MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -The Minnesota Twins’ injury problems extend to their coaching staff.
Manager Ron Gardenhire had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Friday morning, and said he would watch the night’s game against Detroit from his office in the clubhouse and let third base coach Scott Ullger manage the game on the field.
Gardenhire spoke before the game with his left leg wrapped in a compression sleeve and propped up on his desk. He said he started to feel some pain in the knee in spring training, but the injury really flared up after a recent turn pitching batting practice.
He had two cortisone shots to try and ease the pain, but they didn’t work.
“I just had to go for it,” Gardenhire said of the surgery.
Gardenhire couldn’t make the trip down the 44 stairs from the clubhouse to the Metrodome field Friday night, but said he would probably be back in the dugout on Saturday. He said he would watch the game on television and call down to the dugout to communicate with Ullger and pitching coach Rick Anderson if need be.
“Those guys are pretty good,” Gardenhire said. “We’ve been together for a long, long time. They know what to do.”
Gardenhire’s injury is latest in what has already been a long line of them for the Twins this season. Reigning AL batting champ Joe Mauer is on the disabled list with a strained quadriceps muscle, left fielder Rondell White is out with a torn calf muscle and the Twins recently had designated hitter Jeff Cirillo (knee), cleanup hitter Michael Cuddyer (back) and outfielder Lew Ford (knee) return from injuries.
Ford was activated from the disabled list on Friday. He was shelved March 24 after having surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. Ford completed a 12-game rehab assignment with Triple-A Rochester, hitting .239 with three doubles, two homers and nine RBIs.
“It feels like the first day of school again,” Ford said. “It’s great to see everybody.”
Just as they got one outfielder back, another took Ford’s place on the DL. Josh Rabe has complained of a sore right shoulder that needed a cortisone shot, and was placed on the 15-day disabled list.
“That would take three or four days, and we don’t have three or four days right now,” Gardenhire said. “It fit like a puzzle there.”
Add A Comment