FORT MYERS, FLA. – One difference between Derek Falvey and his predecessor, Terry Ryan: face time in the clubhouse during spring training.
Ryan entered the chamber only when he needed to conduct business. Falvey is making the clubhouse his business.
Falvey, the Twins' new chief baseball officer, said Tuesday that he plans on being available to players and coaches as much as possible during camp. He will eat breakfast in the team dining room every day and will welcome feedback from players. Then he'll head for the coaches room and talk about the upcoming day.
"Give them an opportunity to talk about anything they see fit," he said. "I think, ultimately, I want to be part of that culture day in and day out. That's the environment I grew up in."
Falvey worked closely with manager Terry Francona and pitching coach Mickey Callaway while he was an assistant GM with the Indians. Francona praised Falvey for helping a pitching staff that led the Indians to the World Series.
Falvey was part of three-hour meetings Monday and Tuesday during which the staff broke down every player in camp. And the plan is to meet with every player in private during spring training.
Perkins on the hill
It was only 15 pitches, but it meant a lot to lefthander Glen Perkins.
"I felt good,'' Perkins said. "I wasn't able to do even that last year before I had surgery. So that's progress to me."
Perkins, who appeared in only two games last season, is making his way back from surgery to repair a torn labrum. He wanted to throw off a mound Friday but called it off because he wanted to work on his arm strength some more.
