Anthony Slama: Let the Audition Begin

Obviously Minnesota Twins minor league pitching sensation Anthony Slama has made someone in the front office angry. His minor league numbers are staggering, but as of now at age 25 he has not pitched an inning in the Major Leagues. Rather ridiculous when you think of the pitching difficulties the Twins faced last season. The 6'3"Slama must get ample time with the big club this year or he should be traded while he still has value. Joe Nathan is under contract for the Twins through 2011 with a club option for 2012 at a hefty $12.5 million. At that point Nathan will be 37 and price and age should make him expendable. By then Anthony Slama should have spent two years in the Twins' bullpen adjusting to Major League hitting and getting ready to move into the closer role in 2012. It's a job Slama has been training for throughout the minor leagues and with amazing success. Here are his statistics as a bullpen stopper in the minors:

13.3 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched and 3.66 K/BB ratio. The walks have been going the wrong way the last 2 years though.

WHIP of 1.04 for career and an ERA of 1.86, but again ERA has gone the wrong way the last two years at around 2.50.

Slama has given up 5.7 hits per 9 innings pitched.

He's given up only 5 home runs in 183.2 innings pitched and all of those came last year.

Rotoexperts.com is quoted as saying, "Slama’s repertoire includes a slider, changeup and his out pitch, an 88-92 MPH fastball." That fastball needs another 3-4 mph for him to fit the closer role ideally. A strike against him.

The lack of a Nathan like 95 mph fastball is a real concern. That isn't something that can be developed. His slider is his admitted out pitch, but without seeing it I doubt it reminds anyone of Steve Carlton's. Despite these issues Slama should get a real chance to pitch with the Twins in 2010. If the next two years proves he's not capable of filling the closer role, go in another direction, but at least let the experiment begin this season.