Bringing Liriano up is not simple as it looks
There is a movement for Francisco Liriano to be called up from the minors.
Twins fans are clamoring for Liriano to come to the majors. Liriano is tired of pitching at Rochester. Greg Genske, who is Liriano’s agent, is thinking about investigating the Twins for trying to cut Liriano’s service time.
It’s easy to say that Liriano should be called up. Anyone can make a case for him because he has pitched well in Rochester lately. With that said, it’s not easy to just put Liriano in the rotation.
Which starter should lose his job?
The obvious answer would be Livan Hernandez.
Here’s the problem though. Hernandez has done well at home this season. He improved his home record to 8-1 on Saturday night as the Twins won in a 14-2 laugher over the Texas Rangers. He did not give up hits against the Rangers and at one point, he retired 12 in a row. It was good enough for him to get his 10th win.
At this point, it’s hard to believe that he is going to lose his starting role because of his ability to win at home. Plus, Livan knows how to win games in September. For better or for worse, he is staying.
The only way Liriano will be in the rotation is if Slowey struggles, which could happen. Glen Perkins and Nick Blackburn has established themselves as starters so it comes down to how Slowey does.
The Twins could use Liriano as a reliever for this season only. It would be in the Twins’ best interest for him to be in that role. He would do a great job as the setup guy.
As good as Matt Guerrier has done as a setup guy with Pat Neshek being done for the year, does anyone trust him in the eighth inning often? He is not exactly lights out, and he can’t pitch everyday so Gardenhire needs to find a better option in the eighth inning.
With Liriano pitching the eighth inning, this would be game over for the opposing team so him being a setup makes sense.
It’s hard to believe the Twins are going to be active in getting a reliever in the trade deadline so Liriano is probably the best option available for the eighth.
This is a decision the Twins have to make before they call Liriano up. They can’t just call him up and yo-yo him around.
They need to give him a role, and he has to stay in there for the rest of the season. They should not be in a rush to call him up whatsoever unless something has to be done.
For Liriano’s agent to claim the Twins are trying to save money is ridiculous. If that was the case, why was Liriano called up in April when he clearly was not ready to pitch?
Liriano and his agent need to pipe down and just be patient.
What Liriano needs to do is stay healthy and continue to pitch well. His time is coming.
He should let the Twins figure out how to use him down the stretch.
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11 Responses to “Bringing Liriano up is not simple as it looks”
July 19th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
Great read, Leslie. That’s what I’ve been saying all along: Liriano needs to be in the pen. I get giddy when I think of him facing batters in the eighth inning of a close game against the White Sox.
The question then is, who to send down? I wrote about sending Gomez down, which needs to happen, but as readers said, it would just add another arm to an already full bullpen.
A reliever must be sent down if Liriano is called up, and that choice is easy: Brian Bass. He shouldn’t even be up here in the first place.
Good job tonight, Leslie.
July 20th, 2008 at 12:02 am
Thanks for the great comments, Andrew.
I really appreciate it.
I did some thinking as I wrote this.
I talked about the perfect scenario about Livan doing well in the rotation and Liriano being in the pen. I think this scenario could work out.
Livan will win his fair share of games, and the fact he won 10 games does not mean he should lose his job in the rotation. I would prefer him to go away, but you have to look at other things too. Plus, Livan does well at home and what if Slowey stinks, then what? Taking Livan out of the rotation
would be too much of a risk. For better or for worse, he is there. He has done good enough for me to stay in the rotation. I don’t think he should lose his job at this point now. Yeah he will struggle, but you can count on him to win some games especially at home.
Brian Bass should go away. He has not done much to stay. He is the logical option. Keep in mind that the Twins can add more guys on the roster in September as they call up many guys from the minors so it would not be surprising if Liriano comes in September. Thing is the Twins need to make a decision soon. I like to see him up by August.
I think Liriano is heading to the bullpen when all is said and done. It makes sense.
As for the game, I hope you liked it. It was a great win and just a great game all around for the Twins. Great work by Livan and everyone contributed at the plate. I just love watching this team, and I love writing about them when they are winning.
July 20th, 2008 at 4:34 am
You can justify it however you want. All your points are valid but it is still a numbers game where as someone is the odd man out. Liriano only gets a spot if someone gets hurt or they move someone out. So what do you do?
YOU PUT THIS TOTAL STUD IN YOUR ROTATION AS FAST AS YOU CAN!!!!!
All this BS about putting him in the bullpen can apply to everyone else too. If Hernandez can win at home and get 12 Rangers out in a row he can get 3 out in a row in the eigth inning too. Heck he can probably do that every day or so. Hernandez is probably not the best suited guy for that role but he certainly can fill it as can any other piticher on the Twins MLB active roster.
You don’t take a yound player like Liriano and mess with him. You stick him in the rotation and you let him throw 100 pitches every 5th day and you watch the wins and strikeouts pile up. Whats at stake? His mental make up. His pace. His stamina. His health. This guy is a thoroughbread race horse. You run him at the appropriate distance. You don’t let him plow a field one day and run the derby the next.
Look at Brett Meyers of the Phillies if you want to see and example of one of baseball best starting pitchers two years ago now struggling after a stint in the bullpen. He was moved to the closers role all in the name of need. Heck anyone can pitch in the bullpen right? Yes they can but there is cause and effect on that.
What is the risk vs reward on moving Liriano into a bullpen role? What is it for any of these other professional players? At the end of the day it is all RISK vs REWARD. There is no reward having Liriano pitching in Rochester. There is huge Reward having him pitch for the Twins in any role. There is certainly much more risk putting him into any role that is different than what he has been training/preparing for over the last 2 years. This guy is still only 2 years removed from Tommy John surgery and the media and the idiot Twin front office think you can just stick this guy anywhere you want.
WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!
July 20th, 2008 at 5:09 am
As far as limiting Liriano’s innings this year, it makes sense to bring him up to the bullpen in mid to late august if a rotation spot doesn’t open up. I would like to see him start. But until there is an injury or exended ineffectiveness by one of the starters, I don’t see why anyone needs to be bumped from the rotation either. Not only that Liriano could be the setup guy we are severly lacking. But first things first, Lets let him get some more innings and see if a spot opens up over the next 20 to 30 days before we bring him up for bullpen duty.
July 20th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Great thoughts, Ron. It was a great read. You make good points.
With that said, the Twins starters are all pitching well. Someone has to fall apart. I could see Liriano replacing Slowey soon if Slowey struggles. If Slowey is just okay, I take him out and put Liriano in. Slowey has got to be the one that starts pitching lights out and gives the Twins a chance to win if he wants to be a starter. As for Brett Myers, I thought it was idiotic to put him in the starting rotation. He is not a good starter whatsoever. He should be a setup guy to Lidge.
I don’t see really what’s at stake with Liriano. Problem is the Twins need to find a suitable role and they have to keep him there for the rest of the year. He can’t just be a reliever than be a starter. It’s one or another
As for Livan being in the pen, it won’t happen and you know Livan is a proud guy so he will make a stink of it.
Thanks for reading and posting, Ron and doofus.
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:52 am
Wow. Wow. I continue to read drivel excluding Ron R. Liriano has Cy Young potential. I am not a Twins fan but an avid fantasy player and watch thousands of games a year on MLB.com. Not bringing up Liriano immediately could be a major downfall for the Twins this year. Scott Baker is the only one in that rotation who can even get a mention in the same sentence. 2.16 ERA, 1.00 Whip, 144 k’s in 121 IP. He is not dominating Triple A. There really isn’t too much to brood over here. Someone has to be pushed out of that rotation. Pull the trigger Smith. Get some balls if you want to win.
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:54 am
now dominating Triple A
July 22nd, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Thanks for responding, Ian.
Tonight is a big start for Kevin Slowey. He has to pitch well or else he could be the guy losing his job to Liriano. It comes down to what Slowey does. Slowey is in danger of losing his job IMO.
July 24th, 2008 at 12:43 am
Um, I completely disagree.
Hernandez has a 5.3 ERA. He’s given up a .330 OBP on the season. Perkins is using smoke, mirrors, and luck. Blackburn’s been pretty good, but he just got blown up.
Either way, there’s a pecking order. Liriano has proven he deserves to start in the majors. He got hurt. He’s healthy. He should be starting. Blackburn and Perkins should have no problem stepping aside for a complete stud. They haven’t been around as long as Liriano.
Livan has to remain a starter or be traded or cut. But Blackburn or Perkins should have no problem moving to the pen.
July 24th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Moving Liriano to the bullpen would be a terrible move. All of you seem to think that as long as all of the Twins starters do decent (around a 4.0 ERA) then there is no room for him. That is crazy considering Liriano would be the BEST pitcher on that staff probably posting a sub 2.0 ERA. Yet they let him rot in the minors.
July 27th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
I have a feeling if the Twins do lousy in this Chicago series, Liriano will be starting.
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