"Joe Nathan is not the first pitcher to enter the final stages of spring training still searching for his killer slider. Experts say that pitch usually comes around as a pitcher's arm strength improves in camp and as the ball begins to come out of the hand free and easy.

Nathan, however, would make it easier on everyone if he can get that pitch working right. For a variety of reasons:

• Saturday is the one-year anniversary of the Twins reliever's Tommy John surgery, and he is trying to prove he can return to what he used to be."