Starting Pitching

I'm not here today to complain about the Twins starting rotation. Despite bad strikeout to walk ratios and horrible ERAs by some, the Twins staff is winning ball games. But the Twins ARE going to have a problem soon.

Tommy Milone, who we acquired from Oakland last year because he was a VERY GOOD PITCHER for the A's, is HEALTHY. He's given up a total of ONE run in his last FOUR starts in Triple A. We are paying him a big major league salary right now to pitch in the minors. AND Ervin Santana, our highest paid free agent acquisition in history, will be back soon from his drug suspension.

J.O. Berrios is cooling his jets in the minors waiting for his deserving call-up as well. He's the best young, major league prospect the Twins have had in quite some time.

That makes EIGHT starting pitchers who by all rights should be starting in the majors right now. The problem is, of course, that no team needs that many starters. Milone is not content being in the minors. He is potentially an ace. Santana will not be in the minors longer than his suspension allows, so the Twins have some decisions to make soon.

Mike Pelfrey is having his very best season ever, but it is not typical for him. IF the Twins try to extend his contract it will mean we have to trade someone else. Both Milone and Santana have better arms and careers. IF the Twins keep the wrong guys from the available surplus, it will have devastating affects for the organization long-term.

What's weird is that I don't think the Twins should trade anyone. I mean a sudden injury and Milone is in the starting rotation tomorrow. And Santana is still a month and a half away from returning...

But the Twins do have too many starters right now, starters that have incredible trade value for other teams looking to get a better staff. And good organizations have to know HOW to use that value wisely. Surpluses like this don't come along often or last for long.

IF the Twins trade one of those starters NOW and there's an arm injury a couple days from now, we suddenly will be having a very different problem. AND if the guy we trade ends up being great for someone else we'll all be angry for having dealt him.

I offer no suggestions. This is one of those times I'm very content NOT to be Terry Ryan.

I'll just have to be content in criticizing him later for making the wrong move.

That's what I do.