Minnesota Twins Wiretap

Hunter Didn't Want To Give People Another Thing To Talk About

Torii Hunter took a few steps towards charging the mound after being hit in the face on Thursday before he decided that his week had been eventful enough.

"It was a tough week for me," Hunter said. "I've been in the champagne scandal, the Jackie Robinson comments. And I thought about all of that and said, 'Man, I can't give nobody else something to talk about.' So I just shut it down."

Via Star Tribune

Minnesota Twins

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Hunter Hit In Face By Pitch

Twins star Torii Hunter was hit in the face by a pitch from Kansas City's Zack Greinke on Thursday and was taken to a hospital for further examination.

Leading off the bottom of the second inning, Hunter took a 2-2 fastball directly to the mouth. After gathering himself, he took a couple of steps toward Greinke. Hunter then dropped to the turf near home plate as manager Ron Gardenhire and Twins medical staff ran onto the field.

A stunned-looking Hunter needed a towel to clean up the blood, and Greinke and Royals infielders came over to check on him. After a few minutes, Hunter walked off the field on his own power and received a standing ovation.

Via AP

Minnesota Twins, Kansas City Royals

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Hunter In Trouble For Sending Champagne To K.C.

When Torii Hunter gave the Kansas City Royals four bottles of champagne this weekend, he was fulfilling a promise he made after the Royals swept the Detroit Tigers last September, helping the Twins win the division title.

But with that gesture, Hunter also violated little-known MLB rule 21-b.

The rule states, "Any player or person connected with a Club who shall offer or give any gift or reward to a player or person connected with another Club for services rendered ... in defeating or attempting to defeat a competing Club ... shall be declared ineligible for not less than three years."

The violation was first reported by "The Cheater's Guide to Baseball Blog."

Monday afternoon, the Twins received a telephone call from the commissioner's office. The Twins contacted the Royals, who agreed to send all four bottles of Dom Perignon back to Minnesota. Yes, Twins General Manager Terry Ryan said, those bottles are still unopened.

"I'm to blame as much as anybody because I didn't know the rule," Ryan said. "We'll end up righting the wrong. We've already contacted the Royals. They're going to return the goods, and hopefully that'll be the end of it."

A suspension for Hunter seems unlikely, but he still could be fined. The Royals also could face penalties for accepting the gift, under the same rule.

Ryan called Hunter's gesture "an honest mistake."

Via Star Tribune

Minnesota Twins, Kansas City Royals

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