Vance Worley

You probably haven't even noticed, but over the last couple of weeks or so I've been talking about each potential Twins starter individually instead of as a group.

I've saved Worley for now because I kept HOPING his stats would start to get better.

They really haven't. There's a few reasons that the Phillies were so quick to trade him to Twins. ONE was that they needed a good centerfielder and we obviously (?!) had a couple to spare.

But the two other primary reasons were more disturbing. Worley had one good season before hurting his arm and needing surgery. He didn't perform well after the surgery. More disappointing was that he really wasn't a self-motivator when it came to fitness and getting in shape. He started just a few years ago at 230 pounds. And it wasn't like he was a muscular 230 pounds. While undergoing surgery and taking time off he ballooned to 260. He's lost a little weight since then, but 250-255 is a pretty good estimate even though he's still listed at 230 in the Twins media guide. Everybody knows that's more of an inside joke than an accurate guide.

The problem is that Worley appears to be clueless to the idea that losing weight is his responsibility. A quote to sum up his feelings about the situation could be something like this. "Yeah, I'm a big guy and I like to eat. What could I possibly do about that?"

He's not C.C. Sabathia "fat" either. C.C. could give the Yankees 130 pitches and 12 innings of pitching tomorrow if they asked. AND look good doing it.

Worley would have difficulty going five innings at this point of spring training. Actually, he hasn't had more than three innings all spring and NONE of his outings have gained him any respect. In 12 innings he's given up 17 hits and two homeruns. An actual quote, "Nobody wants salad, you know?"

I wouldn't be ragging on him so hard if he was battling for the fifth spot in the starting rotation. The problem is, as of right now, he IS the Twins projected opening day starter and current ACE. I don't think Gardy even has the option of sending him to the minors, let alone cutting him.

This does not bode well for the coming season. I just hopes he likes having salads soon and decides that losing weight is something he can do. He spent TWO seasons with the most disciplined pitcher in baseball history (Roy Halliday). If NONE of that rubbed off on him, I don't have any great hope of his long-term pitching future. I have even less hope about him seriously helping the Twins this season.