MINNEAPOLIS -- Watching Twins pitchers take batting practice is less of a hitting clinic than it is a hitting comedy.
With Interleague play approaching next week, pitchers took their cuts in the cage for the first time this season before Tuesday's game. The designated hitter will not be in use when the Twins play at San Francisco, San Diego and Milwaukee.
"The worst part is throwing it over and not laughing at them when they're swinging," said manager Ron Gardenhire, who threw the majority of BP to his pitchers. He occasionally mixed in a knuckleball or some inside stuff to make it more interesting for the novice hitters.
Among the highlights were several deep shots by Eddie Guardado and J.C. Romero. Guardado, batting right-handed, put a few balls into the left-field seats. Romero had one impressive homer that almost reached the right-field upper deck.
"Me and Eddie, we had a competition out there," Romero said. "I think I got the short end. He hit more homers than me."
Eddie Guardado / P
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 193
Bats/Throws: R/L
More info:
Player page
Stats
Splits
Twins site
When not clearing the fences, Guardado's other hacks were a good impression of "Willie Mays Hayes" from the movie, "Major League." Several hits were fouled into the top of the cage.
Also drawing chuckles was LaTroy Hawkins, who fouled a ball off his left foot and did a dance of pain. All the pitchers practiced bunting and hit-and-run hitting with mixed results.
"It was just beautiful," said a sarcastic Gardenhire, who isn't a fan of pitchers hitting during Interleague action. "We look forward to that, pitchers hitting. Can't wait. You work all this time for (nine) games. It's a beautiful country."
Johan Santana enjoyed his cage time and said he would be ready if called on to hit in National League ballparks.
"I'm a pitcher but hey, I can stand out there and swing at the ball," Santana said. "Whatever happens, happens."
"I was a little rusty," Romero said. "I had a good time. If the opportunity arises, we'll know what to do. I have a lot of fun doing it. We try to have fun every time we get those chances."
Romero hit a double in an Interleague game against the Cubs in 2001, but later fell down rounding third base while trying to score.
Seeing his pitchers increasing their risk for injury while hitting is not fun for Gardenhire. In 2002, Eric Milton injured his heel trying running to first base on a groundball.
"I'm always concerned about it. I don't like it," Gardenhire said. "I played in the National League and liked playing in the National League. When you're managing in the American League and your pitchers don't hit all year and then you have to go into all that stuff for nine games, that's a little bit of a fear put in you watching them on the base paths or at the plate. "You just don't want to see anybody get hurt in a situation like that."