Morneau gets a breather
UPDATE: Jason Kubel was scratched from today’s lineup with a sore neck. Kubel was originally in the lineup in right field and Denard Span in center. But Carlos Gomez is now in the lineup at CF and Span shifts to RF.
Justin Morneau is not in the lineup today as he’s battling a stiff back and a sore wrist, manager Ron Gardenhire said.
Morneau dove head-first into first base on Friday night trying to avoid a tag, and Gardenhire thinks that probably took a little toll on the first baseman. Perhaps it’s also a good time to give a mental break to Morneau, who is 3-for-39 (.077) since the start of September.
“He’s your ultimate gamer on the field,” Gardenhire said of Morneau. “He’s really fighting through everything right now.”
Joe Crede is also back in the lineup as the DH for the Twins.
Here are today’s lineups:
A’s (63-77)
4th place in AL West, 21 games back
Rajai Davis, CF
Mark Ellis, 2B
Kurt Suzuki, C
Scott Hairston, LF
Nomar Garciaparra, 1B
Bobby Crosby, 3B
Ryan Sweeney, RF
Landon Powell, C
Cliff Pennington, SS
Pitching: LHP Gio Gonzalez (5-5, 5.76)
Twins (70-72)
3rd place in AL Central, 5.5 games back
Denard Span, RF
Orlando Cabrera, SS
Joe Mauer, C
Michael Cuddyer, 1B
Delmon Young, LF
Joe Crede, DH
Brendan Harris, 3B
Carlos Gomez, CF
Nick Punto, 2B
Pitching: LHP Brian Duensing (2-1, 3.94)
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Kelly's Corner 
I listened to Gardy this morning on radio. Why move Span into one position? Call him a starter and keep moving him around. He is a unique player and his batting isn?t effected by doing this. Gardy should have used his ability more and rested Morneau and Cuddyer more this season. Maybe they would be hitting better late in the season if he had. He is so predictable. He wants players that can play all over and then not use them in that fashion. He was crying about having to many outfielders and about finding playing time. Not using Span in right and Cuddyer at first more is his mistake. All he talked about was next year. I guess it start at the top and the players must be looking at next year also. Lets play one good game and think of next year for two games.