Agree goldy but he just pitched very well on Friday night.
Its tough to manage inconsistency. Just when you think a guy has it going, you put him in a key spot and pfftt.
Liriano
Moderators: Mitch Hawker, east hockey, karl(east)
Crain
An Xcel Center quality stadium will be great. I don't mind putting on my winter clothes to watch a baseball game, but I have a feeling that people used to the dome will complain. I've sat through some Gopher games in early May where I had to go home and sit in a tub of boiling water to warm up.
packerboy's right, Crain did pitch well on Friday and that's probably why he wasn't used on Saturday. Actually, except for two appearances where he's been awful, he's had a good May, but he got shelled in April. His numbers were really good the last two years, so one hopes this is a blip. One odd thing is that he's had 22 K's in only 20.1 IP this year, whereas last year he had 25 K's in 79.1 IP. In other words, he's struck out almost as many as last year, in a quarter of the innings. Who knows what that means, I can guess that maybe he's trying to strike guys out this year instead of trying to use his defense. He sure wasn't fooling anyone yesterday, but I'm inclined to blame Gardenhire for keeping him in there too long. Too bad we can't clone Liriano, the Twins could use him in the pen, too.
packerboy's right, Crain did pitch well on Friday and that's probably why he wasn't used on Saturday. Actually, except for two appearances where he's been awful, he's had a good May, but he got shelled in April. His numbers were really good the last two years, so one hopes this is a blip. One odd thing is that he's had 22 K's in only 20.1 IP this year, whereas last year he had 25 K's in 79.1 IP. In other words, he's struck out almost as many as last year, in a quarter of the innings. Who knows what that means, I can guess that maybe he's trying to strike guys out this year instead of trying to use his defense. He sure wasn't fooling anyone yesterday, but I'm inclined to blame Gardenhire for keeping him in there too long. Too bad we can't clone Liriano, the Twins could use him in the pen, too.
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chedderhead69
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Irishmans Shanty
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Another Good Start
This season you have watched Radke, Baker, Lohse, and Silva all labor and fumble-fart through the early innings of games. With all the above it is not uncommon to see the bases on the top of the TV screen lit up with no outs recorded. Through five innings of Liriano's start tonight I can say I enjoy the following:
1) he works quick, not quick, but real quick, his cleats never leave the clay, no walking around the back of the mound rubbing the ball, no cleaning the cleats, no adjusting the necklaces, no wasting time, get me the ball I'm ready to go.
2) early zeros, not just early zeros, but easy zeros. You can just tell when the guy in the center of the diamond is in control. He controls the pace of the game, he controls the attitude of his defense, and he keeps the opposing crowd disinterested.
3) he keeps the leadoff man in the dugout.
1) he works quick, not quick, but real quick, his cleats never leave the clay, no walking around the back of the mound rubbing the ball, no cleaning the cleats, no adjusting the necklaces, no wasting time, get me the ball I'm ready to go.
2) early zeros, not just early zeros, but easy zeros. You can just tell when the guy in the center of the diamond is in control. He controls the pace of the game, he controls the attitude of his defense, and he keeps the opposing crowd disinterested.
3) he keeps the leadoff man in the dugout.
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jimjackjohnmmmm
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Unfortunatly I dont catch many twins games living in Colorado, but I watch the gameplay online often. Liriano is a stud, no hits through 5 innings is awesome for a rook. I thouroughly enjoyed watching the zeros keep poppin up tonight, IS. He and Santana are going to carry this team for many years hopefully.
Liriano
Wish I could've seen the game, there's no question at this point that Santana and Liriano are the aces of the staff. Baker's had a few shaky starts but Bonser's been OK and hopefully Radke turned a corner with his last start, though I'll believe it when I see it. It seems like the rotation is settling a little after a disastrous April. And Mauer leads the AL in hitting!
Good stuff
I also enjoy watching Liriano pitch. He has great poise and presence for someone so young.
He was getting squeezed by the home plate ump at times and he pitched thru it.
The safe call on the only 'hit' he gave up was a joke but he pitched thru it.
His control is pretty good and he moves the ball around.
But the #1 reason to like him is he has great stuff.
The only thing about the game last night that bothers me is the 2 bad errors. Batista made a bad throw and Punto made a bone head play after doing a good job knocking the ball down. That stuff has got to end if they are going to be competitive.
Is Lew Ford their only option at lead off?
He was getting squeezed by the home plate ump at times and he pitched thru it.
The safe call on the only 'hit' he gave up was a joke but he pitched thru it.
His control is pretty good and he moves the ball around.
But the #1 reason to like him is he has great stuff.
The only thing about the game last night that bothers me is the 2 bad errors. Batista made a bad throw and Punto made a bone head play after doing a good job knocking the ball down. That stuff has got to end if they are going to be competitive.
Is Lew Ford their only option at lead off?
Two good points
packerboy brings up two good points. First, Lew Ford as leadoff. It seems like Castillo would be the obvious choice to lead off with Stewart out, though I haven't looked at his numbers for this year. He has speed and has had a good OBP in the past. Why not move Castillo to lead off and have Cuddyer who's been hot bat second? And I see that Kubel hit fifth last night, what's up with that?
Second, the fielding. The middle of the defense is very good, Castillo and Castro in the infield and Hunter in center are above average as is Mauer at catcher. The infield corners though are fair, both Batista and Morneau are on the team for their bats and have cost the team some outs with their gloves. There's still hope for Morneau, but he needs to work on it to improve. As Dan Barreiro has pointed out on his radio show, the days of the Twins being the team that does all the little things right may be behind us.
Second, the fielding. The middle of the defense is very good, Castillo and Castro in the infield and Hunter in center are above average as is Mauer at catcher. The infield corners though are fair, both Batista and Morneau are on the team for their bats and have cost the team some outs with their gloves. There's still hope for Morneau, but he needs to work on it to improve. As Dan Barreiro has pointed out on his radio show, the days of the Twins being the team that does all the little things right may be behind us.
Sweet Lew #1
I agree Chrisk. I would have Castillo bat #1, even with Stewart in the lineup. He hits .300 and can run some.
I would have Cuddyer lead off before Ford. I would have almost anybody on the team except Redmond and Morneau lead off before Ford. I love the guy as a utility player and you need guys like him but not leading off for gosh sakes.
Was Gardy's early success a result of Kelly trained guys? And now we are seeing Gardy's team?
I for one am not impressed with the way they play and I agree with Bareemo on that one.
I would have Cuddyer lead off before Ford. I would have almost anybody on the team except Redmond and Morneau lead off before Ford. I love the guy as a utility player and you need guys like him but not leading off for gosh sakes.
Was Gardy's early success a result of Kelly trained guys? And now we are seeing Gardy's team?
I for one am not impressed with the way they play and I agree with Bareemo on that one.
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Irishmans Shanty
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Liriano moves to 6-1
Another start, another team, another league, more domination. Liriano and Santana, what a combo of Latin Lefties. Sports Illustrated stay away...and if you can't please don't put them on the cover. Terry Ryan call the Giants, see if they want to make another deal, we still have some holes to fill.
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Irishmans Shanty
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More K's
In today's Trib, Gardy said about Liriano "The bottom line is he just has great stuff, It's fun to watch, its really fun to watch." Not only that Gardy, its also easier to manage when a player burdens the load. Liriano is taking care of at least 6-8 outs himself that the defense doesn't have to address. A K can't take a bad hop, get lost in the lights or the sun, a K doesn't have eyes, and a K can't go through your legs or off the tip of your glove. A K rarely can drive in a run or advance a runner. Santana and Liriano are personally going to make this team's defense better.
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EREmpireStrikesBack
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