| Twins Turnover Starting Rotation |
| By Sally Haase May 23, 2012 Going into Spring Training the only thing that was not a question mark for the Minnesota Twins this season was the starting rotation. Carl Pavano, Jason Marquis, Nick Blackburn, Francisco Liriano, and Scott Baker. With Brian Duensing and Anthony Swarzak in the mix if they impressed in the spring. Before April even started both Baker and Marquis was out of the rotation with an injury (Baker) or a family issue (Marquis). Baker had Tommy John surgery and is out for the season, Liriano struggled like always and is now the long man in the bullpen, and Blackburn is on the disabled list with an injured thigh and will return in some form in June. And Marquis was designated for assignment this week after a terrible outing against the Milwaukee Brewers that ballooned his ERA to over eight. Twins general manager Terry Ryan says he is trying to work out a deal to trade Marquis or if he clears waivers he has the right to refuse the minor league assignment and for a 13-year veteran like Marquis, it is very likely that he will refuse the assignment and be released from the team. It was fun while it lasted Jason. So here we are before Memorial Day and the only pitcher in the Twins starting rotation who was there for opening day is Carl Pavano. Pavano is now surrounded by Swarzak, Duensing, Scott Diamond, and P.J. Walters. Walters just pitched the Twins first complete game of the season Tuesday in a 9-2 win over the Chicago White Sox. The Twins will debut another pitcher, Minnesota native Cole DeVries will take the mound sometime during the White Sox series. It will be the ninth pitcher the Twins have used this season but the young pitchers have been successful, either the other teams have yet to figure them out or the Twins actually have some good talent in this green pitching rotation. It is hard to lose veteran pitchers like Marquis and Liriano because they are good for guidance for a young pitching staff but when the starters are not doing their job a change needs to be made and the Detroit Tigers are not running away with the division right now, these young pitchers for the Twins could surprise a lot of people and make the American League central race a lot closer than we all thought. |
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