Author: David Shama

General manager Terry Ryan is counting on some young pitchers to emerge in spring training and complete the pitching roster.  None of them has less experience than Kevin Slowey, the team’s second round draft choice in 2005.  Still, Slowey wouldn’t have received an invitation to the team’s major league camp if Ryan and others didn’t think it was possible that the 23-year-old right-hander will make the team. 

Last season Slowey pitched in the minors as a starter for both Fort Myers and New Britain.  With Fort Myers in High Single-A, he was 4-2 with a 1:01 ERA in 14 starts.  At Double-A New Britain the record was 4-3 with a 3.19 ERA.   His overall minor league numbers last year: 8-5, 1.88 ERA, 148.2 innings, 102 hits, 22 bases on balls, 151 strikeouts. His ERA was the best of any Twins minor leaguer.  He walked a batter only once about every seven innings. 

“He had one of those years statistically that really catches your eye,” Ryan said.  “He hasn’t been a professional that long but he’s certainly made rapid progress.”

Any conversation about the 6-foot-3, 190-pound Slowey is almost certain to include discussion about his control.  Ryan said he “pounds strikes” and that even as an amateur (the Twins drafted him out of Winthrop University in South Carolina) he was a “strike machine.”   

Talk to Ryan and you have the impression that Slowey, who only throws his fast ball at 88 to 90 miles per hour, has a confidence and maturity that is unusual for such an inexperienced player.   “You put him out there and he just has a mound presence,” Ryan said. “He’s confident.  He’s got enough pitches, he’s got enough stuff and he gets people out.  It’s maybe not lighting up a radar gun but he finds ways to get people out.  He knows how to sink the ball, and he knows how to pitch in and he knows how to put people away, and he certainly knows how to put the ball in play and pitch to contact.  … He’s a joy for a defensive club to play behind.” 

Ryan makes no prediction about whether Slowey will join the Twins in the majors this season but is clearly impressed with him.  “I don’t want to cut anybody short here,” Ryan said.  “If they have got an invitation to major leave spring training they ought to come in with the objective to try to make the club and that’s what Kevin ought to do.  Just because he might not be a household name or hasn’t appeared in the major leagues that doesn’t mean he couldn’t come in here and force the issue. ” 

While Slowey and other young pitchers will be followed with sharp interest, there’s another pitcher whose future really makes Twins fans hold their breaths.  Francisco Liriano, who was a phenomenal rookie last season with his gaudy 12-3 record and 2.16 ERA, had reconstructive elbow surgery last fall and will not pitch in 2007.  Ryan was asked for an update on Liriano. 

“There’s no reason he can’t be the same pitcher that he was this year when he was doing a tremendous job,” Ryan answered.  “He’s young and he’s strong.  Obviously this is a major surgery but people come back from these.  I would think he would fine starting in spring training in 2008.”

A source told Sports Headliners that John Tice, once a Vikings assistant coach under his brother Mike, is the new offensive line coach at Army.  Former Gophers assistant coach Gordy Shaw had been a candidate for the position.

Herb Carneal, who has been broadcasting Twins games since 1962, will do radio play-by-play on “approximately 35 home games,” according to Twins president Dave St. Peter.  He said in an e-mail that Carneal will not broadcast any spring training games. 

Timberwolves rookie point guard Randy Foye on his team’s potential: “I think we have a lot more that people haven’t seen.  If we get into that sixth or eighth place spot in the playoffs we can make some noise there.  We just have to keep working and make things happen.”

Sidney Lowe had losing records in two head coaching jobs in the NBA and his frustrations have continued in his first season as a college coach back at his alma mater, North Carolina State.  Lowe, who coached the Timberwolves and later the Grizzlies in the NBA, has a 4-10 record in the ACC, 14-13 overall.   

The Golden Dunkers booster group will hold its annual banquet for the Gopher men’s basketball team beginning at  6 p.m. on Monday, March 12 at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis.  Tickets, $45 each, are available to the public. For more information, contact Neal Johnson, 952-929-4154, njohnson233@comcast.net.

Joe Mauer’s new contract through 2010 assures he will be with the Twins.  Talk to general manager Terry Ryan and he will tell you Mauer will be catching during those years and not playing another position. 

It’s common to hear speculation that Mauer, 23, will switch to another position sooner rather than later.  He injured a knee while chasing a foul ball and played in only 35 games in 2004.  Catching is not a position that is kind to the body, demanding endless crouching and the non-catching hand is vulnerable to foul tips. 

Mauer’s athleticism and batting skill (American League batting champ last season at .347) not only make him extraordinarily valuable as a catcher but also versatile enough to play other positions.  Don’t expect it to happen anytime soon, though. 

“We’re going to keep him behind the plate,” Ryan told Sports Headliners recently.  “That’s where he’s always played, that’s where he wants to stay and there’s no reason to move him.  He’s arguably one of the best catchers in the game right now at the age of 23.  And I don’t think there’s any design, desire or thought to moving him out from behind there.  That’s very premature.  He’s been (recently) injury free so everything is straight ahead now as far as him staying behind the plate.” 

Ryan was asked if in seven years when Mauer is 30 years old a position change might occur.  “How about 15?” he answered. “You know Pudge Rodriguez (35 years old) is still catching and he’s been catching for a long, long time, and Carlton Fisk and Bob Boone and some of those guys caught for over 20 years.   

“I haven’t quite understood why everybody would think about moving Joe. …  He’s a good catcher.  He’s a good thrower.  He handles the pitching staff.  He can swing the bat.  He’s everything anybody looks for in a receiver and offensive guy.  I just don’t see why anybody would want to mess with that and move him as long as his health holds out, which it has.” 

Ryan said Rodriguez, Fisk and Boone kept their skills “like they were back in their early 20’s” even after they had played for many years. It’s clear he expects no less from Mauer.  “Joe Mauer is a special kid,” Ryan said.  “He’s got that athleticism.  …He’s one of those catchers who can run and there’s a lot of positives for him to stay back there.  It’s tough to find catching and Joe is one of the best catchers in the game.  We’ll keep him there unless something happens that would dictate (to) us we have to make the necessary move.” 

Mauer may catch 125 games or so this season, than perhaps DH in another 10.  Ryan said the latter number could go up if the Twins carry three catchers instead of two on the roster. 

The third catcher behind Mauer and valued reserve Mike Redmond could be Matthew LeCroy, the former Twin who has rejoined the organization after signing a minor league contract.  Ryan said the Twins think they can help LeCroy through some past arm trouble and they like his power as a hitter.  “He’s the type of guy who fits into the clubhouse well,” Ryan said.