Puckett Hoping for Clear Days Ahead

<p>Minnesota outfielder Kirby Puckett, whose career may be over because of glaucoma in his right eye, has managed to maintain both a positive attitude and a sense of humor. Puckett underwent laser surgery three weeks ago, and eye specialists said he had a 50-50 chance of recovering his vision, which has deteriorated from 20/20 to 20/100.

“It could have been no chance,” Puckett said, “Fifty-fifty? I’ll take that any day. But right now, it’s still dark and cloudy. There’s a thunderstorm in there every day.”

Puckett has damaged retinal tissue, which doctors say is very slow to heal, and there is no guarantee it will heal at all. He was considering taking batting practice before Sunday’s game, but decided against it.

“I’m not going to do anything stupid,” he said. “I’m sure I could get in there and hit, but I’d be like a Volkswagen on the autobahn.”

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Twin second baseman Chuck Knoblauch left Sunday’s game after injuring the middle finger on his left hand while lining out to first baseman J.T. Snow in the third inning. The finger wasn’t broken, but Knoblauch said he would probably return to Minnesota instead of traveling with the team for a three-game series beginning tonight in Seattle. . . . Lachemann said rookie third baseman George Arias, who was not in the lineup for a second consecutive game Sunday, will start tonight against Kansas City.