Carmen

Cali

Because Tony La Russa can never have too many left-handed relievers. Cali had a 2.85 ERA in 55 relief appearances between Double-A Tennessee and Memphis this season. He doesn’t figure to see action in tight games.

Cali made his major league debut last month and allowed seven runs in 7 1/3 innings for the Cardinals. He has a chance to be a pretty good lefty reliever, but if Steve Kline is re-signed, there won’t be room for him in St. Louis at the start of next year.

The Cardinals thought Cali was about ready to help them at the beginning of last year, but he failed to make the team out of spring training and had control problems in Triple-A. His 6/0 K/BB ratio in 6 1/3 scoreless innings this winter seems encouraging.

With Cali and Mike Myers departing, either Randy Flores or Bill Pulsipher will be the second lefty in the St. Louis pen. The team could keep both. Reyes, the team’s top prospect, could be called up the first time a starting pitcher is needed.

Cali should spend a good chunk of the season in the majors with Ankiel apparently out of the picture, but he does need to show the same type of command he did in Triple-A last year. With a mid-90s fastball and a quality slider, he should be more than just a lefty specialist.

Cali, up for the third time this season, had a 4.45 ERA in 27 relief appearances for Memphis. He’ll mop up for the most part.

Cali pitched twice in 15 days, allowing three runs -- two earned -- in three innings.

Cali has pitched well in the minors, going 5-1 with a 2.45 ERA. He’s scheduled to start Sunday’s finale against the Indians. In two previous stints with the Twins this season, Cali had a 5.40 ERA for 6 2/3 innings with no decisions. Lew Ford has been optioned out to make room for Cali.

Cali had a 2.70 ERA and a 5/6 K/BB ratio in 16 2/3 innings for Rochester. He had a 9.45 ERA and 12 walks in 13 1/3 innings in his only major league experience with the Cardinals in 2004 and 2005. The Twins should have called on Ricky Barrett instead.