Capps: We have been playing uphill all season

Matt Capps was traded to the Minnesota Twins on July 29, 2010, for catching prospect Wilson Ramos and left-handed pitcher Joe Testa. The early returns on Capps were spectacular as he closed out the 2010 season 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA and saved 16 games in 18 opportunities. This season, Capps was expected to mesh with Joe Nathan, who missed 2010 with an injury, to give the Twins a perfect one-two punch at the end of ballgames. Nathan got the nod as the closer to start the year but struggled, so once again the Twins went to Capps to close the door. But this year has been a different story for Capps. He is 3-6 with a 4.38 ERA but has just 15 saves in 22 opportunities. Nathan eventually reclaimed his closer role, and Capps is now a setup man who is still adjusting to that role. Capps, who is well-liked by his teammates and has handled all of the changes with a smile on his face, is the subject of this edition of 5 Questions. 1. KG: How comfortable are you in the role of setup guy? CAPPS: All it really means to me is that I'm pitching at a different time of day and I need to be ready to roll any time after the sixth inning. When you're the closer, you know you will most likely only be pitching the one inning, so it is different. I am comfortable in either role, and I am still happy that Gardy puts me out there in big spots. We have a great group of guys down in the bullpen and I enjoy being able to contribute along with those guys every night. 2. KG: What has been the most frustrating part of this season for you? CAPPS: I think for all of us the injuries have been the hardest part. We know we have a really good baseball team, but it seems like we never have been able to get fully healthy. Physically, it has been more demanding because we have had less depth to rely on through these injuries. Mentally, it's been hard because we have been playing uphill all season. 3. KG: What is your favorite part of being a professional baseball player? CAPPS: Getting to compete at this level is just amazing. Obviously, going to some of the special places we get to go and seeing some of the coolest stadiums in the world. I think you have to appreciate the opportunities that playing professional baseball gives you. This job has allowed me to go places I probably never would have been able to go. 4. KG: What is the hardest part of playing professional baseball? CAPPS: The schedule can be a bit of a grind, there is no doubt. Baseball brings with it a very long season, and when we go on the road it means different hotels and a bunch of moving around. Being away from family and friends for long stretches can be pretty tough. 5. KG: What is your favorite thing to do when you are not playing baseball? CAPPS: The first thing I like to do is take two weeks to just hang around the house to rest and recover. Once I do that come late October or early November, I enjoy going to the gym and getting my body ready for the next season. It's such a long season, so you really have to take time to get your mind right, spend time with family and continue to workout so when spring training comes around you can be at your best right away.