Twins' Morneau wants fences moved in at new park

Minnesota Twins slugger Justin Morneau says he and his teammates are disappointed the club hasn't moved the outfield fences at Target Field to make it easier to homer.

The Twins this week announced $4 million to $6 million in improvements at Target Field, but didn't address players' concerns about the outfield fences.

"Right-center to left-center is ridiculous," Morneau said in an e-mail to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "[It's] almost impossible for a righthanded hitter to [homer to the] opposite field and very difficult for lefties. It affects the hitters a lot, and you start to develop bad habits as a hitter . . . you take those habits on the road."

The Twins hit 52 home runs at Target Field and 90 on the road, and their pitchers surrendered 64 homers at home and 91 on the road. Their 53-28 home record was the best in the American League, and they were 41-40 away from Target Field.

MLB replaces Alderson

Former Puerto Rican Attorney General Jorge Perez-Diaz will be the interim head of Latin American oversight for Major League Baseball following the departure of Sandy Alderson to become general manager of the Mets. Baseball commissioner Bud Selig made the announcement Friday.

Perez-Diaz will work with an oversight committee that includes Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest and Twins GM Bill Smith. Alderson will remain a committee member.

Busch sues baseball

Anheuser-Busch sued Major League Baseball on Friday in a dispute over the brewer's decades-long sponsorship.

The maker of Budweiser contends MLB is improperly trying to back out of an April agreement to extend the company's exclusive sponsorship deal.

The St. Louis-based company said it had a signed renewal agreement in hand for weeks when baseball's licensing entity abruptly asked for more money and refused to sign a formal contract.

- AP