Twins prepare to take on the Fancy Fish

I'm here at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla. Joe C is back in Fort Myers to watch Scott Baker's bullpen session.

In addition to Carl Pavano, Matt Maloney, Jeff Manship, Luis Perdomo, Alex Burnett and Brendan Wise are on the list to face the Marlins.

Watched pitching coach Rick Anderson hold a thorough session with Burnett a couple days ago about his mechanics. We'll see if Burnett can apply some of that session today.

Tsuyoshi Nishioka is starting at short and needs a good game to increase his chances of making the club as a utility player. He hasn't looked good in camp, negative body language, the whole thing. If he ends up in Rochester to start the season look for the Twins to search for a utility player who can play shortstop. My opinion: Whoever the utility player is will start at least 60 games this year because Alexi Casilla hasn't played 100 games in a season and Jamey Carroll, the gamer that he is, is 38 and will either need days off or have some sort of health issue. To me, Nishi isn't running as fast as he did last spring, so I wonder if he's not ready to let loose on the leg he broke last year. I'm sure it's healed, but sometimes a player has clear a mental hurdle because he can go all out again.

Look who's batting cleanup for the Fancy Fish!

And the Fancy Fish apparently will allow the Twins to use a DH but will allow Ricky Nolasco to hit. Hmmm.

Twins

Carl Pavano, RHP

Marlins