PITCHING CHANGES SHOULDN'T HURT CATS

Once Minnesota Twins general manager Terry Ryan and farm director Jim Rantz came to town, it didn't take them very long to initiate change.

With right-hander Jesse Crain (shoulder) relegated to the disabled list in Minnesota, Ryan reached down to Triple-A Rochester and plucked former Rock Cats reliever Julio DePaula (2-3, 3.15, 2 saves).

The Rochester staff was replenished with the addition of Rock Cats righties Nick Blackburn and J.P. Martinez. New Britain, in turn, received portsiders Frank Mata and former first-round draft pick Kyle Waldrop from Fort Myers.

“I had (Waldrop) at Beloit two years ago and was very impressed with his makeup and how he handled himself,” Rock Cats pitching coach Lucas said. “And it looks like by his stats that he’s been trusting his fastball a little more, getting some sink and some groundballs and getting out of at-bats and innings pretty quick. I imagine his confidence is high and I would imagine he can step right in and contribute.”

Waldrop was slated to pitch against Roger Clemens today. Clemens is slated to make a tune-up start for the Yankees' Florida State League affiliate, the Tampa Tarpons, and Fort Myers will supply the opposition. Instead, Waldrop will start in New Britain if the weather allows.

Mata is coming off a year of inactivity after undergoing ligament surgery on his pitching elbow last year. He is expected to complement left-hander Jose Mijares and right-hander Tim Lahey in giving New Britain power pitching out of the bullpen.

Said Lucas: “He's still very young but I don’t think you can call him green. He’s made some strides. I had him on the team I coached in Venezuela and I saw some real good progress. He can come in here and help our bullpen.”

I shouldn't get much argument in calling Crain the most impressive reliever to come through New Britain in its 25 years of professional baseball affiliation.

Crain, 25, a Canadian by birth, was 1-1 with an 0.69 ERA in 22 games for the Rock Cats in 2003. In 39 innings here, he gave up just 13 hits and struck out 56. Opposing hitters batted .099 against him.

After brilliant seasons with the Twins in 2004 and 2005, he tailed off last season and struggled (5.51 ERA) in 18 games this year.

DePaula, 24, went to major league camp this spring after a strong season split between Fort Myers (1-1, 0.00 ERA, 8 games, 3 saves) and New Britain (2-2, 2.57, 43 games, 7 saves) last season.

He made his major league debut Wednesday night, pitching a scoreless eighth inning against the Cleveland Indians.

UNDER SCRUTINY

Did you ever have your boss looking over your shoulder while you worked? Did your sudden rise in blood pressure affect your performance?

Minnesota Twins general manager Terry Ryan and minor league director Jim Rantz will be visiting New Britain during the current homestand -- three games against Harrisburg and three against the Connecticut Defenders through Sunday -- and you wonder how their presence will affect the young players trying to impress.

What they'll say is one thing. Exactly how they feel inside may be something else. It's human nature, but players who give it too much thought are probably not long for the game.

When former Eastern League pitcher Josh Hancock of the St. Louis Cardinals was killed in an auto crash Saturday, April 29, Sunday's game between the Cards and Cubs scheduled to air on ESPN was postponed. ESPN aired an impromptu Baseball Tonight show that emanated from the St. Louis ballpark featuring game commentators Jon Miller and Joe Morgan.

Miller said that the Cardinals team would have to fly to Milwaukee for a game the following night. He asked Morgan how the players would react when they took the field against the Brewers with the tragic scenario haunting them and memorial services pending.

Morgan said that the players, being professionals, would be able to put their emotions aside when they play the game. Afterwards, when they dress in a clubhouse where Hancock should have been, the sorrow would undoubtedly return just like any other personal off-the-field problems. As professionals, they have to compete and deal with the task at hand during the game or they wouldn't be in the big leagues.

The minor leagues have a variety of ways to weed out those who aren't deemed capable of playing in the majors. Skill, of course, is the primary benchmark, but other less discernible factors can contribute to the process.

For some, it may be emotional instability. Younger players,particularly those from foreign countries, may be homesick. Some can't handle the travel, living out of suitcases and eating fast food. Some don't function well in terms of group dynamics, which are so important in team make-up. Some may find it difficult to perform as the crowds get bigger and bigger.

So when Ryan and Rantz go through their process of evaluation and re-evaluation, those who can't cope with the scrutiny would never have made it anyway.