MLB - Sports Rumors

Fri Mar 28, 2008 10:06 am EDT

Blackburn prepared if Liriano isn't ready

By Joe Zedalis

Nick Blackburn

Getty Images

The Minnesota Twins have continued doubts that Francisco Liriano is ready for the starting rotation, and Nick Blackburn looks poised to take his place according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

Blackburn held Cincinnati's projected Opening Day lineup to one run on three hits in five innings Thursday, though the Reds went to win 5-1. In 16 innings, Blackburn has posted a 2.25 ERA, allowing 10 hits and five walks, while striking out eight. He is the clear favorite to join the rotation if Liriano or Scott Baker (flu) aren't ready.

"I know this: It won't hurt him to get a couple more starts underneath his belt [in extended spring training] if that's what we do," Gardenhire said. " ... I'm guarded to say the least."

In 16 innings, Blackburn has posted a 2.25 ERA, allowing 10 hits and five walks, while striking out eight. He is the clear favorite to join the rotation if Liriano or Scott Baker (flu) aren't ready.

Source: Star-TribuneNew Window

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20 Comments

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  1. lecitadel
    1. Posted by lecitadel Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:47 pm EDT

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    # 3 I disagree. The big thing about Liriano this year is building back his arm strenght, and keeping his confidence up. I don't think sending him to the minors would accomplish that. He would be a perfect middle reliever this year, let him pitch 2-3 innings twice a week, and as the season progresses get him more work. Blackburn definately deserves to stay. He pitches a lot like Brad Radke, and made parting with Garza much easier
  2. www.LSm.org
    2. Posted by www.LSm.org Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:49 pm EDT

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    many he is my # 1 man in the league don't screw with me
  3. A Yahoo! User
    3. Posted by A Yahoo! User Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:37 pm EDT

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    i'm a huge twins fan and i've come to the reality that liriano may only be 8-15 to 10-15 at best.... its going to be a rough year for him as he builds are strength, he may not be the liriano of old this year, but expect a 100% liriano NO SOONER then 2009
  4. baddog
    4. Posted by baddog Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:53 pm EDT

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    Twins have done a good job sorting through their starting rotation prospects to start the season. I do not consider Franchise a prospect...and if he can throw 4-5 innings without pain he should be going to Minneapolis with his team. Blackburn looks good and will certainly get called upon this year. I agree that the best shot in the arm (confidence) is for FL to go north and start game 4 against the Royals. He cannot be given a relief assignment without sending one of the relievers down.
  5. WINTWINS
    5. Posted by WINTWINS Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:47 pm EDT

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    like he did in 2006, liriano should be pitching out of the bullpen until gardenhire feels like he is ready to start. by may, at least one of the twins starters will have either gotten hurt or pitched himself out of the rotation. at that point, make liriano a starter. i don't agree with sending liriano to the minors, because i don't think it is a good gauge of how strong his arm is. when he first got hurt in 2006, he made a couple of starts in the minors, said he was ready, came back, and then blew out his arm. apparently he doesn't throw as hard in the minors (since the hitters aren't nearly as good he doesn't have to).
  6. Chris F
    6. Posted by Chris F Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:31 pm EDT

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    Liriano isn't even close to being ready to pitch in the majors right now. He'd get lit up like a christmas tree, if he was put in the Twins rotation now. That would shatter his confidence. He needs to go to Rochester and pitch every 5th day, in their rotation. That way, he won't be hurting the big club, he'll build his arm strength and velocity, and prove to himself and the Twins, that he is healthy.
  7. Lewis
    7. Posted by Lewis Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:50 pm EDT

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    Ist
  8. lecitadel
    8. Posted by lecitadel Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:47 pm EDT

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    #8 sounds good. I don't know what reliever you would send down, but for this year nothing is more important than getting Liriano back to form. I would be surprised if he pitches more than 150 innings this year. Minnesota is not going to be very good this year, but if their young pitchers don't get too shell-shocked, this has a chance to be a very good staff
  9. bbblogger
    9. Posted by bbblogger Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:42 pm EDT

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    Opt for Rochester--let him finish his rehab there. Confidence will return in 3-6 weeks. By that time, we'll have seen all of the others and know which need to be sent down/replaced. MN not going to contend--use this year to season players and sort out who will be the pitchers when the team can contend. Still need INF who can score runs as well as prevent them. CF is a WIP. Look how long it took Hunter to become a "hitter" (YMMV with that). Don't rush Liriano.
  10. Twitch
    10. Posted by Twitch Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:34 pm EDT

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    There is no point in hurrying Liriano. As the only potential starter in the rotation with any hope of compiling an ERA under 4.50, Liriano won't make an important difference this year. Unless you've got money on the over/under of the Twins losing 92 games, Liriano should be given all the time he could possibly use in getting back up to speed.
    After all, we need him to be healthy enough to hand to the Mets for a career pinch runner and a box of broken shoelaces in a few years.
  11. lecitadel
    11. Posted by lecitadel Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:47 pm EDT

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    #13 what kind of a comment was that? The Twins did not 'hand' Santana to anyone. They got as good a deal as they were going to get. Trade him to the Sox or Yankees? Those 2 packages were garbage. Sure I would have liked to see them get more, but they have resigned Nathan, and have their core of position players locked up, and their young pitchers aren't free agents for years. No-one is going to know for 2-3 years how that trade plays out.
  12. BAG
    12. Posted by BAG Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:29 pm EDT

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    so far liriano v pirates in spring training: Minnesota IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Liriano 3 2 1 1 2 5 1 4.61
  13. Jarron
    13. Posted by Jarron Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:29 pm EDT

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    Plus L,
    We all hate you.
  14. corey s
    14. Posted by corey s Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:59 pm EDT

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    Why not start liriano in the minors as a starter for a few games....then call him up pitch out of the bullpen to get back into the grove at the major league level.....thennnnnn make him a starter. I think that would be the best way to go build arm strength at minors, get back to majors and get in grove out of the pen and then become the dominate starter he is.
  15. Brady F
    15. Posted by Brady F Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:21 pm EDT

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    The twins decided to start liriano at fort myers for 1 start and then send him to triple a for one more start. After that he should join the big league club. Im baffled at why so many of you think his expectations for this year should be so low. He is 16 months removed from surgery. Many pitchers return from tommy john surgery to pitch in 12-13 months. Doctors have said at 18 months a pitcher is usually at the very least as strong as they were before the injury. His last two spring starts he went a combined 9 innings giving up 1 earned run and striking out 12. If the twins want to be careful with him thats fine because he is special but if you think hes not ready your kidding yourself.
  16. brued
    16. Posted by brued Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:03 pm EDT

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    the twins are right in letting the franchise build up arm ,even at 75% he is one of thier best options.the big mistake they made was not getting another seasoned vet. on this staff of greenhorns.i am hoping they will, why else would they have signed nathan.
  17. Will never go back again
    17. Posted by Will never go back again Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:12 pm EDT

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    wow... after reading all your comments, i'm guessing you're all mlb gm's...
  18. DOC
    18. Posted by DOC Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:47 pm EDT

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    14 you clearly dont have any idea about the package the red sox offered the twins. the offer the sox made that included jacoby ellsbury, jed lowerie, dustin masterson and another mid range prospect dwarfed the garbage you got back from the mets. the players the twins got in return from the mets were not on the same level that the red sox offered and it was made clear on ANY site that analyzed the trade offers. ellsbury would have started immediately in center. lowerie is ready to play now but is behind lugo only because of the contract the sox gave him. masterson is maybe a year away. so if the twins wanted quality that could play NOW for a budget price, that is the offer they should have taken. the reason they didnt want to deal him to nyy or bos is because they didnt want him in the same league and have to compete against him possibly in the playoffs.
  19. bl4ckduck
    19. Posted by bl4ckduck Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:52 pm EDT

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    Thank you Gardy for not ruining a great pitching arm just for a few extra innings.
    This is the right thing to do.
  20. CPU
    20. Posted by CPU Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:30 pm EDT

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    Wow if it all works out the Mets will win the world and did anyone see or heard if Kevin M is now in the baseball scene? Encouraging other teams by giving our best away? Good luck Santana and Hunter you both deserve a ring and if you can't win it you guys could buy one with those contracts...Lets just pay pay pay ball. One pitcher to the minors no big deal and well he would not save the reason for a couple of rebuilding seasons:)!! FANS, enjoy the youth movement and Gardy you will earn every penny this year and so on...Go TWINS!!

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