The Greatest Poster Alive
09-17-2004, 10:10 PM
Notes: Cuddyer's versatility pays off
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/images/trans.gifhttp://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/images/trans.gifMINNEAPOLIS -- Between second base and third base, which position is Michael Cuddyer most comfortable playing?
It depends when you ask him.
"It's wherever you get the work in," Cuddyer said. "If you would have asked me three days ago, most comfortable would be at second. After playing the past four days at third, I feel pretty comfortable there as well."
Because of injuries to second baseman Luis Rivas and third basemen Corey Koskie, Cuddyer has started every game since Sept. 2. The 25-year-old has benefited from the regular action -- he entered Friday batting .367 (11-for-30) with two homers and nine RBIs in his previous nine games. He went 3-for-4 with a homer in Thursday's win over Chicago.
In the past couple of seasons, Cuddyer's bat was considered part of the club's future and hadn't posted big offensive numbers. His versatility helped him make the club out of Spring Training as a backup infielder and outfielder. He's played intermittently in 102 games this season, batting .259 with 10 homers and 40 RBIs overall.
"If you ask anybody, they'll tell you consistent at-bats are going to help you have success and you're going to produce," said Cuddyer, who again started at third base Friday vs. Baltimore. "I've had consistent at-bats the past two weeks and I'm feeling good."
"He's played very well and is swinging the bat good," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He played second and played third and did very good."
Injury report: Koskie, who hasn't played since Aug. 27 because of a high left ankle sprain, ran the bases in spikes without trouble, Gardenhire said. It's probable that Koskie could return to the lineup Saturday afternoon.
Rivas (toes) also ran the bases without problems and could return Saturday too.
Rookie third baseman Terry Tiffee (separated right shoulder) was hitting off a tee Friday and was continuing to increase the range of motion on his injured arm.
Feeling better: After missing two games because of sickness, Gardenhire returned to work Friday. Team physician Dr. Vijay Eyunni examined Gardenhire and told him to continue drinking fluids to stay hydrated.
The manager spent part of Wednesday in the hospital and spent Thursday at home in bed. Hitting coach Scott Ullger handled his duties while he was away.
"I feel better," Gardenhire said. "I don't feel 100 percent, but then I've never felt 100 percent. But I'm over the big part of the stomach virus and the migraine [headache] altogether."
2005 ticket prices: The Twins released their 2005 ticket pricing plan Friday, which had some different features than in previous seasons.
The club announced that lower general admission seats will be known as the "Home Run Porch" and will become a reserve seating area for $16 per single-game ticket. Those seats were general admission since the Metrodome opened in 1982. The upper deck general admission section will be renamed "The Cheap Seats," and have a single-game price of $6. Lower deck club seats will be $38, lower deck diamond view seats are set at $36 and lower deck reserved are $24. Upper deck club seats will be $17. All ticket prices are discounted from $2-$5 if bought in a season-ticket package of 81-, 41- or 20-game plans. Team Marketing Report announced in April that the Twins had the American League's second-lowest average ticket price at $14.42, more than $5 below the MLB average of $19.82.
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/images/trans.gifhttp://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/images/trans.gifMINNEAPOLIS -- Between second base and third base, which position is Michael Cuddyer most comfortable playing?
It depends when you ask him.
"It's wherever you get the work in," Cuddyer said. "If you would have asked me three days ago, most comfortable would be at second. After playing the past four days at third, I feel pretty comfortable there as well."
Because of injuries to second baseman Luis Rivas and third basemen Corey Koskie, Cuddyer has started every game since Sept. 2. The 25-year-old has benefited from the regular action -- he entered Friday batting .367 (11-for-30) with two homers and nine RBIs in his previous nine games. He went 3-for-4 with a homer in Thursday's win over Chicago.
In the past couple of seasons, Cuddyer's bat was considered part of the club's future and hadn't posted big offensive numbers. His versatility helped him make the club out of Spring Training as a backup infielder and outfielder. He's played intermittently in 102 games this season, batting .259 with 10 homers and 40 RBIs overall.
"If you ask anybody, they'll tell you consistent at-bats are going to help you have success and you're going to produce," said Cuddyer, who again started at third base Friday vs. Baltimore. "I've had consistent at-bats the past two weeks and I'm feeling good."
"He's played very well and is swinging the bat good," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He played second and played third and did very good."
Injury report: Koskie, who hasn't played since Aug. 27 because of a high left ankle sprain, ran the bases in spikes without trouble, Gardenhire said. It's probable that Koskie could return to the lineup Saturday afternoon.
Rivas (toes) also ran the bases without problems and could return Saturday too.
Rookie third baseman Terry Tiffee (separated right shoulder) was hitting off a tee Friday and was continuing to increase the range of motion on his injured arm.
Feeling better: After missing two games because of sickness, Gardenhire returned to work Friday. Team physician Dr. Vijay Eyunni examined Gardenhire and told him to continue drinking fluids to stay hydrated.
The manager spent part of Wednesday in the hospital and spent Thursday at home in bed. Hitting coach Scott Ullger handled his duties while he was away.
"I feel better," Gardenhire said. "I don't feel 100 percent, but then I've never felt 100 percent. But I'm over the big part of the stomach virus and the migraine [headache] altogether."
2005 ticket prices: The Twins released their 2005 ticket pricing plan Friday, which had some different features than in previous seasons.
The club announced that lower general admission seats will be known as the "Home Run Porch" and will become a reserve seating area for $16 per single-game ticket. Those seats were general admission since the Metrodome opened in 1982. The upper deck general admission section will be renamed "The Cheap Seats," and have a single-game price of $6. Lower deck club seats will be $38, lower deck diamond view seats are set at $36 and lower deck reserved are $24. Upper deck club seats will be $17. All ticket prices are discounted from $2-$5 if bought in a season-ticket package of 81-, 41- or 20-game plans. Team Marketing Report announced in April that the Twins had the American League's second-lowest average ticket price at $14.42, more than $5 below the MLB average of $19.82.