Twins 5th Starter Competition Will Continue

He was "OK." He described it as such. He didn't dominate (only two strikeouts amid seven hits and two walks in 4.2 IP) but also didn't give up many runs (only two, and only one was earned). His control wasn't terrible, but it also wasn't stellar. He was hurt by his defense. (Eduardo Nunez had and error and a couple he probably could have fielded.) He was also helped by it. (Eduardo Escobar and Reynaldo Rodriguez both made wonderful plays, and Escobar's probably saved more runs.)

In short, it wasn't the dominant game he probably wanted to lay sole claim to the job of fifth starter with, nor was it a step backwards. Both he and Twins Manager Paul Molitor said he "battled" and that's about right. When asked about the competition for fifth starter, Pelfrey deferred and talked about how he's just happy to feel healthy. "I feel good. In 2013, I came back from Tommy John in eleven months for opening day. Maybe it was too early," said Pelfrey. "Last year, it faded off pretty quick. But I feel good again. I expect good things to happen - to be successful - when I feel good. At the end of they day, as long as I feel good, no matter what happens, so be it."

So this was not a knockout. Instead, it looks like we're going to have at least one more round as Molitor said after the game that both pitchers competing against Pelfrey, Tommy Milone and Trevor Mays, will get another start this week. It is not clear if both would start on the same day - both of them should have their next turn on Thursday. If that happens, one would need to start in one of the minor league games. But the Twins could bump one of them back a day to Friday - the day that Phil Hughes is scheduled to pitch - and have Hughes throw to minor leaguers instead.

Whatever the decision, Molitor doesn't seem to be overly worried that he isn't going to be stuck with someone who isn't prepared. He finished his postgame talk by saying "I like my options."

Escobar's Day

Last night I wrote that we should trust Eduardo Escobar's bat more than we do, so today he struck out in his first three at-bats. He had only struck out twice over 32 at-bats in spring training prior to today. However, he made two very good defensive plays at third base. In the first inning, he started a double play that Molitor talked about at length, praising Escobar's patience.

"On the first double play, we try to preach a lot: don't let the speed of the ball speed you up," reflected Molitor. "That was a play with a left-hand hitter, where the double play wasn't there yet. A lot of time, that guy catches that ball and turns and fires and there's nobody there yet, but he let the play kind of develop, and it made it close at first [base], but that was the right way to go about it."

Then, in the second inning, following a two-run home run, the Phillies got runners on the corners with only one out. Ben Revere hit a hot grounder down the third base line where Escobar was playing inside the bag, but he ranged to the line, speared it, and caught the runner off base after an efficient run down. Pelfrey's outing might have looked a lot worse if not for that play.

By the way, Molitor also had Escobar play a little in the outfield in the late innings today. He did not get a chance to field a fly ball.

"A Real Fine Play"

Escobar's play was topped the next innings when Twins first baseman Reynaldo Rodriguez dove and speared a hot grounder by Chase Utley, turning it into a leadoff out. When Reynaldo came up to bat at the top of the next frame, there was a memorable scene.

One of the beer vendors at the Phillies park has a resonating voice that you can hear throughout the park. When Reynaldo was batting, the vendor happened to be working the aisle right behind home plate and had made it all the way to the bottom, right next to the netting. Midway between yelling "Water! Soda! Beer!" he looked up, saw Rodriguez and boomed "That was a REAL FINE PLAY at first base. JUST GREAT." Not only did Rodriguez hear him - he was only about 10 yards away - but I bet Aaron Hicks heard him in center field. Hell, Eddie Rosario might have heard him, and he didn't make the trip to Clearwater.

Rodriguez just looked around as if thinking "Am I not in the middle of an at-bat here?"

One More Defensive Play

As Pelfrey was battling, trying to get through the fifth inning, the leadoff hitter laid down a successful bunt single. Suddenly, a tiring Pelfrey was faced with a speedster on first and Utley, Howard and Ruiz coming up to bat. Utley laced a line drive to deep right-center field but (at least from my angle behind home plate) it looked like Hicks got a great jump on the ball and raced it down. I asked Molitor about it after the game and Molitor thought he might have started to turn the wrong way but caught up to it. "We all know he can play the position out there."

Center Field Battle

Hicks started in center field, made that catch, but went 0-2 with a strikeout. He was facing a right-hander. Shane Robinson also made the trip and started in right field. He went 1-3 but also drew a walk. Before the game, I asked Twins general manager Terry Ryan if the Twins felt that Rosario or Hicks would need to play every day to make the 25-man roster. "You could give it some thought with Hicks," replied Ryan, "but I don't see falling into that situation at all. If he's going to be on this team, he's going to have to be a player." I got the sense the Twins are resistant to that idea for Hicks and dead set against it with Rosario.

Boyer Continues To Roll

Blaine Boyer relieved Pelfrey and continued his streak of strong pitching. He got through 1.1 innings on 14 pitches, and Molitor wanted to bring him back for one more inning, so Boyer had to bat in the National League park. It was not a comfortable moment. "I was just saying 'Don't get hurt. Don't get hurt,'" grinned Molitor.

He didn't, by the way. He grounded out.

Boyer is an interesting dark horse candidate to make the bullpen. The 33-year-old right-hander retired from baseball in 2012 but then went to play in Japan in 2013 and came back to play with the Padres last year. He's on a minor league deal. He hasn't posted impressive strikeout numbers - just 6.9 K/9 last year in San Diego - but was very effective with only 8 walks in 40.1 innings and a 1.04 WHIP (walks + hits divided by innings pitched). For reference, the only Twins pitchers that matched that WHIP were ... nobody. Not Phil Hughes. Not Glen Perkins. Nobody.