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09/08/10 07:05:00
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09/08 19:01 CDT Morneau optimistic he'll be back this season
Morneau optimistic he'll be back this season
By JON KRAWCZYNSKI
AP Baseball Writer
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Justin Morneau hasn't played in a game in more than two
months, and it's been difficult for him to watch his Minnesota Twins slug
through a pennant race without him - in more ways than one.
Morneau said on Wednesday that he is still optimistic that he will eventually
return from his concussion to help out in 2010, even though he still can't sit
in the dugout to watch a full nine innings.
"To keep the symptoms down they say to limit the stress," Morneau said with a
sheepish shrug.
Easier said than done for a player as competitive as Morneau, the 2006 AL MVP
and one of the pillars of the Twins clubhouse. He went on the disabled list
after taking a knee to the head while sliding into second base in a game
against the Toronto Blue Jays on July 7.
He took some batting practice in August and has sat in the dugout for some
games at Target Field, but doctors have advised him to take it slowly in those
stressful activities to expedite the recovery process.
"We're late in the game, it's more wanting to be out there," Morneau said. "We
got a tie game or we're up by one and we've got runners on base, you're sitting
there wanting to be out there. The adrenaline starts going and you starting
thinking about what you would do in that situation. We're just trying to limit
that stuff. That's part of it."
Morneau hasn't played since and is still feeling symptoms from the concussion.
But he did say he is "having more good days than bad" this week.
"It comes and goes. The last couple days I've felt pretty good and been really
encouraged," he said. "It's going to take a few days like that. It's not going
to be just one or two where I can all of a sudden go out there and play. I have
to feel like myself."
His return sure would be a boost to the Twins, who have surged to the top of
the AL Central even without their slugger in the lineup. Michael Cuddyer has
moved from right field to first base and filled in admirably and the Twins led
the Chicago White Sox by 4 1/2 games when the day started on Wednesday.
It's the second straight September that Morneau has been forced to watch from
the bench. He missed the final three weeks of last season and the playoffs with
a back injury.
"Being in here after the game and seeing everybody excited, it's tough for me
to be around that," Morneau said. "As good as it is to see it, it's definitely
hard to be around, not feeling like you're a part of it."
Morneau was hitting .345 with 18 homers and 56 RBIs when he went down the first
week in July. Even though he hasn't played in two months, only Jim Thome (22)
and Jason Kubel (19) have more homers than Morneau on the Twins.
"It's just a long process," he said. "It's frustrating watching it and not
being a part of it. This is what we play for and you never know how many
chances you're going to get to win.
"Being the first year in this stadium and not being able to be a part of it has
been very difficult. The boys are playing well, that's made it easier. It's
still my goal of making it back this year."
It hasn't been all bad news for Morneau. He was recently nominated as a
finalist for the Roberto Clemente Award, given annually to a major league
player who combines community service with excellence on the field.
"It's a real special honor," Morneau said. "What he did as a player and off the
field helping so many people was something special and it's very humbling to be
nominated and recognized."
Morneau grew up in the Vancouver area and idolized Canucks forward Trevor
Linden, who was also very active in the community. He made it a priority to do
the same thing when he made it to the big leagues.
"When you do anything off the field it's not for recognition or awards or
anything like that, it's to try and make a difference in someone's life,"
Morneau said. "It's very special to be recognized and it's nice, but there's a
whole lot of guys in here doing great things."
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