Thursday, March 6, 2008

Pitched battle

Kevin Slowey has endangered his would-have-been-a-lock on a starting position with the Twins with two bad outings. He's pitched 3 2/3 innings, and given up six runs (three in each of two outings).

There are just too many good pitchers in camp to ignore Slowey's problems this spring. Slowey - 4-1 with a 4.73 ERA last year - may just start the year at AAA.

As of this morning, there were 11 pitchers in camp who have pitched in at least one game with 0.00 ERAs so far this spring. They include Scott Baker and Boof Bonser - probable locks for the rotation, and two - Nick Blackburn and Philip Humber - who are vying for starting spots. Livan Hernandez is also a starter; he has a 4.5 ERA so far.

There are 14 other pitchers in camp who have given up earned runs. Julio DePaula, a right-handed relief pitcher, was 12-5 for AAA Rochester last year, with a 2.90 ERA. His ERA this spring is 2.25 (1 ER in 4 IP). He could make the Twins relief pen this year.

DePaula has to be a consideration for the relief pen, after his work in Rochester, but the pen is already pretty full with Joe Nathan, Jesse Crain, Juan Rincon, Dennys Reyes, Pat Neshek, Glen Perkins, Matt Guerrier and Carmen Cali all having or vying for spots. So far, Cali, Guerrier, Neshek, Reyes and Rincon all have 0.00 ERAs, making it a tough choice.

A couple others with 0.00 ERAs are Bobby Korecky, the Rochester closer last year, and Deolis Guerra, the 19-year-old received in the Santana trade. Both will likely be in the minor leagues this year, no matter how well they pitch.

So the pitched battle goes on.

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