Sports Article

CAN ANYBODY HERE PITCH?
Rough firat week for Wild

Roy Halladay- 6.2 /3 Innings    6 runs 9 Strikeouts
Russ Ortiz-      2 1/3 Innings   3 runs 1 Strikeout
Steve Trachsel 3 innings     8 runs 2 strikeouts
Ramon Ortiz   2 2/3 innings   7 runs  4 strikeouts

    After 5 games, the Wild pitching staff looks more like the 2003 Tigers
than the 1971 Orioles. Despite question about the bullpen, the Wild boasted a
staff that had 2 20 game winners (Roy Halladay, Russ Ortiz) an 18 game winner
(Mark Prior) and 2 16 game winners (Kirk Reuter and Steve Trachsel) If not a
ìmurdererís row of pitchers as Bill Gallagher called it, then at the very
least, a strong a deep pitching staff.
    But as the above numbers indicate, it has been a very humbling beginning
for the vaunted Wild staff. Halladay got rocked on opening night, but still
managed 9 strikeouts. Russ Ortiz, Trachsel, and Ramon Ortiz had no such
success. This years start is eerily similar to last yearís disasterous start.

ìitís just one week.î Said manager Lenny Harris, ìWe can turn it around. Do
you really think Roy is going to pitch like that all year? And once we get
Prior back,  our rotation will be fine.î

    Prior is not due back until May 1st at the earliest. The Wild are going to
have to at least be in the middle ofnthe pack by then. Gallagher said that
getting off to a fast start was important to erase the memories of last yearís
lowly finish.

ìI domít think we can aford another tough start, Gallagher said

But it looks like thatís what heís got

NEWS AND NOTES: Gallagher announced yesterday that he has agreed in principle
to sell the naming rights to the Wildís ballpark. The stadium formerlly known
as George W Bush stadium will now be called Metro 53 Stadium, after the famed
Manhaatn hotspot Metro 53. ìI hated to sell the naming rights, but well I
wonít lie, we really needed the moeyî Gallagher said.