Michael Cuddyer's departure to the big leagues leaves a gigantic hole in the Edmonton Trappers lineup.
It also leaves sidekick Michael Restovich searching for someone to pick up the tab at dinner-time. Cuddyer got the call early yesterday summoning him to the Minnesota Twins, who are expected to put one of the brightest hopes to good use in immediate fashion. Cuddyer fills the roster hole left after the Twins dealt Brian Buchanan to San Diego in exchange for Single-A shortstop Jason Bartlett.
Cuddyer had just returned to the Trappers from his appearance in the Triple-A All-Star Game and departs with impressive statistics to his credit - a .311 batting average, 20 homers, 51 RBI and nine stolen bases.
A centrepiece of the most dangerous batting order in minor-league baseball, Cuddyer, the No. 3 prospect in the Twins system, will be missed.
"You can't replace him. It's going to hurt but I don't think it's going to destroy us," forecasted Trappers manager John Russell, whose squad topped the Calgary Cannons 9-6 last night at Telus Field.
"As a manger at the major-league level, Cuddyer gives me some flexibility in the outfield, he can play first or third and he can DH. They've got a 71/2-game lead and I'm sure they want to have the best personnel up there to keep them where they are.
"They took a look at what Michael's done here and what at he can probably and hopefully do up there and it was more of a versatility thing because he can probably do more things."
Cuddyer's appearance with the Twins last night was a memorable one as he struck out in the bottom of the 10th inning with the bases loaded. The twins did beat Texas in 11 innings.
Restovich and Cuddyer have climbed up the ladder almost simultaneously since going 1-2 as Twins picks in 1997. The remaining Trapper is eager to watch his chum perform at the big-league level while playing a key role in keeping his own club at the top of the standings.
"There's definitely a lot of slack to pick up with him leaving, but I think we all feel confident with the bats we have that some guy will pick it up each day," said Restovich, who has banged out 17 homers and 66 RBI in his rookie Triple-A campaign.
"We've had guys leaving us all year and we've found ways. When (Matthew) LeCroy left for the last time we all thought it would be hard to fill his spot but we had guys come in and do a good job."
It's a next-to-impossible task to replace Cuddyer's offensive flair and, just as important, the level of passion and energy he brought to the clubhouse every day, which is why the Twins hierarchy will take their time choosing who the newest Trapper will be.
"There's some candidates down there," said Russell, pondering the Double-A New Britain roster. "Mr. Rantz (director of minor-league operations Jim Rantz) and I talked about the options today. We'll talk to Joe Vavra, our field co-ordinator and (Twins GM) Terry Ryan and see what decision they want to make.
"We take it very seriously when a position like this opens up. We have to decide which player is going to benefit the most from getting a lot of Triple-A at-bats."
Russell dropped only vague hints, but it's likely going to come down to two best bets.
Outfielder Lew Ford, 25, leads the Eastern League with 80 runs scored and sits seventh with a .320 average.
The other is Canadian slugger Justin Morneau, the Twins' No. 2 prospect who has rapidly progressed in the system since he was a third-round pick in the '99 free-agent draft.
The 21-year-old New Westminster, B.C., first baseman is hitting .288 with nine homers and 43 RBI for the Rock Cats.
TRAP CAP: After going 0-for-5 one night earlier, Jay Canizaro launched the Trap attack with a grand slam in the second inning - his sixth homer of the month. "Without our SUNshine Boy, we're just trying to put the pieces together and get along without him," joked Canizaro of Cuddyer's absence ... Michael Restovich and Javier Valentin hit back-to-back bombs on two consecutive pitches in the fourth ... The teams meet again today at 1:35.
