taken out of his leg and placed in his right elbow.

 

Pitchers normally take one to two years to recover from such surgery. Mays wanted to come back by the All-Star break last year but learned his recovery would be no more rapid than the norm. He pushed himself too hard, had a couple of setbacks and a couple of return trips to Birmingham, Ala., to see Dr. James Andrews, who performed the surgery.

 

He was shut down from throwing late last season but began feeling better over the winter.

"We are never going to accuse someone of trying too hard," Twins General Manager Terry Ryan said. "We tried to hold him back, but he felt good. Last year he started shooting for the All-Star break, and I should have held him back."

 

Mays, 29, says he has rehabbed with no problems during the offseason. The confidence in his voice was obvious as he spoke before throwing batting practice Thursday. He wants to join the rotation this season and prove he's worth the $7.25 million he's scheduled to make. And the club, for the most part, is comfortable with counting on him to be in the rotation.

 

"I don't think I have to prove anything to the front office," Mays said. "I feel like I have to prove it to the field staff, Rick Anderson and Gardy."

 

Mays then stood up, picked up a bucket of balls and walked to the mound for his 40-pitch session.

 

Several Twins, including Michael Cuddyer and Joe and Jake Mauer, looked on as Mays pitched to minor leaguers Angelo Fermin, Garrett Jones and Tommy Watkins.

 

Bats are slow at this time of year, which was evident when Fermin swung and cursed as he missed Mays' first pitch. Mays threw all his pitches, and his trademark sinker -- the pitch that helped him win 17 games in 2001 -- was sinking. His control was another story, And Mays admitted afterward that he needs to work with Anderson on his mechanics, hardly surprising considering the long layoff.

 

Jones, a first base prospect who caught Paul Molitor's eye two years ago, drove one Mays pitch over the fence. It was still viewed as a successful outing for Mays and another step toward rejoining the rotation.

 

"I feel a lot better," Mays said. "I was on a big-league mound in a big-league camp, and throwing against the hitters makes you realize how close it is. I'm anxious to get back out there and get back to work.

 

"I got a couple of those sinkers to do what I wanted them to do. I was able to spot my breaking ball a little bit. That tells me I'm getting closer."

 

Mays spent the offseason reading that he's going to be the Twins' No. 5 starter, something he's not settling for.

 

"Our Nos. 1 and 2 starters are locks," Mays said of Brad Radke and Johan Santana. "Carlos Silva had a good year last year. I see Silva, Kyle Lohse and myself in the last three spots -- but not necessarily in that order. I just want everyone to keep an open mind."

 

Ryan said Mays will get a fair chance to pitch his way up in the rotation.

 

"Nobody here is saying that Joe has to be our fifth starter," the general manager said. "How about the third or fourth starter? He can dictate his own fate, if he's healthy and shows some consistency."

 

Throwing batting practice a couple of days early -- even though Gardenhire wasn't thrilled with it -- is how Mays is trying to prove he's healthy and can be counted on.

 

And Mays also remembers reading comments from Gardernhire that he's been hard-headed during his recovery, pushing himself harder than Twins officials would have preferred for such a serious surgery.

 

"I don't want anyone to ever tell me to work harder," Mays said. "Last year just wasn't meant to be."

 

Gardernhire's reaction: "He won't have to be [hard-headed] anymore because now I am," he said. "All we can tell him is, 'Joe, take it easy.' It all starts Monday."