Jim Souhan: Garza should take Silva's spot

FORT MYERS, FLA.

N ot that Brad Eldred's homer off Carlos Silva on Saturday was high and long, but it burned up on re-entry.

That ball not only had air marshals and reclining seats, the in-flight movie was "Lord of the Rings." Parts I, II and III.

Silva made his second-to-last start of the spring against the Pirates at Hammond Stadium, and earplugs were mandatory once Eldred crushed a ball over the tall scoreboard behind the fence in left-center, landing an estimated 500 feet from home.

When the ball left Eldred's bat, Silva's hold on his spot in the rotation was tenuous. By the time it returned to earth, you could hear the Twins' plans going through the staff paper shredder.

Silva eked through three innings, giving up just the two runs that scored on Eldred's unmanned space flight, surviving because of left fielder Rondell White's spectacular diving catch down the line in the first inning and first baseman Justin Morneau's nice play to his right in the third.

In the fourth, Silva faced eight batters. Seven got hits, and one almost turned shortstop Jason Bartlett into an ex-player named Lefty.

Eldred hit a line drive that swerved so violently it almost broke Bartlett's right hand, causing it to swell like Silva's ERA.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire pulled Silva after 31/3 innings, 11 hits, nine earned runs and one wild pitch.

Before Saturday, Silva was in line to start on April 3, in Game 2 of the regular season. For all of the Twins' arguments about beginning the year with veterans in the rotation and despite their nonrefundable investment of $4.35 million, that would not be acceptable to anyone who saw Silva lose his composure in the fourth inning.

Before Silva imploded, the Twins already had decided to send talented lefty Glen Perkins to the minors after Saturday's game. That leaves the braintrust with one rational course of action.

If Matt Garza doesn't drool all over himself today in Clearwater, put him in the rotation. Move Silva, whose spring ERA is 11.02, to the bullpen, where he can be the 12th pitcher and try to right himself during mop-up work. Trade prospect J.D. Durbin, who is out of options and would make the team only as a mop-up guy, for the backup shortstop this team needs.

The braintrust needs to acknowledge that starting the season with Silva in the rotation would hamstring the Twins in what might be the toughest division in baseball, and would send the message to the everyday players that the franchise is not doing all it can to win in April.

Garza could use a little more polish, but he likely would improve over the course of the season, and his stuff would give him a chance against even the best lineups. Although he had a 5.76 ERA last year in the majors, he also helped the Twins win key games during a pennant race, and he can be the true No. 2 starter the Twins need to complement ace Johan Santana.

Silva? He spoke of working on his arm angles and command, saying "the runs don't bother me," arguing that he's more concerned with working on his sinker than getting spring training outs.

Evidently.

The Twins have one of baseball's best bullpens. Their sluggers -- Justin Morneau, Michael Cuddyer, Torii Hunter, Rondell White -- all look primed for big years. Reports of Joe Mauer's demise have been greatly exaggerated -- he may, indeed, walk again. The Twins could have four or five players receive consideration for Gold Glove awards.

None of which will matter if the Twins force-feed Silva into the rotation, and he allows shots off Harmon Killebrew's portrait and Bartlett's forehead.

Say this for Silva: He's a good teammate. Nobody else could have made Sidney Ponson this comfortable about his place in the Twins rotation.

Jim Souhan can be heard Sundays from 10 a.m.-noon on AM-1500 KSTP. jsouhan@startribune.com