How the pitching staff is shaping up

There are no real surprises with the rotation, unless you thought El Duque was at least going to start the season healthy. They will probably put El Duque on the fifteen day DL and send Pelfrey to New Orleans, since the team won't need a fifth starter until the third week of the season. It's possible that El Duque will be ready by the first available start for the fifth starter but he's been using the same delivery for so long I could see it taking longer. Hopefully, Pelfrey will get a shot and never look back, forcing El Duque into the longman role. But as much as I don't want to say it, he has struggled the last two starts and looks eerily similar to the end of last spring. If neither pitcher is ready, then it will go to either Nelson Figueroa or Tony Armas Jr.

The bullpen still has a little wiggle room and with tomorrow being an off day it may become more clear. If any one's cut they will have tomorrow to discuss the roster to make a final decision and speak to the player with an empty locker room. I still think they're shopping relievers and with so many clubs in need of bullpen help I could see them pulling something off.

Wagner, Heilman, Wise, Feliciano, Sosa, and Schoneweis barring trade or injury are locks for the pen. That leaves one spot left, it appears to me that Sanchez just won't have the arm strength to start the year in the majors. Brian Stokes regardless of being out of options, looks like he pitched himself out of a roster spot. Joe Smith ( 9 ERA - seven innings) could get the last spot but he's been out pitched by Steven Register and the three non-roster invitees who are still in camp. Smith has re-vamped his delivery and needs time to work out the kinks before he's ready. Register could actually be one of those rare Rule V guys who sticks.

Joselo Diaz without much fan fare has pitched to the tune of a 1.23 ERA in seven innings, Diaz has a live fastball but struggles with control as evident by his five walks and five strikeouts. Ricardo Rincon looks solid ( 7-SO, 1-BB), he had that one rough outing against the Cards who were hitting everyone that day, he has a zero ERA except that game in which those four runs put it at 6.75. Finally Nate Field who seems to have made it this far by not doing anything to get noticed, his numbers are very average but at the same time he hasn't had a bad outing ( ERA 4.50, 5-SO, 2-BB).