Justin Morneau News: Pro Sports Daily

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October 9

Florida Today

"There was no team meeting, nothing much said when the Minnesota Twins showed up for work Sept. 13. But it also was no longer business as usual in an increasingly futile quest to catch the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central.Justin Morneau, the 2006 AL MVP and three-time All-Star who had 30 home runs and 100 RBI, was finished for the season, knocked out by a stress fracture in his back. Trailing by 5½ games, Minnesota had lost its home run and RBI leader, the first baseman who along with catcher Joe Mauer was one of the guys the Twins depended on to carry their offense. "Everybody was, I won't say panicking," says Denard Span, a 25-year-old outfielder completing his first full ..."

Antsy Morneau backs Mauer for MVP

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October 1

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Justin Morneau isn't sweating the Twins' biggest issue of the offseason -- whether they can sign Joe Mauer to a long-term contract extension. "They know they have to sign him, and I think he knows they have to sign him," Morneau said Wednesday. "I think they're going to want to go into the offseason and say, we've got a new stadium that's partly paid for by the taxpayers and the people in Minneapolis, and going in, we've got Joe signed to a six-year extension, or whatever it is." Morneau said this moments after endorsing Mauer for MVP. He knows his good friend's value has skyrocketed, because Mauer could soon add a third batting title and second Gold Glove Award to his résumé, at age 26. ..."

Pain runs deep for injured Twins slugger Morneau

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September 24

St. Paul Pioneer Press

columnist Charley Walters

"Justin Morneau is hurting as much emotionally as he is physically while unable to play for the Twins during their division race. "It's unimaginable how frustrating it is to sit there, not being able to play, and have to watch your team in a pennant race," Morneau said. "But they're winning, so that makes it a little easier." Morneau, 28, is out for the rest of the season because of a stress fracture in his lower back. Despite having to miss the final 20 games of the season, he finished with 30 home runs, 100 runs batted in and a .274 batting average. The Twins have remained in the division hunt despite losing Morneau for the final 20 games and league batting leader Joe Mauer (back injury) ..."

Bad back ends season early for Twins' Joe Crede

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September 15

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Joe Crede's season is over, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Monday. The third baseman's bad back has made impossible to contribute in the team's final 18 games. "I haven't heard that from anybody; you're hearing that from me," Gardenhire said. "I would say (he's done). After the conversation with him after the game, it doesn't sound good — doesn't look like it's going to work out." Crede was put on the disabled Aug. 28 and had two cortisone shots to loosen his back. He was activated Sept. 8 and has had five at-bats since, all strikeouts — four as the designated hitter in Sunday's 8-0 victory over Oakland. Afterward, he had a candid conversation with Gardenhire. "He said, 'I struck ..."

Back injury ends season for Twins slugger Justin Morneau

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September 15

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"If the Twins are going to track down Detroit in the American League Central, they'll have to do it without their best slugger. Justin Morneau will miss the rest of the season because of a stress fracture in his lower back. "You can play through the pain if you feel like you're helping the team win ballgames," Morneau said Monday, "but when you go out there and you don't feel like you're helping anyone, that's when you take a step back and figure you're doing more harm than good. "We took a look at it and found out there was something in there." Morneau is leading the team with 30 home runs and 100 runs batted in, but the 2006 American League most valuable player is batting .173 (21 of ..."

Bad trumps good: Morneau out for season

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September 15

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"The Twins rallied for a 6-3 victory over Cleveland on Monday without first baseman and cleanup hitter Justin Morneau -- and they will have to continue to win without him. Morneau has been found to have a stress fracture of the L5 vertebra in his lower back and will not play in the Twins' remaining 18 games. He will not need surgery but will need about three months to recover and is expected to be ready for the 2010 season. The stunning developments dulled the Twins celebration after their six-run eighth inning helped them remain 5 1/2 games behind the AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers, which rallied to beat Toronto. "Tough news when you lose your first baseman and MVP guy," Twins manager ..."

Justin Morneau says Twins teammate Joe Mauer deserves American League MVP

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September 9

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Justin Morneau hopes the Twins play well the rest of the season, first and foremost to make a push into the postseason. But the first baseman has an underlying reason for wanting a successful final few weeks in 2009. He'd like to shine the spotlight on Joe Mauer's season, one the 2006 American League MVP winner thinks should earn Mauer his first American League MVP award. "If you take Joe out of this lineup, if you take him off our team, I don't think we're still battling for the playoff spot," Morneau said. "To me, I don't think there's anyone more valuable in the league, in the American League for sure, and probably in all of baseball. Hopefully he gets what he deserves, and hopefully ..."

Doctor's orders: Morneau rests

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August 22

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"The Twins on Friday didn't get the news they wanted. First baseman Justin Morneau was told to remain in the Twin Cities this weekend while he deals with a right inner-ear infection. Morneau and the Twins had hoped he would get the go-ahead to rejoin the club and play during the series against the Royals. Instead, he was given more medication and advised not to travel after being examined by ear, nose and throat specialist Dr. Merrill Biel in Edina. "They think that, by the end of the weekend, he should be cleared up, if he relaxes a little bit,'' Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We'll see where he's at Monday.'' The Twins might have no choice but to place Morneau on the 15-day disabled ..."

Morneau might have inner-ear infection

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August 18

MLB.com

"Twins first baseman Justin Morneau left Monday's 8-5 loss to the Rangers in the fourth inning after experiencing dizziness. The Twins said that Morneau was removed from the contest for precautionary reasons, but after the contest, manager Ron Gardenhire said the team thinks it might be an inner-ear infection that was causing Morneau's dizziness. "He was feeling pretty bad out there," Gardenhire said. "We got him out of there. He's day-to-day. See how he's feeling in the next day or so.""

Morneau takes over AL lead in homers and runs batted in

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July 27

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"GRon Gardenhire wants to keep Justin Morneau healthy down the stretch. He also wants to win ballgames. So when the Twins first baseman came to the ballpark Sunday, after telling his manager the day before he might need a day off, and agreed to be the designated hitter, Gardenhire was thrilled. Turns out, Morneau was thrilled, too. Morneau continued his California power show Sunday at Angel Stadium, smashing two home runs in one game for the second time this week, giving him an American League-leading 26 homers and 82 runs batted in this season. His first homer in Minnesota's 10-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels scored Joe Mauer, who singled, and put the Twins up 2 -0 in the first ..."

Twins first baseman Morneau might pass on Home Run Derby

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July 6

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Justin Morneau, the Twins' iron-man first baseman who played in all 163 games last season, could use a rest. And that desire for even an extra few hours off, Morneau said, means he likely will decline a possible invitation to defend his title in this year's home run derby at the All-Star Game in St. Louis. "I've actually thought about it a lot, and with how hot it was in St. Louis the last time we were there, for me, the time off is pretty good," Morneau said. "After we had that day off (Monday), I felt pretty good this whole series, and anytime I can get a day off, I think, I might need to take advantage of it. "We'll see once it gets closer to it, but right now I'm leaning toward not ..."

Trio of Twins hurt in series finale

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July 2

MLB.com

"Just when manager Ron Gardenhire thought he might finally have a healthy lineup, the injury bug struck again for the Twins. A total of three players -- first baseman Justin Morneau, shortstop Nick Punto and catcher Mike Redmond -- left Wednesday's 5-1 victory over the Royals due to injuries. It looked almost like a Spring Training contest as players started exiting in the middle innings. Redmond was knocked out of the game in the fifth when he was struck in the right forearm by a foul tip off the bat of Kansas City's Mitch Maier. Both Morneau and Punto exited following the sixth due to tightness in Morneau's left groin and tightness in Punto's back. But Gardenhire didn't seem overly ..."

Trio of Twins hurt in series finale

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July 2

MLB.com

"Just when manager Ron Gardenhire thought he might finally have a healthy lineup, the injury bug struck again for the Twins. A total of three players -- first baseman Justin Morneau, shortstop Nick Punto and catcher Mike Redmond -- left Wednesday's 5-1 victory over the Royals due to injuries. It looked almost like a Spring Training contest as players started exiting in the middle innings. Redmond was knocked out of the game in the fifth when he was struck in the right forearm by a foul tip off the bat of Kansas City's Mitch Maier. Both Morneau and Punto exited following the sixth due to tightness in Morneau's left groin and tightness in Punto's back. But Gardenhire didn't seem overly ..."

Minnesota Twins' Justin Morneau ends streak of 319 consecutive games played

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June 22

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Twins manager Ron Gardenhire vividly remembers what happened to Justin Morneau last September, the first baseman's achy body and fizzling bat. So when Morneau came to the ballpark Sunday morning feeling sore and had trouble getting loose, Gardenhire pulled the plug on Morneau's streak of 319 consecutive games played. Morneau had played every game since June 27, 2007. Gardenhire benched the ironman slugger and said after the Twins' 4-1 loss to the Houston Astros that even if a situation had presented itself, he almost certainly wouldn't have used Morneau off the bench, either. "He was not available, really, today. We weren't going to pinch hit him, nothing," Gardenhire said. "We've got ..."

Morneau takes a rare day away

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June 22

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Twins first baseman Justin Morneau missed his first game since June 23, 2007, on Sunday, ending baseball's second-longest consecutive games streak at 319. Morneau spent the day in the training room and was unavailable to the media, as the Twins lost to Houston 4-1. Manager Ron Gardenhire said Morneau couldn't even pinch hit but wouldn't specify what was ailing the slugger, other than "general soreness." The Twins are off today, and Gardenhire said he hopes Morneau can play Tuesday night in Milwaukee. "He plans on being in there everyday, but he knew when he came in that he was not feeling very good," Gardenhire said. "He was going to try to get loose, and we walked over and checked him, ..."

Minnesota Twins slugger Justin Morneau shows he can run, too

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May 28

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Justin Morneau flashed his bat at an inside fastball in the third inning Wednesday and belted a line drive to deep right that looked like it might carry over the baggie. It tailed at the end and hit high off the plastic wall, then bounced directly to Boston right fielder J.D. Drew. Morneau didn't hesitate, however, speeding up after making the turn at first and challenging Drew to throw him out at second. Didn't happen. Morneau slid in safely, and scored a few pitches later on Jason Kubel's double into the corner. Credit that run to Morneau's run-with-abandon approach on the bases, a trait he shares with plenty of his teammates. "We always talk about playing the game hard," manager Ron ..."

Minnesota Twins' Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer take it outside to tour Target Field

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May 28

St. Paul Pioneer Press

columnist Carley Walters

"Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer, both of whom are expected to represent the Twins at this season's All-Star Game in St. Louis, toured the club's Target Field on Wednesday. "Sweet; looking forward to playing in it," said Morneau, the left-handed slugger who has 14 home runs this young season. "And the wind today was blowing out to right field." The ballpark, which opens next April, is 72 percent complete. The field dimensions are nearly identical to those of the Metrodome. Mauer, who has 11 homers, also said he was excited to move to Target Field. Among reasons is a real grass surface that will be easier on the feet. "Good for the whole body," Mauer said. Late this summer, when grass is ..."

Justin Morneau's grand slam gives Joe Mauer's power a boost as Minnesota Twins sweep Milwaukee

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May 25

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Just call him St. Joe. By now there is no other way to describe Joe Mauer's ascension to slugger-dom, no other way to express his worth to this team since he jumped back into the lineup May 1, but in Sunday night's 6-3 victory over Milwaukee, the Twins sure tried. One night after matching his 2008 home run total, Mauer continued his divine display of talent with homer No. 10 (a Dave Bush changeup deposited in the right field upper deck), but when Milwaukee side-armer Mitch Stetter hit Mauer in the hand in the seventh inning, home plate umpire Adrian Johnson needed more evidence than Mauer's post-plunk cringe. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire hustled out to holler. He yanked off his cap, he ..."

Mauer, Morneau off to fabulous starts

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May 25

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Twins manager Ron Gardenhire says he thinks no club in baseball has two better all-around players than first baseman Justin Morneau and catcher Joe Mauer. And as good as they have been in the past, both are off to unbelievable starts. Through 21 games enterin Sunday, Mauer was hitting .429 with nine home runs, 28 RBI, an on-base percentage of .516 and a slugging percentage of .844. Then he hit an upper-deck home run to right field in his first at-bat Sunday night and finished 2-for-3 in a 6-3 victory over the Brewers. Mauer's best previous start in 21 games was in 2007 when he was hitting .365 without a single home run, nine RBI, an OBP of .467 and a slugging percentage of .486. Mauer has ..."

Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau: M's of a feather for the Minnesota Twins

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May 24

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"It's not easy going to your first spring training, being 18 years old and 1,500 miles from home, even if you're the franchise's most promising draft pick ever. So when one of the more experienced minor leaguers invited Joe Mauer to maybe hang out for a while after practice, probably just to pick up some equipment at a sporting goods store, the teenager climbed in and rode shotgun. And when the older guy, a 20-year-old Canadian, understandably sidetracked in the hockey aisle, started eyeing the pads and bragging about his skills as a goaltender, well, what was Mauer supposed to do? Hockey's not his best sport, but he's a Minnesotan, after all. Pretty soon, Mauer has a stick in his hand and ..."

Morneau's back tightness is no immediate concern for Twins

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April 4

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Justin Morneau didn't swing a bat on Friday. But the Twins believe he will on Monday. Morneau, who triggered pain in his back during batting practice Tuesday, was feeling better Friday and worked out at the Twins' complex in Fort Myers. The first baseman did not take any swings, limiting himself to playing catch and doing drills, but it was notable progress, team officials said. "The last report was that he's fine," Gardenhire said. "Yesterday he was still stiff. If he's still feeling it and he can't do much, then you start worrying about what to do roster-wise." But the Twins made their final cut Friday night, optioning Matt Tolbert to Class AAA Rochester, an indication they believe ..."

A more mature Justin Morneau now heart and soul of the Twins

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February 22

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"You can appoint a captain, sew a 'C' on his uniform, hold a news conference to announce to the world that a leader has been installed. None of that makes much difference, Ron Gardenhire says. To the Twins' manager, the mantle of leadership comes down to three little words: 'I got it.' 'We've always had that guy who would just look at me and say, 'I got it.' Raise his hands and just say, 'I got it' ' when an issue with another player came up, Gardenhire said. 'I don't have to go and explain to players things they know I don't like. Leaders just say, 'I got it.' ' These days, Justin Morneau has got it. He's the first player to arrive at Twins camp each morning, and often the last to leave. ..."

Morneau says sore knee a bother, no more

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October 4

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Twins first baseman Justin Morneau admitted having trouble with one of his knees late in the season but is not concerned that it's a serious problem. "My knee has been a bother," Morneau wrote in response to an e-mail question, "but that is just from the general wear and tear of playing on turf in the Dome all season. "It will be looked at, but my feeling is that it is just from the long season and nothing will be done." Twins General Manager Bill Smith pointed out that every Twins player had an exit physical during the final weeks of the season. The club would have acted if it felt that Morneau's knee needed further attention, he said. "This man played 163 games this season,'' Smith said. ..."

No time for Morneau to feel burdened

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September 28

Minneapolis Star Tribune

columnist Jim Souhan

"Baseball can be cruel. Michael Jordan never lost his jumper, Joe Montana never lost his touch, yet every autumn great hitters lose their swings. The contagion -- know as A-Rod-itis -- has infected Justin Morneau, and during the Twins' 4-2 loss to Kansas City on Saturday it appeared to turn viral. Morneau keeps one MVP award on his mantle and has another on order, yet the big Canadian is suddenly swinging like the game is back-yard badminton and he's sipped one too many Labatt's. Saturday, Morneau eked a grounder through the right side to break an 0-for-10 streak but otherwise looked like a man unfamiliar with the strike zone and all too familiar with his burden. With 46 more RBI than ..."

MVP awards are no easy pickings

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September 28

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

"When the big baseball awards are announced after the season, there are going to be some predictable winners. And then there are going to be the MVPs. It's not too hard to figure out that Chicago's Geovany Soto will probably win the National League Rookie of the Year award. Cliff Lee is the likely American League Cy Young Award winner. As for the most valuable players? It's anyone's guess. I can't remember a recent year in which going into the last weekend there were so many viable candidates and so few clear-cut choices. Take the AL. Josh Hamilton was the favorite at the midway point of the season, but his numbers tailed off after the All-Star break. That was about the time Chicago's ..."

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September 21

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"It could have been the closest thing to hand-to-hand combat that baseball ever produces. Carlos Quentin and Justin Morneau, each the undisputed leader of a postseason contender, facing off in the Metrodome next week, with a playoff berth — and perhaps an MVP trophy — at stake. But Quentin had to go and break his wrist. Buzz killer. "It would have been fun to see the numbers he would have put up there," Morneau said of the White Sox left fielder, out for the season after surgery Sept. 8 to repair a fractured right wrist. "Thirty-six home runs and 100 RBIs in only five months is pretty impressive." Of course, so is the season Morneau is having, in many ways a mirror image of his 2006 season ..."

Twins' Justin Morneau having another MVP season?

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September 16

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"The chants have started, faint but evident, when Justin Morneau walks to the plate at the Metrodome — "MVP, MVP, MVP." The first baseman hears it all, and the thought of fans believing he has been good enough to win the award for a second time makes him smile. What makes his manager smile is the way Morneau has put together his MVP-contending season — with fewer home runs (23 right now compared with 34 at the end of his 2006 campaign) and smarter at-bats against pitchers unwilling to give him much to hit. "He's become a better hitter, if that's possible," Gardenhire said. "I know from an MVP year, what more can you do? But as far as learning the league and learning what they're trying to ..."

Another MVP season?

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September 11

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"The chants have started, faint but evident, when Justin Morneau walks to the plate at the Metrodome — "MVP, MVP, MVP." The first baseman hears it all, and the thought of fans believing he has been good enough to win the award for a second time makes him smile. What makes his manager smile is the way Morneau has put together his MVP-contending season — with fewer home runs (23 right now compared with 34 at the end of his 2006 campaign) and smarter at-bats against pitchers unwilling to give him much to hit. "He's become a better hitter, if that's possible," Gardenhire said. "I know from an MVP year, what more can you do? But as far as learning the league and learning what they're trying to ..."

Justin Morneau gets 500th RBI as Twins rout Oakland Athletics

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September 1

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"It's September now, and the Twins are so close to first place, they can just about wrap their arms around it. Which might just be the best healing salve that modern medicine can devise. "I was out there warming up today, and I said it's probably the worst I've felt all year," Justin Morneau diagnosed. "But you go out there, we're a half-game back, and (my body) seems to feel pretty good pretty quick." And that makes the Twins feel better, too. Morneau played through his weariness, swung through his achiness, and homered through his homesickness, sending Minnesota into its first day off in 2 1/2 weeks on the soothing high of a 12-4 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Sunday. They're not ..."

Morneau: Replay's nice, but use it more

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August 27

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Justin Morneau supports Major League Baseball's decision to begin using instant replay for disputed home run calls. In fact, the Twins first baseman said Tuesday he wishes MLB would go even further and have instant replay available to decide whether any batted ball is fair or foul. "I don't know why they didn't go all the way," Morneau said. "That could be just as big." Morneau pointed to a play in Detroit this season, when one of the Tigers hit a double down the first-base line. The umpire ruling it fair, even though the ball mark showed it had been a foul. "Everybody's human, everybody's going to make mistakes," Morneau said. "Why not take advantage of all the technology to make sure ..."

Morneau is bright spot on day of frustration

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August 25

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"As the Twins looked for positives in a sea of negatives Sunday following their 5-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels, at least they had Justin Morneau. After going just 1-for-13 in the first three games of the series, and batting only .213 for August, the Twins first baseman went 3-for-4 with three RBI, including his 33rd double and 20th home run. With his RBI single in the first inning, Morneau became only the second Twins player to reach 100 RBI in three consecutive seasons, joining Harmon Killebrew, who did it from 1969 to 1971. "It doesn't mean anything if you don't win the game," Morneau said. "But hopefully I'll carry that into Seattle and do a little more than I did the first couple ..."

Simplicity helping Twins' Morneau rediscover groove against lefties

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July 30

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Glen Perkins was not surprised when Justin Morneau hit a two-out, three-run double to give the starter the lead. He was, instead, expectant. All season, these past three games as no exception, the left-handed hitting Morneau has been superb against left-handed pitchers. Tuesday's double was off Chicago southpaw Clayton Richard. On Monday, Morneau hit a two-run homer and a single against lefty Mark Buehrle. And on Sunday, facing Cleveland's lefty specialist Rafael Perez, Morneau hit another go-ahead double. "Being a lefty myself," Perkins said empathetically, "I'm glad I don't have to face him right now." Perkins remembers seeing, at some point last season, a graphic on television that ..."

Twins' Justin Morneau gets some lefty payback

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July 28

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Justin Morneau didn't know what to expect when he came to the plate in the ninth inning. Alexi Casilla's double left the potential go-ahead run on second base with one out, and though lefty specialist Rafael Perez was on the mound, Morneau entered the game hitting .300 against left-handed pitchers. Morneau was 1 for 8 in his career against Perez, and standing in the on-deck circle was free-swinging right-hander Delmon Young. Cleveland manager Eric Wedge decided that between Young and Morneau, the former American League most valuable player, with hits in 11 of his past 14 games, was the likelier out. Morneau doubled in the go-ahead run, and Wedge decided to intentionally walk Young to get ..."

Minnesota Twins Justin Morneau's hit beats Cleveland Indians manager Eric Wedge's odds

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July 28

Cleveland Plain Dealer

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Morneau gets dinged but not damaged

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July 21

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Sunday's 1-0 loss to Texas could have been worse for the Twins. Justin Morneau got drilled on the right hand with a fastball on the game's second-to-last pitch but stayed in to finish the at-bat. "I honestly couldn't feel it," Morneau said. "It was numb." Morneau waved off the trainer and stood back in the box. Two outs, ninth inning, and for the first time all game, the Twins had moved a runner past first base. Joe Mauer drew a two-out walk against Rangers closer C.J. Wilson, and when he bounced a slider 6 feet in front of home plate, Mauer raced from first to third on the wild pitch. Wilson, a hard-throwing lefthander, came back with a fastball inside. Morneau tried checking his ..."

Twins' Morneau has eventful 27 hours

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July 17

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Twins first baseman Justin Morneau went from Home Run Derby champ Monday to offensive table-setter Tuesday in the American League's 4-3, 15-inning victory over the National League in the All-Star Game. Morneau led off two innings with singles, scoring two runs -- including the winning run in the 15th inning. So in one whirlwind 27-hour span, Morneau was the Home Run Derby champ and scored the winning run in the final All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium."

Morneau sparks winning rally at All-Star Game

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July 16

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Justin Morneau singled and scored the winning run on Michael Young's sacrifice fly in the 15th inning Tuesday night as the American League beat the Nationals 4-3 in the all-stars' long goodbye to Yankee Stadium. The AL stretched its unbeaten streak to a record 12 games. Morneau singled to shallow center leading off the 15th against Brad Lidge. He took second on a one-out single by Dioner Navarro. After J.D. Drew walked, Michael Young hit a fly to right field. Corey Hart caught it, Morneau tagged and just beat the throw to end the four-hour, 50-minute game."

Morneau scores AL game winner

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July 16

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"After spending their emotion on a stirring, 45-minute pregame ceremony Tuesday night, the Yankee Stadium crowd kept waiting for one of those storybook finishes that have been so commonplace throughout the yard's 85-year history. The 79th All-Star Game had provided several twists and turns, going to extra innings for the first time since the infamous 11-inning tie in 2002. After that, Commissioner Bud Selig decided: Never again. There would be a winner every year, and that league would hold home-field advantage in the World Series. The American League just won't let go. Michael Young hit a sacrifice fly to right field, and Twins first baseman Justin Morneau slid home with the winning ..."

Justin Morneau outlasts record-breaker Josh Hamilton to win home run derby

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July 15

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Josh Hamilton dreamed it. Now he's done it. With a dazzling display of power Monday night, the Texas Rangers slugger hit a record 28 homers in the first round of the all-star home run derby at Yankee Stadium before he was beaten out by the Twins' Justin Morneau in the final. Morneau topped a tired Hamilton 5-3 in the last round, giving him the derby title. But the night belonged to Hamilton. Back from drug and alcohol addiction that derailed his career, Hamilton broke Bobby Abreu's single-round mark of 24 home runs, set in the first round in 2005 at Detroit's Comerica Park."

Asked late, performed great

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July 15

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Justin Morneau said even he was rooting for Josh Hamilton on Monday night, as chants of "Ham-il-ton! Ham-il-ton!" rained down from Yankee Stadium during the All-Star Home Run Derby. Hamilton amazed the crowd with a record 28 home runs in the first round -- including 13 in a row and a few that almost left the stadium. Morneau hit eight home runs in the first round and nine in the second round before stunning the audience with a 5-3 victory over Hamilton in the finals. Morneau became the first Twins player to win the annual derby, even though Hamilton finished three rounds with 35 homers to Morneau's 22."

Morneau wins but Hamilton steals show

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July 15

Toronto Star

"Earlier in the day, Josh Hamilton quoted fictional ballplayer Roy Hobbs from his favourite baseball movie, The Natural. Last night, as the eighth and final contestant in the workout day's annual home run derby, the Rangers outfielder slammed 28 homers at baseball's most revered shrine, Yankee Stadium, and a real-life legend was born. But Hamilton did not win. Canadian Justin Morneau from New Westminster, B.C. emerged from the remaining seven contestants with 17 homers in the first two rounds compared to Hamilton's 32. The final, starting from scratch again, was somewhat anti-climactic with Morneau winning 5-3 against an exhausted Hamilton. It was the first derby win by a Canadian in the ..."

Beaming with Canadian pride

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July 15

Toronto Sun

"If Ryan Dempster ever injures his arm, he could work at Second City. Dempster was asked at a midtown Manhattan hotel about the fact that in this, the final year of Yankee Stadium, there are three Canadians in the all-star game for the first time. "Well," said Dempster, the Chicago Cubs right-hander from Gibsons, B.C., "we got together in spring training and had a talk. "We decided to try hard this year ... for a change. You know, go out and give 100%. We're all looking forward to getting to the stadium and being able to speak Canadian to one another." Joining Dempster, 10-4, with a 3.25 earned run average, is possible battery mate Russell Martin, a Montrealer catching for the Los ..."

All-Star Home Run Derby: Morneau tops hot Hamilton

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July 15

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"Josh Hamilton dreamed it. Now he has done it. With a dazzling display of power last night, the Texas Rangers slugger hit a record 28 homers in the first round of the All-Star Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium before he was beaten out by Minnesota's Justin Morneau in the finals."

Hamilton Delights, but Morneau Prevails in the Derby

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July 15

New York Times

"Josh Hamilton drew some laughter when he said he could be the first player to hit a home run that left Yankee Stadium. During a prodigious display, Hamilton nearly achieved that goal in the Home Run Derby on Monday night. He crushed a ball off the Bank of America sign above the right-center-field bleachers that was not even his farthest of the night. That blast came while he hit a record-setting 28 home runs in the first round, but Hamilton could not conserve enough energy in the finals and lost, 5-3, to Minnesota's Justin Morneau."

Morneau a late add to HR Derby

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July 14

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"In the end, Justin Morneau couldn't turn down the invitation. The Twins first baseman agreed to participate in the All-Star Home Run Derby, which will take place tonight at Yankee Stadium. He will be part of an American League team that includes Evan Longoria of the Rays, Josh Hamilton of the Rangers and Grady Sizemore of the Indians. "They must have run off everyone else," joked Morneau, who with 14 homers this year has the fewest among the eight participants."

Morneau rounds out Derby field

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July 13

MLB.com

"Just one day before the State Farm Home Run Derby is set to take place at Yankee Stadium, Twins first baseman Justin Morneau became the eighth and final contestant in the contest. Morneau got a phone call from Major League Baseball representatives on Sunday morning asking him to be the final American League entrant. Morneau joins the Rangers' Josh Hamilton, the Rays' Evan Longoria and the Indians' Grady Sizemore as the AL representatives. The Astros' Lance Berkman, the Brewers' Ryan Braun, the Marlins' Dan Uggla and the Phillies' Chase Utley will compete for the National League."

Morneau is hoping to change his second half into his better half

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July 13

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Maybe it's just a Twins thing. Maybe the baggie just intimidates hitters, or the Metrodome's atmospheric pressure knocks down anything hit hard, or Harmon Killebrew just used up all the power in the '60s. Whatever the reason, for a couple of decades now, being the most feared and accomplished power hitter on the Twins has seemed a lot like being their best putter or free-throw shooter or piano player. An interesting talent, in other words, but it doesn't have a lot to do with how the team wins baseball games. Justin Morneau wishes it was different, really he does."

Morneau sizzles at plate, but also impresses with his glove

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July 11

Minneapolis Star Tribune

columnist Sid Hartman

"Justin Morneau is hitting .324 after going 5-for-5 Thursday, with a game-winning homer in the 11th inning to lift the Twins over the Tigers 7-6 and end a three-game losing skid. That puts Morneau third in the American League batting race behind the Rangers' Ian Kinsler (.335) and Twins teammate Joe Mauer, who is second at .328. Morneau is second in the league in RBI with 68, trailing the Rangers' Josh Hamilton, who has 89. In addition to being a great hitter and a possible candidate for a second MVP award, Morneau has become a great-fielding first baseman. With only two errors this season and a .997 fielding percentage, he ranks third in the league among first basemen."

Twins' three best all going to New York

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July 7

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Joe Mauer was the people's choice. Justin Morneau was the players' choice. Joe Nathan was the manager's choice. The Twins were thrilled that their three most deserving players were named to the American League All-Star team Sunday. It didn't matter how they were going to the July 15 midsummer's classic at New York's Yankee Stadium, as long as they made it and were able to represent a club that has been one of the surprises in baseball. "There's a lot of guys in here who contributed," Morneau said. "So everyone was happy when we got to send three guys to the game.""

Morneau's hitting helps show critics Twins can contend

May 30

Minneapolis Star Tribune

columnist Sid Hartman

"Morneau has raised his batting average to .310 and has a team-high 40 RBI after he hit a game-winning solo homer in the 10th inning of the Twins' 9-8 victory in Kansas City on Wednesday... When Morneau won the AL MVP in 2006, he was off to a much slower start than this season. He could be heading for an even better year. He is one of the most feared hitters in the league right now."