"Whether Justin Morneau has a new concussion or is still battling the one that cost him 81 games last season, the fact it's an issue again has the Twins first baseman concerned.

What particularly concerns Morneau is that the play that sidelined him this time was fairly routine.

"It's a normal baseball play. I should be able to do that without any problems," he said.

Morneau believed his July 7, 2010, concussion was long behind him when he dived to his left in an attempt to snag a double down the right-field line early in a victory over Detroit on Aug. 28 at Target Field. He stayed in the game, which he ended with an acrobatic unassisted double play.

But he hasn't played since, missing his 11th straight game Friday night at Detroit's Comerica Field, though he took batting practice and, for the first time since being injured, ran in the outfield before the game. If able, he'd like to play as a designated hitter before this road trip ends Wednesday in Kansas City.

Morneau said Friday he believes he suffered a new concussion when he made that diving attempt for Alex Avila's double in the second inning of an 11-4 victory.

"To me, I was fully healed, so whether you want to call it a new incident or not, the symptoms are there," he said. "Personally, I wouldn't call it faring up. I felt good and wasn't bothered by anything and was able to do everything I wanted to do. Before I dove, I felt fine." "