Saturday, March 25, 2006
Jason Kubel May Win Job by Default
Twins rookie Jason Kubel, 23, who missed all of last year because of injury, was supposed to be competing for the starting right field job, but looked so rusty due to his lengthy layoff that manager Ron Gardenhire had all but resolved to send him back to the minors for a further tune-up. But with IF/OF Michael Cuddyer out with a strained oblique and reserve OF Ruben Sierra out with a strained quad, and IF/OF/C Matthew LeCroy gone to Washington, Kubel's prospects have brightened a little. Kubel, a former top pick, may be pressed into service in a platoon with OF Lew Ford. Kubel would get most of the AB facing righties, and should he find his stroke in the process still could win the starting job.
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Doctor X -- the 'Baseball Medic' -- is an anonymous U.S. government trauma specialist with a Duke University sports medicine background and more than 20 years experience in emergency medicine. From time to time he considers MLB rumors, events and news reports as they pertain to baseball players' injuries, illnesses and various other disabilities, both on the field and off.
MLB Rumors editor Greg Fieg is a former sports news editor and award-winning writer whose bylines have appeared on the wires of the Associated Press and in numerous publications, including San Antonio Express-News, San Antonio Light, Houston Chronicle and Philadelphia Bulletin. He formerly was posted in various positions on the U.S.-Mexican border with Freedom Newspapers, and was a regular, independent contributor to United Press International.