March 19, 2007
Shifting to Pain
Tom Powers discusses the pain caused by the Twins fielders shifting from the Florida grass to the Metrodome turf:
Severe depression notwithstanding, for many of the players the worst part about the move north is switching from the natural grass to the artificial turf. The first week or so on the hard surface sends almost everyone running, or at least limping, to the medicine chest.
"It's not like here," shortstop Jason Bartlett said. "Your legs have got to get used to it. It takes a toll on my legs the first few days."
This is the newer turf installed in 2004, too. It's better than the previous rock-hard surface but still tough on the leg joints. And ground balls continue to shoot through the gaps.
"You play back in the outfield for most guys," shortstop Bartlett noted.
"The first week you feel some of the aches and pains from September that you forgot about during the offseason," Nick Punto said.
Artificial turf is almost eliminated. Once the Twins get their new park, Toronto and Tampa Bay will be the only remaining holdouts.
Posted by David Pinto at
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