Liriano and Ruiz Coming Up

by AdamOnFirst on Aug 1, 2008 4:28 PM EDT Comment 25 comments

The Twins plan to cut ties with Livan Hernandez and Craig Monroe today, clearing space for Francisco Liriano and Randy Ruiz to join the roster from Class AAA Rochester.

The team has yet to make an official announcement, but Liriano and Ruiz are on their way to the Twin Cities from Class AAA Rochester, according to people with knowledge of the situation.

Hernandez and Monroe likely will be designated for assignment.

I hae to run, so I don't have any more time to comment, but obviously I'm happy to see Liriano back up, and I'm also very pleased for Randy Ruiz. This is a big chance for him after working so hard in the minors for so long, and he's certainly earned it with his .320 batting average and 17 homers in AAA this year.

PS, that's about 20% of the payroll wasted on washed up veterans from the scrap heap. When will this organization learn that you get what you pay for...

0 recs | Comment 25 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Couple of things

I know they want to save money on the incentives, but as poor as Hernandez has been, I’d rather they DFA’d Bass. I’d rather keep Hernandez around in case I needed a spot starter or something. I don’t really get why they care about Bass—he has no outstanding skill, and guys like him aren’t hard to find.

I hope they start Liriano tomorrow (today is is scheduled day), and push Perkins back to Monday to separate the lefties in the rotation. If Liriano just takes Hernandez’s turn, it would be Perkins Sunday and Liriano Monday—I’d like to put one of the similar righties in between them.

Congratulations to Randy Ruiz. Could have saved $3 million.

by Eric in Madison on Aug 1, 2008 4:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Bass > Livan

I think Bass has a chance to be a decent long man. He’s just a rookie and he’s been thrust into a role that’s beyond him. As long as they can keep him in a mop-up role, they have a chance to develop him still. Their chances of doing that are improved with Liriano in the rotation. Livan has put a lot of stress on the bullpen this year.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Aug 1, 2008 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

Guerrier wasn’t much of anything either at that point in his career. Bass has got a good sinker and good slider (though inconsistent), just let it develop. Remember also that Bass was at his best last year when he was starting. Both him and Boof could be thrust back into starting if it was needed.

Gardenhire's major league career: Banjo hitting, futility infielder who couldn't lick it.
Rick Anderson's major league career: Strikethrower who never made it happen with his sub 90's fastball.
Really gives a new definition to living vicariously through other people, don't it?

by caseintheface on Aug 1, 2008 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Boof

I was going to say the same thing. It might not be ideal but I think Boof would provide just as “quality” of starts as Livan would. Plus Boof actually has a chance to get back on track. He has had good stretches in his career, I still have hope with him even if it’s fading fast.

Peyton's good but have you ever heard of Jeff George?

by halfchest on Aug 1, 2008 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

If necessary Boof at the very least can provide what Livan does. If Boof did have to start there’s plenty of other relievers ready for a shot in the minors too.

by caseintheface on Aug 1, 2008 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ruiz

Hopefully he makes it off the plane and grabs a bat to face Sowers tonight.

by caseintheface on Aug 1, 2008 5:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Apparently he's in the lineup

Thought they would let Kubel go again, especially after that bomb last night, but good for Ruiz. It’s been a long time waiting for him.

He’s exactly the type of free talent guy that should preclude Craig Monroe from making nearly $4 million.

by Eric in Madison on Aug 1, 2008 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes

Gleeman certainly got that one right. You don’t waste your money on replacement-level free agents because guys like Ruiz are just waiting to be had for the minimum. You would think they would learn that lesson after Batista, and Castro, and Sierra, and White, and Cirillo, and, and and. Unfortunately, they are obligated to spend their money by rule. They’re not allowed to pocket luxury tax dollars. And the free agent market had like two guys on it who have done anything this year. So, what are you going to do?

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Aug 1, 2008 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The problem with not spending any money...

...is it brings on the “Pohlads are cheap” complaints. And it’s not as if Monroe didn’t provide some key hits in his 1.65 PAs/per game, which is what Ruiz is replacing until Cuddyer comes back in about 10 days. Funny thing: Monroe and Ruiz were born the same year, and in about two months will be the same age for a while. Ruiz might be a good story, but people who have spent a career in the minors do it for a reason, and in Ruiz’s case he could not have filled Monroe’s limited role this year because you can’t play him in the field at the big-league level. So if Gleeman is saying Ruiz could have stepped into Monroe’s role the past four months, he’s wrong.

So far the Twins have eaten about $4.5 million in salary among Rincon, Hernandez and Monroe. Terry Ryan never spent Carl’s money like that.

by Johnny Safron on Aug 1, 2008 6:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Um

“and in Ruiz’s case he could not have filled Monroe’s limited role this year because you can’t play him in the field at the big-league level.”

Monroe only played in the field for 82 inning this year, over only 11 games. Fielding wasn’t a very big piece of Monroe’s contribution. Ruiz will fill Monroe’s real purpose, being a DH platoon partner and pinch hitter.

Gleeman’s point on the two is very good. That the two are very similar hitters with big flaws and nearly the same age. The difference is the Tigers took a chance on Monroe and called him up in 2003 while Ruiz hadn’t gotten that opportunity yet. Ruiz is cheaper and having a much better year than Monroe, so I’d call it a shrewd move on Bill Smith’s part.

"You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the damn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all."
~ Earl Weaver
"In God we trust. All others must provide evidence."
~ Billy Beane

by AdamOnFirst on Aug 2, 2008 12:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not exactly

Monroe could play the field, Ruiz cannot.

Monroe had a couple decent seasons at the MLB level, Ruiz has not.

Maybe it was time for Monroe to go, but he did win two games for the Twins this year.

All in all, I think Monroe was a worthwhile gamble. He had some good at-bats, but just never got his timing right. Too many Lew Ford-style choppers to third.

Ruiz will be back in Rochester as soon as Cuddy gets back.

by wcooley on Aug 2, 2008 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

By that logic

Monroe would have been the one gone when Cuddyer came back anyway.. why not give the kid a shot.

by Neil on Aug 2, 2008 7:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My point

You misunderstand my point about Monroe’s field experience. I understand that he is capable of playing in the corner outfield (though I will not cede that he is in any way an acceptable solution at all in center field, despite Gardenhire’s assertions. You’ll note even Gardenhire only played him there a couple of times). My point is playing the field isn’t really a portion of his role for the Twins. He was a bench bat/DH platoon player. Him playing in the field was usually just a way to get him in the lineup. Playing in the field wasn’t really material to his role with the team.

As for Monroe having a couple decent seasons, the point is they are both very similar players. They are both flawed hitters with a platoon split and some pop that can make them useful. They have similar track records in the minor leagues. The only difference is Monroe once had a team with use for his skills while Ruiz didn’t get that lucky. They both could do the same job, just Monroe had the chance, Ruiz didn’t. Then, once Monroe was in the majors, he got to stay and bounce around while Ruiz had to keep waiting. It doesn’t make Ruiz’s skills any worse than Monroe’s, it’s just how the cookie crumbles.

I should say that I don’t think Monroe is a bad player to have around. Now, the price we paid to acquire him was silly since we had to give up a (bad) prospect and pay him a premium when there were several other players equally or slightly better equipped to Dh and hit lefties available for lower contracts on the free agent market, but that’s no strike against Monroe’s skills, just Bill Smith’s savvy. But, by this point Monroe was having a bad year while Ruiz, a player with similar skills able to fill a nearly identical role on the team, was having a very good year in AAA, so why not make the change.

by AdamOnFirst on Aug 4, 2008 3:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Um

Monroe only played in the field for 82 inning this year, over only 11 games. Fielding wasn’t a very big piece of Monroe’s contribution.

It was at the time. They put him in CF when the needed someone to play there.

It would have been pretty comical to be forced to play Ruiz there.

Ruiz will get his 17-22 ABs, Cuddyer will return, then Ruiz will go down until September. October will roll around and that will likely be the end of Ruiz’ big-league career. Being Monroe was gone when Cuddyer returned, the Twins stuck with their approach and promoted a guy who was earning it while at the same time putting an end to 10 days of conjecture about Monroe. Probably not a wise move on the field, maybe a wise one off the field.

by Johnny Safron on Aug 2, 2008 11:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good to get Ruiz some atbats now

Twins have had good success this year giving some guys a taste of the majors and when they go back down they start tearing it apart, chopping at the bit to get back the big leagues. Span is the obvious example who didn’t really do much his first time up. Macri, has been performing much better since he was sent back down. Buscher kind of works on the same level considering he was given a shot late last season and then he’s been tearing the cover of the ball ever since. If Ruiz can get the jitters out this time up, maybe he’ll be better able to make a significant contribution come September.

by caseintheface on Aug 3, 2008 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

CF

Being simply played somewhere doesn’t mean you really can. I could go out and be written on the lineup card to play center field, but it doesn’t make me qualified to do it. Ken Griffey Jr will play CF for the White Sox, and it will hurt their team because he is unqualified to play there at this point in his career. Granted, he would be better than Ruiz, but the Twins would be no differently off with Monroe or Ruiz playing center field or not.

by AdamOnFirst on Aug 4, 2008 3:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It was at the time. They put him in CF when the needed someone to play there.

Yeah… But they could have put Kubel in left and Delmon in center while Ruiz DHed and it would have been basically the same.

Check out Goal Line Blitz, a fun web-based American footbal MMORPG
http://goallineblitz.com/game/signup.pl?ref=2882412

by joeiscool12 on Aug 4, 2008 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gardy...

...normally gets the players in the lineup the first day they’re with the team. Plus it’s Sowers, so I can see why he’d do it.

Livan was supposed to go Monday and Liriano was supposed to go today, so hopefully he’ll start the opener in Seattle.

by Twins Territory on Aug 1, 2008 6:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hmmm .

I wonder what will happen now when Cuddy comes off the DL? They can’t get rid of Everett for Cuddy because then we’re short on middle infielders. No way in hell Span goes down the way he’s been playing. The only options I see would be to send Ruiz back down, cut Lamb, or the unspeakable act of sending Gomez down. I think that those three guys are going to have to prove something (some more than others) over the next couple of weeks to keep their butts in Twins uniforms.

Peyton's good but have you ever heard of Jeff George?

by halfchest on Aug 1, 2008 6:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

They can also give up a pitcher

They are carrying 12. My money would be on Boof or Bass trying to get through waivers. Boof probably would not make it, but Bass might.

by Old Twins Cap on Aug 1, 2008 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ruiz

I think Ruiz will be the one to go. Macri did pretty well when he came up, but was still sent down when someone (Punto maybe?) came back from injury.

by Hoya on Aug 1, 2008 11:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It Was Punto.

by Tony_O on Aug 2, 2008 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I Dont think Ruiz will go, I think If Anybody, Everett will go, Laid two Goose Eggs the past two nights, need someone who can provide offense, not lay goose eggs.

by Tony_O on Aug 2, 2008 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Everett

I wouldn’t mind seeing him go, but I think he’ll be here until Casilla comes back. If Everett were sent down before Casilla came back, then the only middle infielders on the ML roster would be Harris (and I think it’s generous to call him a middle infielder) and Punto. Ruiz on the other hand has no position. I know errors are an extremely flawed defensive stat, but it still says something when you have 10 errors at first base, which is how many he had at Rochester. Once Cuddyer (aka a righthanded bat) gets back, Ruiz will be back in the minors.

by Hoya on Aug 2, 2008 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

To add to that...

Everett may go before Ruiz, but if so it’ll be because a minor leaguer was called up to replace him (Macri, Hughes, Plouffe), not because Cuddyer returned from the DL. Normally I’d say that would have no chance of happening, but after they let both Monroe and Hernandez go yesterday, who knows how long they’ll hold on to Everett and his .520 OPS (and dropping).

by Hoya on Aug 2, 2008 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs