A sign of good things to come?

By La Velle E. Neal III, Star Tribune

Last update: March 18, 2007 - 9:24 PM

FORT MYERS, FLA. - One of the signs that Opening Day is near is when Johan Santana bounces fewer changeups to home plate.

That touchy-feely pitch usually is the last one Santana commands before the regular season begins. And he has been known to bounce a few changeups in April, too -- likely a reason why his 4.42 ERA for regular-season games in March and April is higher than all other months.

This year is different.

Santana threw five shutout innings on Sunday during the Twins' 4-3 victory over Philadelphia. He did walk three batters but gave up only one hit. As in each of his spring starts, Santana did not bounce one changeup.

"He's got a pretty good feel for that, early," catcher Joe Mauer said. "Which is good for us and probably bad for some other people."

The day he won his second American League Cy Young Award, Santana maintained that there was room to improve. It's apparent that getting off to a fast start is one way of achieving that, and getting control of his changeup could fuel such a start.

"Before, my changeup wasn't there at this point," Santana said following his 62-pitch outing. "Now it is there. I've got a good feeling."

Santana retired the first six batters he faced, four on ground balls. A leadoff walk to Abraham Nunez in the third inning was wiped out by a double play.

The only hit off Santana came in the fourth, when he couldn't hold on to Shane Victorino's comebacker. Santana scrambled to pick the ball up, then threw wildly to first for an error that enabled Victorino to advance to second.

Santana, now 2-1 with an 0.69 ERA for the spring, will have two more outings before opening the season April 2 at the Metrodome against Baltimore.

"I feel good as long as I feel all the pitches are there," Santana said.

Look out, hitters.

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