Battling for the last spot, Pignatiello has the edge

Before seeing Sean Marshall pitch today, Lou Piniella already knew that Carmen Pignatiello was going to make it tough to give the LOOGY job to Sean Marshall.

"The way Pignatiello is pitching, it's starting to make you review your choice a little bit," Piniella said. "Not that we don't like Marshall -- we do like Marshall. This young man [Pignatiello] has really pitched well this spring and he's pitching with confidence and he's done that role before."

Yes, you like Marshall, the same way you like Matt Murton.

Lou's mention of Pignatiello's confidence seems noteworthy (the emphasis above is mine). As a lefty starter, with Hill and Lilly already locking down spots, Marshall only had an outside chance at a rotation spot. Last year, he appeared to lose Lou's confidence down the stretch, too.

With Scott Eyre going on the DL (officially now), someone will emerge from Vegas with a job in the bullpen. While both Marshall and Pignatiello are set to pitch against the Mariners, Sean got in for a two innings today.

Sean Marshall...escaped a jam in the fourth inning when he got Martin Maldonado to line into a double play....gave up an RBI double to Mike Rivera in the fifth...walked three and gave up one hit

Not a great outing, and a line drive double play is a lucky break, to put it mildly.

If Carmen pitches well tomorrow, I think it will be really tough for Marshall to get the job done, no matter what he does on Saturday.

1. Pignatiello has pitched very well in relief all Spring


2. Pignatiello has more experience in that role than Marshall


3. Marshall provides great depth if he stays stretched out in Iowa


4. Eyre will be back in a couple weeks, most likely, so why throw Sean out of whack for minimal benefit?


5. Sean did himself no favors today


6. Lou was already backing off from the Sean's-job-to-win attitude.

That's a half-dozen rationalizations reasons for me to stick to the "Carmen makes the team" claims I've made all Spring.