News
Questions remain about Twins' rotation
Minnesota (54-56) at Detroit (58-51), 12:05 p.m. CT
By Kelly Thesier / MLB.com
08/09/09 12:54 AM ET
DETROIT -- The hope for any team in contention is that their starting staff would be settled -- at least for the most part -- by this point in the season. But for the Twins, their rotation currently has more question marks than the team would like. The recent addition of Carl Pavano meant moving at least one struggling starter out of the rotation, but Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said that his club is currently debating between three pitchers for two starts in a series against the Royals this week. Gardenhire sat down with pitching coach Rick Anderson on Saturday to try to figure out who those pitchers would be, but there wasn't really an easy solution. "When you are trying to figure out who is going to give you the best chance to win and you're not sure [that's not good]," Gardenhire said. Right-hander Nick Blackburn is set to start Tuesday against Kansas City, but Gardenhire said that he has yet to decide who will start on Wednesday and Thursday -- the final two games of the series with the Royals. Francisco Liriano, Glen Perkins, and Anthony Swarzak are all currently in the running for the two spots, with one starter set to make the move to the bullpen. While there had been talk of whether Liriano or Perkins would lose his spot due to the addition of Carl Pavano on Friday, Swarzak put his rotation spot in jeopardy following a rough one-inning outing against the Tigers on Friday night. "It throws another monkey wrench in it when you're thinking about one spot and now it's two spots," Gardenhire said. "That makes a difference." Left-hander Brian Duensing could also be considered for a starting spot as well down the stretch. Duensing pitched 4 2/3 innings in Friday's loss, allowing just two unearned runs. And following the trade for Pavano on Friday, Gardenhire said that the Twins might not be done trying to make deals. "There's no telling how many more guys we're negotiating with right now," Gardenhire said. "I mean, there could be a ton. I think, just talking to a couple guys in the office, we've talked to a lot of people." For now, the Twins will work with the pitching they have. The club will send its most consistent pitcher so far in the second half to the mound on Sunday in the series finale against the Tigers at Comerica Park. Right-hander Scott Baker will face off against the newest member of the Tigers rotation, left-hander Jarrod Washburn. The contest will be televised on TBS with Chip Caray (play-by-play) and Dennis Eckersley (analyst) calling the action from the broadcast booth. Pitching matchupMIN: RHP Scott Baker (9-7, 4.59 ERA)
Baker continued his strong start to the second half when he pitched seven shutout innings against the Indians in his last start. The right-hander held the Tribe to just three hits and issued just one walk while throwing 109 pitches. The only problem for Baker is that opponents are fouling off too many pitches, keeping him from going deeper into outings. In four starts since the All-Star break, Baker is 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA. DET: LHP Jarrod Washburn (8-7, 2.93 ERA)
Washburn's Tigers debut was a bit of a letdown Tuesday against the Orioles, who put up two homers and six runs over his 5 1/3 innings. His next start will be at Comerica Park. He allowed a lone run over 14 innings in two previous matchups with the Twins this season. Tidbits
When speaking to the media on Saturday afternoon, Gardenhire had not yet heard from the Commissioner's Office about a fine or a suspension in regard to his comments about home-plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt after Friday's 10-8 loss to the Tigers. But the skipper did have a response to Wendelstedt's invitation to umpiring school. "If he'll agree to take the classes again, I'll go with him," Gardenhire said. ... Carlos Gomez did not start Saturday's contest due to a bruised calf that he suffered when fouling a ball off his leg in the seventh inning of Friday's loss. ... Former Twins manager Cal Ermer passed away Saturday following a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. He was 85. Ermer managed the Twins in 1967 and '68, taking over the team midway through the 1967 season from Sam Mele and finishing with a 145-129 record. ... The Twins have signed 15th-round Draft pick Steven Liddle, an outfielder from Vanderbilt. He is the nephew of Twins bench coach Steve Liddle. He will report to Elizabethton on Wednesday. Tickets
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• TRN 1500, KMNV / KMNQ (Español) Up next
• Monday: Off-day
• Tuesday: Twins (Nick Blackburn, 8-6, 3.79) vs. Royals (Kyle Davies, 3-8, 6.37), 7:10 p.m. CT
• Wednesday: Twins (TBD) vs. Royals (Bruce Chen, 1-6, 5.28), 7:10 p.m. CT
Kelly Thesier is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
