After Monday's 6-3 win over the Indians that kept the Twins hanging on the edge of the AL Central division race, Ron Gardenhire began his post-game press conference by announcing that first baseman Justin Morneau is done for the season because of a stress fracture in his back. Short of an injury to Joe Mauer, this was the worst news the Twins could receive at this point in the season. The Twins sit at exactly .500, 5 1/2 games behind Detroit for first place in the Central. With just 18 games remaining, a comeback would have been a tall task even with Morneau in the lineup. Without him and his 30 homers, 100 RBIs, and .878 OPS, it seems nearly impossible.
The good news for the Twins, if you can call it that, is that the injury doesn't seem to be particularly serious and it won't require surgery. So while they lose Morneau down the stretch this year, they probably weren't going anywhere with him in the lineup and they should have him at full strength for 2010, when they will presumably also have Kevin Slowey back in the rotation.
