Top shoulder specialist will check out Crain

CLEVELAND - Twins reliever Jesse Crain, who might need surgery on his right shoulder and a lengthy recovery, will be examined today in New York by Mets team physician David Altchek, considered one of the top shoulder specialists around.

By La Velle E. Neal III, Star Tribune

Last update: May 17, 2007 - 10:28 PM

"All we can do is wait and see," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Let the doctors tell us what's going on."

Crain was diagnosed Wednesday with a torn rotator cuff and torn labrum. He pitched two-thirds of an inning Tuesday against Cleveland before reporting pain in his shoulder that kept him from finishing off his pitches.

The Twins should have a better idea of Crain's recovery timetable after the exam.

The last known pitcher to have surgery to repair tears in a rotator cuff and labrum was Red Sox starter Matt Clement, who had surgery in September and still is out. Crain's injuries might not be as extensive as Clement's.

Baker expected to start

The Twins haven't made it official yet, but righthander Scott Baker is expected to replace Sidney Ponson in the rotation, beginning Saturday against the Brewers.

Baker is 3-2 with a 3.16 ERA for Class AAA Rochester. He is scheduled to start today at Richmond but probably will be scratched from that start. The club recently promoted righthander Nick Blackburn from Class AA New Britain, where he was in the starting rotation, to Rochester. So the replacement is set.

Righthander Kevin Slowey (4-2, 1.46 at Rochester) was the other option, but he pitched 72/3 innings Tuesday, and it would be highly unusual to call up a pitcher on three days rest.

If they nibble, he'll bite back

The Twins entered Thursday ranked eighth in the American League in walks allowed.

And pitching coach Rick Anderson isn't happy about it.

Anderson plans to address his pitching staff today about the importance of being aggressive with the fastball and not nibbling at the corners with other pitches.

The talk will come after events during the first two games of the Cleveland series, when righthanded starters Ramon Ortiz and Carlos Silva failed to go at hitters. Silva on Wednesday threw 45 fastballs and 46 changeups, which was unacceptable on two levels.

One, it takes away from Silva's strength, which is his sinking fastball. Two, he picked up the changeup only last season.

Anderson said the one thing of which he's most proud over the years is the few walks his staff has surrendered. The Twins allowed the fewest walks in the majors last season.

Stomachs aching

Food poisoning has hit a few Twins players and coaches.

Bullpen coach Rick Stelmaszek was slowed by it earlier in the week. Outfielder Torii Hunter basically had a green tea transfusion after Tuesday's game to get rid of his stomach problems.

Closer Joe Nathan said he continued to be slowed by food poisoning and headed for the trainer's room before Thursday's game for relief. He still was available to pitch, just not at 100 percent.

And, no, the aching stomachs are not a reflection of how the team is playing these days.

La Velle E. Neal III • lneal@startribune.com

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