Optimistic view of the Twins pitching situation in mid-February:
BULLPEN
*Matt Capps holds down the closer role
*Glen Perkins can keep up his 2011 pace as a strong lefty set-up guy
*Joel Zumaya can come back from chronic injuries and give the Twins a flamethrowing late-inning righty.
*Anthony Swarzak and Brian Duensing can provide depth and innings
*A couple other reliable arms will emerge from a camp battle
STARTING ROTATION
*Francisco Liriano will be his 2010 version
*Carl Pavano will be the stabilizer, eating innings and winning more games behind an improved defense
*Scott Baker will be healthy and a top-3 guy
*Nick Blackburn will get his sinker going and eat innings
*Jason Marquis will be dependable at the end of the rotation
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Current view of the Twins' pitching situation, as of 5 p.m. today:
BULLPEN
*Capps has two saves in the team's only two wins, but one was mighty shaky
*Perkins has two rough outings in a row and now has arm questions. He is not with the team in New York.
*Zumaya was shut down for the year before February was over.
*Swarzak has been good in two spot starts after being forced into the rotation.
*Duensing has an ERA of 6.00 and took the loss Saturday.
*The other guys (Jared Burton, Matt Maloney, Jeff Gray and Alex Burnett) actually have a 2.87 ERA combined
STARTING ROTATION
*Liriano has an ERA of 10 in two starts and has been all over the place.
*Pavano has pitched at least 6 2/3 innings in both starts but has also allowed at least 4 runs both times.
*Baker is out for the season.
*Blackburn is going to miss at least one start after coming out with a shoulder cramp in his last outing. His ERA is 5.56.
*Marquis hasn't pitched yet while dealing (quite understandably) with his daughter's bicycle accident.
*Swarzak, as noted, has been quite functional as a spot starter.
*Liam Hendriks had food poisoning, finally made his debut Sunday, and delivered the team's first "quality start" (6+ innings pitched, 3 ER or fewer) of the season.
*No starting pitcher (or reliever, for that matter) has more than 6 strikeouts. Total. This season.