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Twins: No decision yet on Casilla's injured thumb

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Yet another finger injury has shaken up Minnesota's lineup.

Alexi Casilla's appointment with a hand specialist was postponed by one day, before the Twins and their second baseman decide whether he'll have surgery on a torn tendon in his right thumb that could end his season.

Casilla told reporters he was already resigned to missing the rest of the year, but the team wasn't ready to declare that - or any timetable yet for his return.

``I don't know how he thought he was having surgery,'' manager Ron Gardenhire said, ``but he's going to see the doctor.''

Regardless, the injury was a big blow. Injuries and ineffectiveness had unsettled every infield position but first base, until Casilla emerged in late May as a regular. The Twins are 38-25 since he took over as the starting second basemen. Casilla is batting .313 with 38 runs, 19 extra-base hits and 39 RBIs in 243 at-bats.

Nick Punto will get the bulk of the playing time there and in the second spot in the lineup, though Gardenhire said he'll continue to ``mix and match'' at the three infield positions for the rest of the season.

``I just look and see what I think works best that day and go from there,'' he said.

With Punto at second, Adam Everett will be back in the mix at shortstop - along with Brendan Harris. After missing 68 games, including two stints on the disabled list due to a problem with his right shoulder, Everett was reinstated Wednesday.

The Twins told Everett their plan late Tuesday, hours after they asked him to report to Triple-A because they didn't see room for him on the roster. That was before, of course, the tendon damage in Casilla's thumb was discovered. Everett said it was a ``surreal'' conversation.

After signing a one-year, $2.8 million contract with Minnesota last December, Everett batted only .189 in the 74 at-bats he got when he wasn't on the DL. He said he's eager to prove his worth down the stretch.

``It's not exactly how you plan it, but things happen for a reason and you've just got to keep going,'' Everett said before Wednesday's game against the Chicago White Sox.

The Twins have had unbelievably bad luck with fingers this year. Right fielder Michael Cuddyer is on his second such injury, and rookie infielder Matt Tolbert has been out since mid-May with a torn ligament in his left thumb. Casilla's injury is not considered as serious as Tolbert's.

``It's just been one of those freak things,'' Gardenhire said. ``It's unfortunate, but it happens. It's just playing the game.''

FanNation.com via AP