NewsInbox: Injured pitchers doing fine
Fans ask about Bonser, Neshek, Mauer, Nathan and more
By Kelly Thesier / MLB.com
06/01/09 4:05 PM ET
After 20 games in 20 days for the Twins, an Inbox seems the perfect way to kick off the team's much needed off-day. So here we go.
I was wondering what the progress is on Boof Bonser and Pat Neshek? Any hopes that they'll be ready to pitch in the 2010 season?
-- Conni C., Ramsey, Minn.
Good timing on the question, Conni. Both Bonser and Neshek were in St. Petersburg this weekend to visit with the team and take a break from their rehabilitation that's taking place in Fort Myers, Fla. Just to clarify first, the expectation has always been that both pitchers will be ready by the start of Spring Training in 2010. So there aren't really any concerns that timeline won't be met.
In fact, Bonser is currently ahead of schedule in his rehab from surgery this spring to repair a torn labrum and torn rotator cuff. He told me Friday that he's about five days away from starting to play catch. That means he could possibly be in line to return in September of this year -- that's if everything goes as scheduled. There is always the possibility throughout a player's rehab that there will be setbacks. But right now Bonser is optimistic that he might get to be, in his words, "a September callup again."
As for Neshek, his rehab is going along as expected. Right now he's playing catch from 60 feet on an every-other-day schedule. He's still not scheduled to get back on the mound until the fall, meaning that his target date to rejoin the team is still for the start of Spring Training in 2010.
With the difficulties the bullpen has seen and with our young staff, would a six-man starting rotation help the Twins to give everyone rest rather than moving Anthony Swarzak to the 'pen? I think it would allow our starters to throw more pitches and possibly take a bit of load off the 'pen. What do you think?
-- David C., Minneapolis
The Twins like what Swarzak has done in his first two starts and they seem willing to find a way to keep him on the pitching staff. But I think it's very unlikely -- and I mean very -- that the club would go to a six-man pitching staff. Starters are accustomed to pitching on a five-day schedule and adding an additional one to the mix messes up the entire process.
There is no clear solution to how the Twins will keep Swarzak once Glen Perkins is ready to come off the disabled list, which won't happen for at least another week. Manager Ron Gardenhire has talked about the recent struggles of Francisco Liriano in the rotation and I think it's more likely that if the lefty's struggles continue, Liriano could be moved to the 'pen to keep Swarzak in the rotation. Otherwise, Swarzak might give the team another strong right-hander in relief.
Why has Joe Mauer been hitting so many more home runs this year?
-- Tyler T., Minneapolis
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That's been the $50 million question surrounding the Twins over the past month. Unfortunately there is no clear answer to it. Mauer has been asked numerous times about his swing and whether it's changed. He says that he's just seeing the ball well right now and understands better what pitchers are trying to do to him. Some of his teammates credit Mauer's fresh hands and the fact that he's gotten older and developed more "man muscles."
So what's my opinion on the increased number of homers? I think his swing looks a tad shorter than it did in years past. But does that directly correlate to the increased power? Well, I don't think anyone can be sure of that. For now, I'll just have to keep watching to see if this power surge continues.
Will the Twins ever use Joe Nathan in a more extensive pitching role? There have been games when it is tied in the eighth inning, and the bullpen comes in and loses the game for us. I'm curious as to the logic behind saving Nathan only for save situations.
-- Shannon S., Minneapolis
The Twins have long been averse to using Nathan for more than three outs, but with some of the struggles of the 'pen early this year I think they've been tempted to bring Nathan in earlier to games. Other teams, like the Red Sox with Jonathan Papelbon, have used their closer in some eighth-inning situations.
I doubt the Twins would use Nathan during a tied game in the eighth, but if they have a lead in the eighth and need a couple of outs, perhaps Nathan might be used. Gardenhire said he considered that Sunday against the Rays, but Nathan was feeling under the weather and pitching coach Rick Anderson didn't think it was such a great idea to push Nathan for more than one inning. Gardenhire has also said that he prefers to keep Nathan just for the ninth. That means there might be rare occasions when we see Nathan in the eighth this year, but I wouldn't guess that it would happen often.
Do you think the Twins will re-sign Mauer, and if they do, will it be a long-term contract or a short-term contract?
-- Danny V., Lake City, Minn.
If there has ever been a player that the Twins absolutely need to lock up to a long-term deal, it's Mauer. And I know the club is clearly aware of that fact. Not only is Mauer the hometown boy who has become a perennial All-Star candidate, he's the catcher that every team covets -- both for his offense and his defense.
The Twins are very familiar with Mauer's agent, Ron Shapiro, who was also Kirby Puckett's agent. Shapiro was the one who helped negotiate the deal that kept Puckett in a Twins uniform until his career was over. So perhaps he might be able to help come up with a similar long-term deal for Mauer with the Twins.
One thing I'll make clear is that you shouldn't expect much about talks between the two sides to be leaked publicly. The last thing the Twins want is to have to see such an important deal scrutinized daily. Media in other cities have already begun discussing what kind of deal Mauer could get on the open market. The Twins want to make sure that Mauer never finds out how accurate those guesses might be.
When is Gardy going to abandon the 100-pitch count?
-- Bill M., Bismarck, N.D.
Don't expect that to happen anytime soon, Bill. While Gardenhire has been a little more willing to stretch out his starters' pitch counts over the 100-mark this season, he still adheres to the principal that it's best to keep right around that spot. The Twins have always been very careful to protect the arms of their starters and Gardenhire has said one of the worst feelings as a manager is to watch a pitcher go down to injury -- particularly if you feel it might have been prevented. So he'll do what he can to avoid that and it means keeping the pitch count right around 100 for his starters.
Kelly Thesier is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
