Finding help from Rochester is a sore spot

By LA VELLE E. NEAL III, Star Tribune

Last update: June 10, 2008 - 7:07 AM

CHICAGO - The Twins have a problem. Even if they want to reduce their pitching staff from 13 to 12, no one at Class AAA Rochester stands out enough -- or is healthy enough -- to warrant being called up.

According to Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, third baseman Brian Buscher is hampered because of a sore knee that has limited him to DH duty. Infielder Howie Clark, who was called up briefly a couple of weeks ago, has a strained rib cage muscle.

Outfielder Denard Span, recovering from a broken finger, might resume swinging a bat this week.

And in case the Twins were thinking about sending a starter to the minors for seasoning, indications are that no one from Rochester's rotation deserves a call-up. Lefthander Francisco Liriano is 1-2 with a 4.22 ERA, but word is he's been decent, not dominant.

If the Twins get down to 12 pitchers by trading someone from the staff, they likely would receive a major league backup player in return instead of a prospect.

Until a move is made, the Twins will continue to play with what they consider a short bench. Gardenhire considered removing a couple of regulars during Sunday's 12-2 loss to the White Sox but didn't have the flexibility to do it.

"I wanted to throw my bench at them," Gardenhire said, "but I didn't have a bench."

The truth is, the way the pitching has been going, carrying 13 arms right now might be necessary for a while.

Young sits again

Left fielder Delmon Young wasn't in the starting lineup on Monday as Gardenhire preferred to start Jason Kubel in left and Craig Monroe as the designated hitter.

One reason was that Kubel was 2-for-2 with a homer off White Sox starter John Danks, and Kubel hit a two-run double off Danks in the fourth inning Monday. The other was, despite Young having hit his first homer of the season Saturday, the coaches believe he has been overanxious at the plate.

It's the second time Young has been given a day off after playing in 217 consecutive games, which was the longest active streak in the majors before he sat out a May 29 game at Kansas City.

Perkins not bad

Gardenhire and pitching coach Rick Anderson agreed lefthander Glen Perkins pitched decently Monday before being removed after walking Jim Thome in the fifth.

Perkins pitched inside better than any other Twins starter during the series. He did give up the first of Nick Swisher's two home runs Monday and was charged with three runs over 5 1/3 innings on five hits, three walks and three strikeouts.

"Perk gave us a good chance," Gardenhire said.

He was removed with one out in the fifth and the Twins leading 5-2 because Gardenhire and Anderson thought Perkins was starting to leave pitches up in the strike zone. Relievers Jesse Crain and Matt Guerrier combined to pitch the next inning, giving up four earned runs.

Etc.

• Alexi Casilla returned to the lineup after missing Friday's game because of a sore lower back. Gardenhire said Casilla also has sore legs. Casilla singled in the ninth to run his hitting streak to 11 games. He's batting .378 during the streak.

• Carlos Gomez's ninth-inning double ran his hitting streak to 10 games.

• Guerrier was 3-0 with a 1.53 ERA over his previous 23 outings before giving up three runs in the seventh Monday.

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