Scott Baker is in the majors and Kevin Slowey is entrenched as the next best starter at Rochester, the Twins' Class AAA affiliate. That doesn't mean righthander Matt Garza is getting left behind, though; he just needs some polish.
Garza, who rose from Class A to the majors last season, gave up four runs on Thursday over six innings in a 4-3 loss to Richmond. In eight starts, Garza is 2-3 with a 4.07 ERA.
The Twins organization wants him to keep mixing his pitches and throw inside effectively.
"He has not done that on a consistent basis here," Rochester manager Stan Cliburn said. "In the games he won, he has done it. The games he hasn't won, he has not done it. He has to mix his pitches enough or teams have hit him."
Garza also made some bad throws to first base early in the season, but extra work has cleaned up that problem.
It's another indication that spring training success doesn't guarantee a fast start once the regular season begins. Garza had a 1.50 ERA in 12 innings in spring training, leading to clamoring for him to begin the season with the Twins. Baker had a poor camp and Slowey was just getting his feet wet in his first major league camp.
"At the start of the season he was a little confused, mentally, coming out of spring training with his demotion," Cliburn said of Garza. "I think it was for the betterment of his career. He needed to polish up on his breaking stuff and his changeup. We knew we had the overpowering fastball."
Plouffe update
Shortstop Trevor Plouffe entered the year with a .244 batting average in three minor league seasons since being drafted in the first round in 2004. He entered Friday batting .264 at Class AA New Britain -- but that's a good thing.
Plouffe has had horrendous starts the past two seasons -- .200-like starts -- only to rally as the season goes along. The fact he's hitting where he's currently at is a good sign.
"His approach is real good and he's getting stronger," said Jim Rantz, the Twins director of minor leagues. "For a kid who's 20 years old in double-A, he's doing a good job."
Plouffe is a pretty good fielder but needs to work on his throws, as most young infielders have to.
Robert who?
The Twins are excited about the blazing start of Class A Beloit closer Robert Delaney, a 22-year-old who entered the weekend with a 0.81 ERA with 12 saves in 15 games.
Delaney, a graduate of St. John's in New York, was an undrafted free agent.
"He's not overpowering, but he's got deception," Rantz said.
La Velle E. Neal III • lneal@startribune.com
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