The Minnesota Twins Thread

[NYYDragoon]

I apologize for increasing the number of individual team threads here, but I feel like the Twins shouldn't be left out of the mix. Seen as underdogs in a division with names like Sabathia, Carmona, Verlander, Willis, and Buehrle, they were pretty much counted out as soon as Santana was dealt away. However, all is not lost. Following acceptable outings by veteran Livan Hernandez and Boof Bonser, phenom Francisco Liriano threw four innings of no-hit ball against the Orioles just now. I guess this means he'll be ready for the starting rotation, eh?

The loss of Santana and Hunter is going to hurt the team, but it will be interesting to see if the new younger staff will be able to take the club somewhere (Also worth following is how Bill Smith is going to control damage when it comes. Trade away Morneau and Mauer, perhaps?)

Carry on.

[nnysiny]

how was Liriano's fastball? last i heard, he was only hitting 90

[johnmvp]

how was Liriano's fastball? last i heard, he was only hitting 90

I was wondering the same question.

[NYYDragoon]

He's certainly not at 95 like he used to be. In in previous outings this Spring he's topped out at 91, although I don't know fast he got today.

He apparently has also thrown on an extra 20 pounds...

[johnmvp]

91 still isn't to shabby with more progress to be had. How old is he now?

[yankeebot]

91 still isn't to shabby with more progress to be had. How old is he now?

He's 24. For some reason, it seems like he should be younger.

[yanksphan]

per Rotoworld:

Francisco Liriano threw four hitless innings and struck out five Sunday in a defeat of the Orioles.

[YASS]

per Rotoworld:

Francisco Liriano threw four hitless innings and struck out five Sunday in a defeat of the Orioles.

I'm sure they'll want to see him perform this well against a major league team before deciding to rely on him in the rotation, though.

[Mr. Mxylsplk]

The Minn Star-Tribune thinks Liriano will be starting the season in the minors, though presumably that would just be for a few starts to make sure he's got his arm strength up.

http://ww3.startribune.com/blogs/nea...s-almost-over/

[sahara]

Twins extended Joe Nathan today.

The team announced on Monday that it has agreed to terms with closer Joe Nathan on a contract extension through 2011. The deal also includes a club option for '12.

The financial terms of the deal were not immediately released, although it is believed to be worth between $11-$12 million per year.

[swityak11]

although it is believed to be worth between $11-$12 million per year.

Rivera's contract would have made him a much richer man if he had gone the free agency route.

[NYYDragoon]

Twins extended Joe Nathan today.

I almost doesn't believe it! Awesome news.

But the question is, with their current rotation, will they ever be able to use him?

[NYYDragoon]

Despite signs of improvement, the Twins opt to take it easy with Liriano:

Liriano won't break camp with Twins

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Francisco Liriano will make at least two Minor League starts before joining the Twins' rotation, manager Ron Gardenhire announced Friday.

The decision came moments after Liriano made his final spring start against the Pirates. He pitched five innings Pittsburgh, giving up one run on three hits. The left-hander threw around 74 pitches, striking out seven and walking two. His lone run allowed came on a solo home run to left field by third baseman Jose Bautista. It was Bautista's second homer of the spring and came on a full count.

[...]

The Twins optioned Liriano to Class A Fort Myers after the game, and he will get the start Thursday in the Miracle's season opener at Hammond Stadium. Liriano will then join Triple-A Rochester five days later for a start in Norfolk, Va. After that start, he's expected to rejoin the Twins.

(http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...=.jsp&c_id=mlb )

[johnmvp]

Livan Hernandez fastball is only hitting 83 and I just saw him throw a curveball at 60mph. Amazing when my fastball tops out higher than that :0

[Prison Mike]

I want Carlos Gomez on my fantasy team- NOW. But I'll resist temptation....

[NYYDragoon]

I want Carlos Gomez on my fantasy team- NOW. But I'll resist temptation....

You can say that again. He's slowly becoming my new best friend.

And can you believe that the Twins are playing the running game against the Angels?

[Brooklyn Yankee Fan]

I want Carlos Gomez on my fantasy team- NOW. But I'll resist temptation....

I picked him up off of waivers, but my league doesn't start until Week 2

(We had to do an off-line draft, and the rosters were entered after the Red Sox/A's series in Japan, so we have to wait until Week 2 to start).

[NYYDragoon]

Nice to see that Pat Neshek is still driving batters nuts.

[26 and counting]

The Metrodome actually looks kind of nice in HD, watching this game on ESPN. I was there a few years ago. That place isn't as bad as everybody says.

I think that the Twins are making a huge mistake by not building a stadium with a retractable roof. It's going to be freezing there in April.

[NYYDragoon]

Johan Santana (NYM ): 7IP, 3H, 2R, 2.57 ERA
Livan Hernandez (MIN): 7IP, 7H, 2R, 2.57 ERA

This is the only day this season when they'll be comparable. Best to take note of it.

[shroud]

Hey, Santana did it against he lowly Marlins in the NL with no DH, Hernandez probably outperformed Santana

Today's game is probably lost if they didn't have Carlos Gomez anyway.

[BxBomber44]

Gomez impressed me...he looked LETHAL

[b-ball-lunachick]

I want Carlos Gomez on my fantasy team- NOW. But I'll resist temptation....

He was definitely exciting to watch last night. I think the first hit would have been a triple but it looked like he almost missed first base and had to slow down a bit.

Nice to see Hunter's return last night to the Metrodome...he definitely looked choked up.

[NYYDragoon]

Well here's a treat: Liriano just went 2/3 of an inning while giving up 6ER in Oakland. Yikes. And it's a pity too, since Baker, Blackburn, and Hernandez has been doing so well.

[yanksphan]

As a Yankee fan, I don't think it's wise to bask in the glory of a young phenom's struggles...

[Prison Mike]

Most pitchers take a while after they come back from TJ surgery to be themselves again. What we're seeing with Liriano is the reason I'm not in love with the Brackman pick.

[yanksphan]

Most pitchers take a while after they come back from TJ surgery to be themselves again. What we're seeing with Liriano is the reason I'm not in love with the Brackman pick.

No doubt. I'm worried about Brackman's start tonight.

[aeromac76]

Most pitchers take a while after they come back from TJ surgery to be themselves again. What we're seeing with Liriano is the reason I'm not in love with the Brackman pick.

What you'll see from Liriano once he returns fully is why I AM in love with the Brackman pick..
Just need some patience..

Elbows are well understood and surgery is almost always successful. Guys report throwing harder afterwards and feeling better.
Mariano Rivera went through this surgery.
Shoulders are bad news, but elbows are just a blip. Do the surgery, rehab hard, take a few lumps when first back, and then, 12-24 months afterwards, you got your boy back..
Liriano may struggle early on and may struggle the year. But I bet he is back and better than ever next year.

[NYYDragoon]

In a surprising twist, the Hunter-and-Santanaless Twins lead the AL Central by 2 games. Tomorrow they begin a series against the second-place White Sox.

Are they pretenders or contenders?

[NYYDragoon]

Cycle Alert: Carlos Gomez just sealed the deal with a single in the 9th inning against Chicago. He's only the eighth player in Twins history to do so.

[NYYDragoon]

Pat Neshek may miss the rest of 2008 with a tear in his UCL (ulnar collateral ligament) in his right elbow. This sucks. He's one of the most solid guys in the pen, and is essential to getting the ball to Nathan in the 9th.

(Why are all my teams losing key players?)

[chris_5103]

The loss of Neshek hurts but I think we are still ok with the pen. We can pull someone from the minors up. I read yesterday the Twins were thinking of going with Graves. This would be good to go with for a few months. Hopefully that will give Liriano time to work on his fastball and we could bring him in to be the 8th inning setup guy for the rest of the year.

[NYYDragoon]

Liriano for the 8th--that's interesting. For some reason, I don't trust Reyes there for the long term.

[CallOfTheCrow]

You want him to build up arm strength, I don't think limiting him to the 8th inning role would be a very good idea in order to accomplish that.

[chris_5103]

There is a nice article on Slowey

http://infieldirt.com/

I said back this winter here that Slowey could be a poor man's Maddux with his control. This article seems to say the exact same thing. We can only hope!

[Mark19]

There is a nice article on Slowey

http://infieldirt.com/

I said back this winter here that Slowey could be a poor man's Maddux with his control. This article seems to say the exact same thing. We can only hope!

I love this optimism from supporters of other teams. First we had Daniel Cabrera being the next Sandy Koufax, now Kevin Slowey being the next Greg Maddux.

Ah yes, the 24 year old control artist who has given up 23 HRs in 100 innings of work.

Maddux has historically great control. He worked 89-92 and got tremendous movement. Slowey will eat innings and, if you're very lucky, you'll get Brad Radke 2.0

[chris_5103]

I love this optimism from supporters of other teams. First we had Daniel Cabrera being the next Sandy Koufax, now Kevin Slowey being the next Greg Maddux.

Ah yes, the 24 year old control artist who has given up 23 HRs in 100 innings of work.

Maddux has historically great control. He worked 89-92 and got tremendous movement. Slowey will eat innings and, if you're very lucky, you'll get Brad Radke 2.0

yes, I hope he could be Brad Radke. You can't deny the kid has great control and if he can keep the ball in the park he could have a nice career. As for the next Sandy Kofax, he is already in NY. He plays for the Mets and his name is Johan Santana.

[NYYDragoon]

I think the Brad Radke comparison is more realistic.

The KC announcers made a good point yesterday. All of the Twins young pitchers have good stuff (they aren't afraid of challenging batters) and know how to keep the ball low. The farm system is clearly raising these guys with the proper mechanics.

[Mark19]

Twins dodge a bullet. Yankees beat themselves.

[just-blaze]

yes, I hope he could be Brad Radke. You can't deny the kid has great control and if he can keep the ball in the park he could have a nice career. As for the next Sandy Kofax, he is already in NY. He plays for the Mets and his name is Johan Santana.

Why did you trade him then? Especially for Reyes lite and junk.

[CallOfTheCrow]

Carlos Gomez seems like quite the punk.

[NYYDragoon]

Carlos Gomez is going to be great as soon as he learns some plate discipline. Same goes for Delmon Young. These guys make Cano look like a Bobby Abreu.

[Mark19]

Carlos Gomez is going to be great as soon as he learns some plate discipline. Same goes for Delmon Young. These guys make Cano look like a Bobby Abreu.

Corey Patterson was always some discipline away from being the next Beltran. Looking at Gomez' minor league numbers, I don't see much reason to believe that he will ever be a 5-tool star.

[NYYDragoon]

Corey Patterson was always some discipline away from being the next Beltran. Looking at Gomez' minor league numbers, I don't see much reason to believe that he will ever be a 5-tool star.

But we can't tell yet. The club knows that he's young, and they know that he's still learning. We'll see if there's progress in a season or so.

[PuffNettles9]

Just came back from watching the yanks 2 wins in the metrodome...Not much to the town and ballpark....the metrodome is the AL version of olympic stadium where the expos used to play.

Food for thought....Twins'08 WS Champs....why??? b/c whenever the NY giants win the super bowl the Twins win the WS!

01/1987 NY Giants win SB XXI...10/1987 Twins win WS
01/1991 NY Giants win SB XXV...10/1991 Twins win WS
02/2008 NY Giants win SB XLII...10/2008 ????

[4bronxbombers]

Carlos Gomez seems like quite the punk.

He needs to grow up a little.

[effdamets]

Carlos Gomez seems like quite the punk.

That might be a prerequisite for players (former) in the Mets' system...

[CallOfTheCrow]

Nick Blackburn is making his start tonight. That's good.

[chris_5103]

This has been a tough week and a half. the 4 game sweep was gross.

[NYYDragoon]

This has been a tough week and a half. the 4 game sweep was gross.

Yes, and so was getting outscored a billion to five. Awful. Combined with the Yanks splitting a series with KC, it was a miserable baseball weekend for me.

And they lost a duel to Sabathia today? Argh.