Contemplating Glen Perkins

Perhaps the only thing keeping Chris Gimenez from his seventh pitching appearance of the season Monday was the calendar. It's September, which means expanded rosters, which means there is an excess of professional pitchers in the bullpen.

One of whom is Glen Perkins, who faced three batters Monday. Fifteen pitches, five strikes. Two walks and a groundout, and the groundout came on a fast ball that, had it been hammered as it probably should have been, would have been described by the broadcasters as "center cut." Two runs were charged to Perkins in one-third of an inning, elevating his ERA to 16.20.

This was Perkins' fifth appearance since his return from the disabled list. It is almost impossible now to imagine that he will get another, even in a "Gimenez game." (None of his appearances have come with a margin of less than four runs.)

Perkins labored mightily to get back to the majors after last year's extensive shoulder surgery. I applaud him for that, and I applaud his track record. I don't blame him for taking the ball when called upon. I question the usefulness of giving him the ball.

Don't expect Perkins to pull the plug on his season and, presumably, his career. That responsibility lies elsewhere.