Bonser bound for the bullpen?

By JOE CHRISTENSEN, Star Tribune

Last update: May 28, 2008 - 4:01 PM

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KANSAS CITY, MO. - The Twins adjusted their pitching rotation Tuesday in a move that seemed a precursor to moving Boof Bonser to the bullpen.

They flip-flopped Bonser and Glen Perkins, so he will pitch Friday against the Yankees on regular rest.

Bonser will pitch on six day's rest Saturday, which just happens to be the day Scott Baker is scheduled to make his next rehab start for Class A Fort Myers.

Baker has been on the disabled list because of a strained right groin. If all goes well Saturday, he'll be activated from the DL. Bonser is 0-2 with a 9.59 ERA in five May starts, and he's out of minor-league options.

Though Twins manager Ron Gardenhire declined to speculate, Bonser likely will be headed to the bullpen once Baker returns, barring another change.

Liriano update

Francisco Liriano's pitching line for Class AAA Rochester on Monday wasn't pretty: 6 2/3 innings pitched, seven hits, six earned runs, one walk and four strikeouts.

But Gardenhire said the reports were positive, save for one pitch, a fastball that Charlotte's Brad Eldred hit for a grand slam.

After going 0-3 with an 11.32 ERA in three starts for the Twins, Liriano has gone 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA for Rochester in five May starts.

Asked if there's any chance Liriano could be brought back as a reliever, Gardenhire said, "No, he's been through enough. Coming off of something like [Tommy John surgery], it's not something where you want to start bouncing a guy every night and all those things. Let's let him get healthy and let him pitch."

Tempering Gomez

Gardenhire wasn't overly amused with Carlos Gomez's comments Sunday about getting into the head of Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander by bunting.

"I don't recommend trying to make pitchers mad too much," Gardenhire said. "I believe there's ways that you can get in their head and upset them a little bit, yes. But I don't believe you should come out in the newspaper saying things like that. I just don't."

Stanley Cup fans

Justin Morneau and Kevin Slowey stayed in Detroit on Monday and attended Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Morneau has seen one game in the finals for three consecutive years. Slowey grew up as a Penguins fan in Pennsylvania, and still keeps his offseason home in Pittsburgh.

Even though the outcome was disappointing for Slowey -- Detroit 3, Pittsburgh 0 -- Morneau's connections got them into the morning skate, where they had conversations with legendary coach Scotty Bowman and broadcaster Don Cherry.

Punto plan

The new target date for Nick Punto's return from the disabled list (strained left hamstring) is Saturday, with his wife due to give birth to the couple's first child Friday.

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