News
Liriano returns to club in different role
Minnesota (70-69) at Toronto (62-77), 11:37 a.m. CT
By Kelly Thesier / MLB.com
09/10/09 12:59 AM ET
TORONTO -- Francisco Liriano's 2009 season has been filled mostly with frustration and confusion as to why things went awry for the former rookie phenom. But as Liriano returns following some time off to rest his fatigued left arm, the Twins are hoping that he can finish the year off on a much better note -- in a new role. Liriano was activated from the DL on Wednesday and is expected to be available out of the bullpen for the Twins' series finale against the Blue Jays on Thursday afternoon. "I'd like to see him get a little confidence as we go along here," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We'll just use him as best as we can here to help us get through some innings and try to win some ballgames. But also it would be good if he can go out and get some people out and leave after this season with a positive. That at the end he was really throwing the ball well. That would be nice." After putting together a solid stretch on the mound when he returned to the Twins for the final two months of the '08 season, Liriano's latest struggles began right at the start of this season. Prior to going on the disabled list on Aug. 18 with arm fatigue, Liriano was 5-12 with a 5.80 ERA in 23 starts this season. But rather than end on that note, the Twins wanted Liriano to return and pitch out of the bullpen. It will allow them to control how much Liriano throws and not allow him to pitch too many more innings this season, but still give him a chance to gain confidence. In the simulated game that Liriano threw on Tuesday, the pitcher once again had life on his fastball -- something that the club felt had been missing before he went on the disabled list. The Twins now hope that he can use that fastball and the increased bite he has on his breaking pitches to get hitters out late in games. But while Liriano will be a factor in the bullpen for the rest of this season, the Twins are already looking ahead to 2010 and how the left-hander will fare when he's once again pitching in their starting rotation. "You know this guy's arm is just going to get stronger and stronger now the more you get away from that surgery," said Gardenhire, referencing the Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery that Liriano had in November 2006. "Go all the way back to what, 2006, you had almost one of the best pitchers in the game in [Liriano]. He was matching Johan Santana game-for-game. You have a great arm here. The intangibles are there for him to be very, very good." "This year was a struggle for him pretty much the whole year. We'll go another year into it and we'll see. I have high hopes and high expectations. I like the way he throws. I know if I'm a hitter, I wouldn't want to face guys with that good of stuff too often. Pitching matchupMIN: RHP Scott Baker (13-7, 4.34 ERA)
Baker pitched well once again Saturday in a win over the Indians. The right-hander has been the Twins' best pitcher over the past two months, having not lost a game in his past 11 starts, which includes four no-decisions. Baker has been particularly tough against the Indians this season, and it was no different Saturday. He pitched six innings, allowing just one run on three hits with four walks and four strikeouts, despite not having his best stuff. The right-hander will try to continue his winning ways on Thursday against the Blue Jays. TOR: LHP Brett Cecil (6-4, 5.46 ERA)
This is scheduled to be Cecil's final start of the season as the organization wants to keep the rookie's innings pitched under control. After going 4 1/3 innings in a loss to the Yankees on Sept. 5, he has 136 1/3 innings between Toronto and Triple-A Las Vegas. He pitched 118 2/3 innings last season at three different Minor League levels. He hasn't pitched over five innings in his past five starts. He is 2-4 with a 6.98 ERA in eight starts against AL East teams and 4-0 with a 4.22 ERA in eight starts against other teams. He had trouble keeping the ball down in his loss to New York and gave up seven hits, three runs, three walks and struck out four. He is seeking consistency with his delivery that would allow him to keep the ball down, and when he does that, he has good sink and his changeup is effective. Tidbits
Justin Morneau said he's been using Brian Buscher's bat since this series started in Toronto. After hitting home run No. 30 of the season -- marking the third time in the last four seasons he's reached the mark -- Morneau said Buscher joked he wanted his bat back. "Obviously the one he was using was all right," Morneau said of Buscher, who went 3-for-4 vs. Roy Halladay in Wednesday's win. ... Gulf Coast League Twins manager Jake Mauer was named the GCL Manager of the Year after posting a .628 winning percentage in his second year of managing. Jake is the brother of Twins catcher, Joe Mauer. ... Morneau now has 100 RBIs this season, marking the fourth time in his career he's reached that mark. The four times are second most in Twins history, trailing only Harmon Killebrew who had 100 or more RBIs in seven seasons for Minnesota. Tickets
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• Friday: Twins (Nick Blackburn, 9-10, 4.16) vs. Athletics (Clayton Mortensen, 0-2, 9.00), 7:10 p.m. CT
• Saturday: Twins (Jeff Manship, 0-0, 4.41) vs. Athletics (Brett Anderson, 8-10, 4.45), 12:10 p.m. CT
• Sunday: Twins (Brian Duensing, 2-1, 3.94) vs. Athletics (Gio Gonzalez, 5-5, 5.76), 1:10 p.m. CT
Kelly Thesier is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
