May  28, 1995, Metro Edition

SECTION: Sports; Sid Hartman; Pg. 2C
LENGTH:  1290  words
HEADLINE: Failures continue to puzzle Erickson
BYLINE: Sid Hartman; Staff Writer
 BODY:
   From the time Scott Erickson joined the Twins in 1990 until the end of the 1992 season, the righthander was 41-24 with an impressive 3.20 ERA. But since then, he is 17-34 with a 5.43 ERA.

    Last year, Erickson pitched a no-hitter April 27, proving he still has the stuff to be a winner. However, he has started this season 1-4 with a 6.88 ERA in seven starts.

Erickson, who doesn't offer excuses for his failure to do better, can't understand what has happened.

    "It's strange how things have turned around," he said. "I feel good and have been throwing good. I've had a few bad games here and there, but overall I've thrown the ball decently. But things just haven't worked out. You can't point the finger at anybody for my failing not to do better. I'll take the blame and admit I haven't done the job."

    Erickson, 27, said his struggles have been irritating. "You go out there and wonder what will go wrong this time," he said. "Every time I take the mound, I have a good attitude and expect to win. But one thing after another seems to go haywire."

    Erickson doesn't subscribe to the theory that hitters have gotten wise to him.

    "It's possible," he said. "But there are a lot of other guys who have been around a long time and they've had continued success, and some guys get a lot better. It's been a case of some stupid pitches, [for] which I can only blame myself, and some balls going through."

Erickson said he never has asked to be traded. "I did sign a three-year contract with Colorado," he said. "At the time, nobody knew what was going to happen with a new agreement. I was told that the local media made all types of jokes about my signing. Now, the media keeps writing about my being traded. If the Twins wanted to trade me, they had all of the offseason to do it. I have no control over a trade. All I can do is give the best I got."

    You talk to major league scouts in town to watch the Twins, and they marvel at the great stuff Erickson has. One thing is for sure: Twins general manager Terry Ryan isn't going to give him away.