FORT MYERS, Fla. - Since the reality television craze appears to be running amok in this country, the Twins could probably capitalize on the moment and create a series of their own.
It could be called "Who's In Right?"
It's a question that has piqued fans' interests, going into a second season now.
In Michael Cuddyer, Dustan Mohr and Bobby Kielty, the Twins have three youthful but qualified candidates for the job. All bring different strengths to the position, leaving manager Ron Gardenhire to feel fortunate about having this kind of depth.
"It's an amazing thing," Gardenhire said. "We have an abundance of outfielders that can play. There aren't too many teams that have the quality of people that we have fighting for one job and at-bats."
It's a good bet that Cuddyer, Mohr and Kielty will all be part of the 25-man roster when camp breaks at the end of the month.
"When I look at these things, I want to make sure they all get their at-bats," Gardenhire said. "I just think they all can play. It would be an injustice to any of them to sit them on the bench for any length of time. I've got to find ways to play them."
Before Spring Training, Gardenhire publicly stated that Cuddyer, who turns 24 March 27, was the candidate he'd like to see claim the starting spot. Cuddyer was a second-half call-up in 2002 but ended up the starter in right field against Oakland in the American League Division Series.
"That playoff experience was invaluable," said Cuddyer, who batted .385 in the ALDS. "To be in that situation, especially in my first half-season of being in the big leagues, has prepared me and got me ready to play. I feel like I belong up here."
The Twins love Cuddyer's big bat and power potential. He had 30 homers in Double-A in 2001 and had 20 homers last season in Triple-A before his recall. He batted .259 with four homers and 13 RBIs in 41 regular season games with the Twins in 2002.
Cuddyer was converted from an infielder to an outfielder before last season. His defensive inexperience was exposed some during the playoffs and is still a work in progress. His infield background enables Gardenhire to use him at third base to spell Corey Koskie, or first base for Doug Mientkiewicz.
"As long as you're in the lineup, it doesn't really matter where," Cuddyer said. "As long as you're getting those at-bats and those opportunities."
Whether it was for diving into a puddle of tobacco spit in the bullpen or crashing into walls to make plays, the Twins are impressed with Mohr's hard-nosed approach and hustle on both sides of the game. The 26-year-old played himself onto the roster last spring. He had a strong first half of the season, batting .296, before finishing with .269 with 12 homers and 45 RBIs.
"I have a full season with these guys," Mohr said. "They've seen what I can do. I'm trying to concentrate on making positive steps. I don't pay much attention to what everyone calls 'the competition.' It's just hard for me to compete against my own teammates. I'm not worried about all that stuff. I'm just playing like they are."
Mohr is confident that Gardenhire will somehow find enough at-bats for everyone again this season.
"When you think about the grand scheme of things, we were three games away from the World Series and you realize that there are only eight position players that can start every day," he said. "There's going to be guys that have roles coming off the bench that can pinch-hit or play defense or running bases. If that's what is asked of me, I'll be ready for it. It's not what I prefer to do, but that's part of being on a team concept."
The switch-hitting Kielty had the best offensive season of the three in 2002, batting .291 with 12 homers and 46 RBIs. He also showed his value off the bench, batting .348 as a pinch hitter. His spring at-bats have been limited to just one game because of a strained oblique muscle in the rib cage.
The injury prevented the 26-year-old Kielty from swinging from the right side until this week. He doesn't expect the issue to leave him too far behind as he prepares for the regular season.
"I should be fine, right-handed especially," said Kielty, who was the Twins' Rookie of the Year and finished fourth in AL Rookie of the Year balloting. "I don't need to swing as much as I do left-handed. Left-handed is my weaker side and I need to work more from there than the right.
"It'd be a little bit more nerve racking if I pulled it during my left-handed swing. I've been able to swing left-handed all along (this month)."
On the statistics sheet at least, it appears that Mohr has the proverbial leg up. He's having another tremendous exhibition season, batting .417 through Sunday (10-for-24), with two homers and four RBIs in nine games. Cuddyer is batting .156 (5-for-32) with a homer and three RBIs. Also, don't forget there are slew of prospects from Triple-A knocking on the door like Michael Restovich, Michael Ryan and Lew Ford.
If someone emerges with the job at the end of camp, it doesn't guarantee job security. In 2002, Brian Buchanan claimed the spot but went on the disabled list with a sore back in the first week of the season. Kielty, who was recalled from the minors to replace Buchanan, and Mohr platooned in right field and played the position very capably.
Kielty and Mohr also hit well enough to earn more at-bats after Buchanan returned, which prompted TV announcers Dick Bremer and Bert Blyleven to jokingly merge them into one player: Dusty Kilmohr. Buchanan was traded to San Diego in July.
As camp marches on, it's apparent that this competition has less of the cutthroat antics of "Joe Millionaire" or "Survivor" and more of the supportive atmosphere of "Friends." All three remain buddies off the field, with Cuddyer and Mohr sharing a home together during Spring Training. They rarely talk shop.
"Outside of the stadium, we don't ever talk about baseball," Cuddyer said. "If we do, it's 'How are you feeling at the plate right now?' Or, 'You looked good today.' We don't talk about what's going on."
"We're competitive with one another at Playstation games," Mohr said. "We watch movies and just kind of hang out. We wouldn't be good teammates if all we were concerned about was what's going to happen."
Last year, Gardenhire said that the right field situation would shake itself out. One year later, it's right back to where we started. The manager said that he feels no pressure to anoint a starter by the end of this month.
"I don't have to do anything. I'm the manager," Gardenhire said. "The people just want to see all these kids play. When I get e-mails and phone calls, someone is complaining about someone that isn't playing. Each one of them has a lot fans on the coaching staff too. We think they all can play. They're going to get plenty of shots here."
