Liriano in the pen.

[Juneau4]

Put LIRIANO in the pen and let him pitch into the starting rotation ! What do you think?

[mike morris]

Would do him no good. He just needs to get his command back. Sitting in the bullpen will not get him that. He needs the innings.

[sdstatekid]

There is no way they will move him to the pen. The only reason they had him start in the minors was to build up his arm strength and stamina. Going to the bullpen would make him lose the stamina. He will gradually get better throughout the year(as he gains better command) and they will shut him down at around 150 innings i think.

[Maximum12]

Liriano should be in AAA working on his command & location. This isn't a criticism of Liriano, but management.

The major leagues isn't the place to work out your problems if you've never even thrown one full season. At this point his control is worse than Chuck Knoblauch's.

[walleyeaddict]

not a pen pitcher...period.

[grasshopper]

Who's going to take his place? He replaced an injured pitcher in Slowey. Now is the chance to get he's feet wet and it's early anyway.

[Juneau4]

Two years ago he was in the pen and then became a starter.

[Maximum12]

"It's early anyway?" A win or loss now counts the same as one in August.

[Scott K]

 Originally Posted By: grasshopper

Who's going to take his place? He replaced an injured pitcher in Slowey. Now is the chance to get he's feet wet and it's early anyway.

Here are a cpouple options!

Brian Duensing

Kevin Mulvey

Philip Humber

[tisosy11]

Liriano is a starter, he will remain a starter...its going to take time. Anything we get from him this year is a BONUS. Next year will be truly when we find out about him!

[IFallsRon]

Johan started in the pen and made several spot starts before he was inserted into the rotation. The Twins need to put him in situations where he can succeed and build his pitches back to starter quality. He'll get a start in Oakland and we'll see what happens after that. I'd say he'll continue to be a scrub.

[Scott M]

Wow, the first inning isn't over today vs. Oakland and he's been pulled. Ouch.

[SledNeck]

well, that partial year (2006) we had him was a good one. I'll always have fond memories of seeing him pitch.

[IFallsRon]

It's all culminated in being a bad decision to bring him up rather than letting him learn how to pitch again in the bush.

I say fire Gardy, Andy, Vavra, Smith, Pohlad, Sid, Lavelle III, Charley Walters, Hillary Clinton, Juan Valdez, Vic in NoCal, and all those basement livers at Stucknut.

[Scott K]

Yep, not only did it hurt the Twins to bring him back early, it set him back also. He should have never been brought up. He was doing terrible in AAA so why bring him to the majors?

[greebs]

You've got to think he'll be going down after today. An outing like today's is a waste to both him and the team. Let him pitch in the minors to some lesser hitters and get some innings in and hopefully confidence.

[huntnfishsd]

I agree greebs, it's painful to watch him pitch after seein him dominate before. It's unfortunate that the Twins had to rush him along like that with injuries and such. Going back down to the minors will let him get some innings and all that good stuff. I just hope he keeps a level head and keeps working hard. I am not givin up on the kid yet, and I don't think anyone should either. In due time he will be givin hitters nightmares about that nasty slider of his!!

[UdeLakeTom]

Liriano down, Bobby Korecky recalled.

[tisosy11]

OK - 2008 is a bonus year if we get anything from Liriano and the Twins are treating it that way.

Francisco was sent up to try against better hitters and was sent back down to work on his control and gain confidence. He'll be back this year and we just have to be patient with him. He's not going to be the dominate pitcher of '06 yet, but there is still a possibility he can return to that form down the road!

[IFallsRon]

Wednesday, he threw 94 pitches in 4.1 innings: 5 hits, 4 walks, 4 runs, early shower.

[Scott K]

 Originally Posted By: IFallsRon

Wednesday, he threw 94 pitches in 4.1 innings: 5 hits, 4 walks, 4 runs, early shower.

Thats an improvement over his last start in the majors

[IFallsRon]

Francisco Liriano, in his second outing since being sent to Class AAA Rochester, gave up one run over five innings on two hits and struck out four but walked four batters Monday during a 7-6 loss to Columbus. Liriano threw 87 pitches, 47 for strikes.

It was a little better than his outing Wednesday, when he gave up four earned runs on five hits over 4 1/3 innings with five walks and three strikeouts.

[tisosy11]

Liriano needs to get that command back before hes called up again. If he can cut down the walks he should be able to be a solid pitcher again!

[huntnfishsd]

The Twins have got to be patient with him this time around. They must make sure that he is completely ready physically and mentally...