Even though he won’t be there to hear it, Justin Morneau will no doubt feel an extra sense of pride when the Canadian Tenors perform O Canada prior to Tuesday night’s all-star game.
Always a proud Canadian, the Minnesota Twins first baseman from New Westminster, B.C., stood up for the national anthem last year when a canned musical rendition of the song was played before the Midsummer Classic in St. Louis.
He blasted the decision afterwards, saying he “wasn’t very impressed” and that it “didn’t really go over too well.” Even Bud Selig took note, prompting the commissioner to send Morneau a note apologizing and promising that it wouldn’t happen again.
Morneau was to start at first base for the American League on Tuesday, but a mild concussion suffered last week has forced him to stay home, costing him a chance to see the wrong get righted in person.
“When it happened (fellow Canadian slugger) Jason Bay and I looked at each other and said how unimpressed we were,” Morneau recalled in an interview last week, before he was injured. “You don’t want to be made to feel inferior or anything like that, and we feel like we belong in baseball.
“I understand they (play O Canada) because the Blue Jays are in the league, but if you’re going to do it, do it right. They’ve said they’re going to take care of it and I look forward to hearing it.”
That he took a stand, unafraid to ruffle feathers, was just another example of how Morneau represents the Maple Leaf in the majors more than anyone else these days.
From defending the anthem, to supporting fellow Canadians in the majors, to supporting the next generation of players, he has become the country’s go-to guy.
He plays a similar leadership role with the Twins, and his concussion threatens to put a serious dent in their hopes of repeating as AL Central champions.
Already this year the 29-year-old has had to overcome the stress fracture to a vertebrae in his back that cost him the final month of the 2009 season, and it’s unclear when he’ll be able to resume playing.
His past concussions include one suffered in April 2005, when a pitch from Seattle’s Ron Villone hit him in the head.
Doctors are to re-evaluate Morneau this week.
The Twins can only hope he gets over the concussion as well as he recovered from the back injury.
Morneau has carried the 46-42 club by batting .345 with 18 homers and 56 RBIs in 81 games.
Helping to keep him on the field has been the Twins’ switch from the artificial turf of the Metrodome to the natural grass of the new Target Field, something Morneau credits for making his body feel, “a lot better.”
Smarter body maintenance has also played a role, with manager Ron Gardenhire saying before the season that he planned to give his cleanup hitter more rest. A wiser Morneau is now more willing to ask for a break, something that didn’t happen last year.
“Not very much,” Gardenhire laughed.
“That’s the hard thing. Sometimes you’ve got to argue with him because he just wants to be out there, but I think he’s learned a little bit, too.
“When your body says that’s enough — that’s enough.”
Gardenhire still keeps a close eye on Morneau but cites as progress the couple of times this season when the slugger has come to him and said he could use a day off.