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By A Daily Update By Our Staffers

Last update: March 22, 2007 - 11:36 PM

Santana will pitch every five days

The Twins plan to keep staff ace Johan Santana on an every-five-days schedule in April instead of pushing him back a day when the club hits three off-days the first month of the regular season.

That means someone will be skipped over -- perhaps righthander Boof Bonser -- when the Twins play at Chicago the first weekend of the regular season.

If that happens, righthander Sidney Ponson would pitch in first game of the series on Friday, April 6, followed by Santana on Saturday and Carlos Silva on Sunday.

This is all based on the current set-up of the Twins' pitching staff: Santana, Silva, Ramon Ortiz, Ponson and Bonser.

BONSER SO-SO

Bonser worked out of a couple of jams, as he had seven baserunners on in four innings. He also threw a wild pitch.

"I got through some jams but I had a couple little problems out there during the game," Bonser said, referring to mechanics.

Still, Bonser has a 2.81 ERA this spring and looks set to start the season at the back of the rotation.

SHORT STUFF

The main concern about Luis Rodriguez playing shortstop is his range. Gardenhire said it will be important for Rodriguez to make sure he's positioned properly to compensate for that.

"Luis catches the ball," Gardenhire said. "I talked to a few people and he played shortstop a lot in Triple-A a couple years back. He doesn't have a lot of range but he always makes the plays. He's actually moving better this spring than he did last year. I think his legs are in better shape."

Glenn Williams was a late-inning replacement at short on Wednesday. Williams actually appeared in four games at short last season at Class AAA Rochester and said he can play there in an emergency situation.

Gardenhire is looking at all options now that Alejandro Machado is out indefinitely because of a torn labrum in his right shoulder. Even if Williams starts the season in the minors, Gardenhire needs to know what he can do if he's called up.

Jeff Cirillo appeared at shortstop in three games last season for the Brewers and will get some work there before camp ends.

WHO'S HOT

Lefthander Mike Venafro deserves to make the team based on what he had to endure in the eighth inning. He entered the game with two on and no one out -- and all righthanded hitters coming to the plate. He gave up a single to load the bases. He got a line out to first, but a throwing error by Glenn Williams allowed a run to score. Alexi Casilla committed another error but Dustan Mohr lined into a double play to end the inning.

WHO'S NOT

The Twins brought along righthanders Johan Pino and Angel Garcia as extra pitchers. Pino pitched a scoreless ninth but Garcia failed to retire a batter in the 10th, giving up two runs to lose the game.

WHO'S NEXT

It's a showdown of Venezuelan lefthanders today when the Santana faces Toronto's Gustavo Chacin. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.

LA VELLE E. NEAL III

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