Should Liriano Start Tonight?

by rencito on Sep 25, 2008 1:57 PM EDT

The way the rotation is set up, I think I would start Liriano tonight.

Think about it like this: Liriano can go tonight on three days rest or against the Royals fully rested. If he goes fully rested against the Royals, that means he could conceivably go on short rest in a one game playoff next Tuesday against the Sox. In my mind, either way, he has to face the White Sox on short rest.

So why not guarantee that he faces the White Sox. After tonight, there is no guarantee what will happen and if he will get the chance to face them again. I say go with your best guy when the season is on the line, which is tonight.

That way, if we do have to go to Chicago for a one game playoff, then Liriano will be fully rested for that one, too. So the Sox would have to face Liriano twice in order to get by us--or at the very least once. If Slowey goes tonight, that means he faces KC on Friday, Perkins goes Saturday, and Baker on Sunday.

Slowey has much better stats against KC than he does Chicago.

Any opinions on why we should NOT do this? I think it is a no-brainer ulness there is something I am not thinking of.

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Not a bad point

At the same time though with Lirianos injury history I don’t think I’d wanna push him. Now if it were Santana or Radke, 2 guys who stayed healthy throughout their careers I’d be all for it. This plus the fact that Slowey threw a complete game shutout last time up against a better CWS lineup than they have right now gives me confidence in him.

I do like the idea of Liriano pitching the one game playoff on short rest if needed though.

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

by halfchest on Sep 25, 2008 2:15 PM EDT reply actions

I'm not sure this isn't a good idea

but they would have had to plan for it last week. I don’t think they can make this decision today. As it stands, they will have Slowey, Liriano, and Baker for the first round if they somehow get there (assuming Baker pitches the last game of the year).

by Eric in Madison on Sep 25, 2008 2:21 PM EDT reply actions

NO

I’m amazed he’s pitched this many innings on regular rest this year, coming off of TJ surgery. I would not start him on three days rest, not with Slowey going. Everyone wants to win now, of course. But the start I’m most interested in seeing him in is Game 1 of the ALDS. I wouldn’t want to jeopardize that by straining his arm to get there. Besides, we pretty much need to win out, so tomorrow’s game is nearly as important as tonight’s.

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

by cmathewson on Sep 25, 2008 2:38 PM EDT reply actions

No he shouldnt start tonight

Hes only on 3 full days rest and with the shoulder surgery, i dont want to risk anything. im perfectly confident with the Slow Man

by Tony_O on Sep 25, 2008 4:41 PM EDT reply actions

Two reasons Slowey should start tonight...

…First, my memory tells me that pitchers pitching on short rest, especially young pitchers hasn’t been good. But more important, look how Slowey did in his previous “biggest game of his career?” It was a bit less than two years ago in Havana, against Cuba in the Olympic Qualifiers. Slowey pitched five wonderful innings…which is what I look for tonight, 5 or 6 excellent innings. If we get more than a run or two in the first 6 innings…we should be in good shape for the win.

by roger13 on Sep 25, 2008 5:06 PM EDT reply actions

If this

was Liriano ‘06, with two dominant pitches and mowing down MLB hitters like they were high schoolers, then I might say go for it. But he’s not THAT kind of an ace, in spite of the numbers he’s put up since his return.

All Slowey has to do is not get blown out. His offense still needs to step up and do their job, too. I have faith in Slowey to come up big tonight, and I’m happy to let Liriano take his regular turn, because the way things look right now that game will be counting for something, too. Cisco will have his shot to come up big again this year, so I’m not too eager to rush into a situation where you’re pitching a guy on short rest the night after the starter goes five.

by Jesse on Sep 25, 2008 5:30 PM EDT reply actions

Numbers

I like Slowey’s numbers against KC better than Chicago. Yes, the Royals still count, but I want my best going against the Sox—not a rookie.

by rencito on Sep 25, 2008 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions

I still like Liriano

I understand the hesitation because of the past arm troubles, but I don’t think doing this for one start would kill him.

True Slowey’s last start was impressive against the Sox, but his other two were not good at all. Slowey has very impressive numbers against the Royals.

Also, the Twins can start whoever they want. They don’t have to set it a week in advance. He just needs to be on the lineup card before the game starts.

I still believe you make them beat your best guy. Saving Liriano for game 1 of the LDS means that they wouldn’t even use him for the one game playoff. I would hate to have them beat someone other than Liriano or Baker. Baker starts on Sunday, so he isn’t in the equation.

by rencito on Sep 25, 2008 5:36 PM EDT reply actions

I still believe you make them beat your best guy.

Chicago tried that last night. The Twins beat him.

by Johnny Safron on Sep 25, 2008 6:51 PM EDT reply actions

Liriano has been great....

…. but Slowey has been one of our best pitchers in the second half.

Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room.

by PJS on Sep 25, 2008 8:58 PM EDT reply actions

Well obviously it's good that we didnt blow our Liriano wad tonight

Didn’t want to jinx anything before this ridiculous emotional roller coaster of a game but… DUDE YOU’RE A DUMBASS!

"I don't care about feelings." - Lou Piniella

by natetheskate on Sep 26, 2008 1:35 AM EDT reply actions

Fellow Twins fan?

So you tell me I’m a dumb ass AFTER the game is over and it goes the Twins way. This despite the fact that Slowey gave up six runs in 3.2 IP. Yes, I know you can blame a lot of it on the outfield miscue.

Still, it doesn’t take much intelligence to judge something after the fact based on the result alone. Nor does it take any intelligence to just call people names—it is juvenille—especially if we are both Twins fans. I still maintain that the underlying idea of starting Liriano last night would have been the better choice.

So the question is, now what? Now we face the possibility (choice) of starting Liriano on short rest for the one game playoff. If we had started him on short rest last night, he would be FULLY rested for the one game playoff.

For those that argue the point about the health of his arm—I can understand that. But if you argued that point about last night, then you have to argue against him starting the one game playoff as well.

So that means Slowey would be in line to face the White Sox in Chicago. Slowey has a road ERA 1.14 higher on the road. His numbers at US Cellular are awful—a 6.53 ERA. I like Liriano’s chances better.

by rencito on Sep 26, 2008 6:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Well sadly it turned out Liriano was even worse than Slowey

Apologies for calling you out as a dumbass dude, it was totally against the principles of this board, you’re right.

I wish Liriano was our golden sunshine pony too and that the Twins played in a candy brick stadium funded entirely by distressed mortage-back securities. I’m glad the Twins management isn’t rashly mixing up our rotation because of hypothetical one-game playoffs. Not saying the playoff won’t happen, but I like how they handle this rotation.

But on this board, yes, feel free to start whoever you want. I won’t call you a dumbass again.

"I don't care about feelings." - Lou Piniella

by natetheskate on Sep 27, 2008 1:23 AM EDT up reply actions

rest

I would rather he pitch on appropriate rest. I think we risk wasting our best pitcher’s outings by hurrying him.

by snolls on Sep 26, 2008 7:20 PM EDT reply actions

Rotation

I would call it a wash. Liriano and Slowey both had bad games. We’re lucky the Tribe took care of business last night. Liriano has had two bad outings in his last three starts. Perhaps this is a sign that he is starting to tire his first year back from TJ surgery.

Still, I really hope we don’t have a one game playoff in Chicago—I don’t like our chances in their stadium.

by rencito on Sep 27, 2008 10:50 AM EDT reply actions