By Scott Hotard
Naples Daily News

FORT MYERS — At the front of the rotation, the Minnesota Twins have the
hottest pitcher in baseball. They have 28-year-old Johan Santana, the
reigning Cy Young winner.

After that, they have question marks.

If Brad Radke and Francisco Liriano were in uniform this spring, the Twins
would surely be the favorite to win the AL Central once again.

As it is, people are talking about the Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers
and Cleveland Indians. They are talking about the Twins, as well, but
they're mostly asking questions.

Specifically, they're asking about the starting five.

"It is a question mark in a lot of people's eyes," said Minnesota third
baseman Nick Punto. "But as far as our offense is concerned, we know we've
got some good young arms."

Arms like Matt Garza. The Twins took him with the 25th pick in the 2005
amateur draft .... and watched with delight last year as he stormed
through the farm system.

There is hope that Garza, who will start Wednesday against the Boston Red
Sox at City of Palms Park, might have an impact similar to the one felt
last season by Liriano, the lefty phenom who went 12-3 before being
sidelined by elbow troubles.

But before that happens, Garza will have to make the opening day roster.
He is in competition with several other pitchers to nail down one of
multiple starting spots up for grabs.

"We've got plenty of capable guys," closer Joe Nathan said. "We'll just
see who wants to step up to the challenge."

It would seem that Carlos Silva, who has a 42-32 career record, and Ramon
Ortiz, who signed a one-year, $3.1-million contract as a free agent, are
in line to take up spots in the rotation, with Silva the front-runner to
be No. 2 behind Santana.

Another veteran, Sidney Ponson, will also get a shot. But the Aruba native
is trying to re-establish himself, and he can't participate in a spring
game until obtaining the proper visa.

No matter how Silva, Ortiz and Ponson shape out, the Twins will have young
guns in key roles. Those in the mix, in addition to Garza, are Scott
Baker, Boof Bonser, Glen Perkins and Kevin Slowey, the former Miracle star
who has impressed with his business-like approach.

All five of those pitchers were born during the Reagan administration.
None of them has logged more than 140 big-league innings, though Slowey is
the only one with no experience in the show. Baker, Bonser, Perkins and
Garza spent time in Minnesota last year.

"All you can ask for is the opportunity to show that you've made
improvements," said Baker, who has started 25 games the last two seasons.
"Competition is never a bad thing. You've basically got to run your own
race; that's all you have control over."

For guidance, the young pitchers can turn to Santana. He has 78 career
wins and two Cy Young Awards in the past three seasons.

What he doesn't have is Radke, who retired after his 12th big-league
season. Nor does he have Liriano, who underwent Tommy John surgery in the
off-season.That leaves uncertainty. At least, in some people's eyes.

"We've got some young pitchers here who are very interesting," said Twins
general manager Terry Ryan. "For them to see the opportunity right in
front of them, all they have to do is perform and make it difficult for us
to send them out. That's a good thing for them and a good thing for us.
We've got plenty of numbers, and there's nothing wrong with competition."

Tuesday, February 27, 2007