Rod Remains in Limbo

[bernieh]

[i:23e2a80617]by Patrick Reusse
originally printed: The Sporting News, March 3, 1986[/i:23e2a80617]

ORLANDO, Fla. - As the Minnesota Twins' braintrust - President Howard Fox, personnel director Andy MacPhail and Manager Ray Miller - arrived for the start of spring training, there was still no decision on whether the Twins would add Rod Carew to the roster.

The hang-up on the 40-year-old Carew, a free-agent since his release by the California Angels, was not so much his age or the $400,000 or so it would take to sign him. The problem was finding a place for Carew. The Twins already have Kent Hrbek at first base and they don't need another designated hitter whose specialty is delivering singles. They already have Mickey Hatcher for that role.

The Twins, hoping to improve their defense and get more speed in the batting order, plan to replace Hatcher in left field with a combination of Billy Beane, Mark Davidson and Alex Marte, all rookies.

That would leave Hatcher as a DH, the only position available to Carew should he return to the Twins. Miller's public remarks have been that he hasn't given up on Hatcher and the manager still considers Mickey a valuable member of the Twins' offense.

Nonetheless, the Twins tried to trade Hatcher during the 1985 World Series and they tried again at the winter meetings. The guess is that Miller would rather have a 1-2 combination of Carew and Kirby Puckett at the top of his lineup card than the previous order of Puckett and Hatcher.

The Twins want to move Puckett to the second spot to take advantage of his natural right-field swing and aggressive hitting style. Puckett, who rarely draws a walk, has been a leadoff batter because the Twins had no other options.

Carew, who last summer surpassed 3,000 career hits, could give the Twins the leadoff hitter they want. Besides, there is public relations value in bringing Carew back to the Twins. He won seven American League batting titles playing for Minnesota from 1967 through 1978.

However, Hatcher has been one of the most popular players with the younger crowd that has adopted the Twins in the Metrodome.

"We'll get a lot of heat from our customers if we get rid of Hatcher," said one member of the Twins' promotion department.

Carew's agent, Jerry Simon, made a trip to Florida in mid-February. He said he was going for a vacation, but admitted he was hoping to meet with Fox.

"I can't believe the Twins are without a spot for Rod," Simon said.