First, Lamb’s not injured badly (just a bruise). Second, they took Morneau out because he apparently felt under the weather.

Third, and perhaps most important: Lamb got injured while Gardy was asking Harris if he’d ever played first base!!!

Isn’t that known as jinxing it, Gardy? Couldn’t you have asked before the game? Or during Spring Training? Any time at all except DURING the at bat of the person whom you’re worried about getting injured?

Morneau came out late in the game, probably to give him some rest and Lamb some 1B practice, since we had a big lead and it didn’t matter. Tolbert took over 3B. On Lamb’s next AB, he fouled one off his unprotected ankle, and couldn’t stand up under his own power. Punto came in to strike out for him (1-2 count, wicked curveball on the first pitch Punto saw, I don’t blame him). Punto can’t play 1B, so Harris moved to first and Punto went to second. I think this makes it extremely clear how important Morneau is to that infield. Harris/Punto/Everett/Tolbert isn’t much of an infield.

Kubel did come up 3 times with the bases loaded, and got a sac fly, an RBI single, and a grand slam. Pretty good night at the plate. And after he hit the home run, he was all smiles in the dugout. I think that’s pretty promising and exciting, since Kubel usually looks despondent, like he doesn’t really want to be there. Morneau was pretty dour too, up until 2006 when he loosened up and became a star because of it. I’d been thinking that Kubel 2008 could be Cuddyer 2006. But it may be possible that Kubel 2008 could be Morneau 2006 … and that’d be a whole lot better. (Free Jason Kubel!)