Shortstop gives Twins an option

BY JASON WILLIAMS
Pioneer Press

If the Twins are unable to land a veteran hitter by this afternoon's non-waiver trade deadline, Minnesota could have the option of turning to an emerging young hitter to try to jolt its lifeless offense.

Jason Bartlett has done everything the Twins asked him do since Minnesota's Opening Day shortstop was optioned to Class AAA Rochester in mid-May to work on his hitting. Bartlett entered Friday batting .324 with five home runs, 10 doubles and 31 runs batted in through 58 games with the Red Wings. He also had two triples and an on-base percentage of .402.

There is a faction of Twins fans who believe Bartlett should be recalled and inserted as the everyday shortstop, moving veteran Juan Castro to third base and Nick Punto back to second base. Bartlett's case only has been strengthened by struggling second baseman Bret Boone.

Boone entered Friday batting .170 with three RBIs in 12 games since being acquired in the low-stakes trade with Seattle on July 11. There is speculation his release could come any day.

It is unlikely Bartlett would do further damage to the Twins' offense. In 26 games with Minnesota this season, he batted .242 with two homers, four doubles and 12 RBIs.

"If there's a need, he'd be our guy," said Jim Rantz, the Twins' minor league director.

Pitchers ailing

Rochester pitchers Dave Gassner and J.D. Durbin, both of whom could compete for a possible open spot in the Twins' rotation in spring training, have been sidelined by injuries.

Gassner (elbow soreness) is expected to miss his scheduled start today, and the left-hander could miss more, Rantz said. Gassner lasted just three innings in Tuesday's outing.

Durbin has inflammation in his rotator cuff, and the right-hander received a cortisone injection last week. Durbin, who has not pitched all month, is expected to begin a throwing program in the next few days and could be ready to pitch in a game next week.

It's a boy

LeAnn Baker, wife of Twins' top pitching prospect Scott Baker, gave birth to the couple's first child Thursday afternoon at a Rochester hospital, a boy they named Elijah. He weighed 8 pounds, 8 ounces.

Baker was on the mound, working on a shutout when his wife called the dugout telephone. Trainer Tony Leo took the call, relayed the message to pitching coach Bobby Cuellar, who removed Baker from the game with one out in the seventh inning.

"She said, 'I'm listening to the game. My water broke. It's probably a good time for Scott to come over,' " Leo told the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.

Bowyer update

Rantz spent most of last week in Rochester, and he was pleased to see that International League all-star closer Travis Bowyer is mixing in more breaking pitches with his fastball.

"It's starting to work for him," Rantz said of Bowyer's curveball.

The organization has implored the hard-throwing right-hander to diversify his pitches, and Bowyer's progress comes at an opportune time. There is speculation that Bowyer will be called up if the Twins trade reliever J.C. Romero by today's deadline. If not, Bowyer still is expected to receive a September call-up.

Bowyer entered Friday 4-1 with a 1.89 earned-run average and leading the IL with 19 saves.