Francisco Liriano, in his own words

by Jon Marthaler on Jul 10, 2009 1:00 PM EDT in Speculation Comment 9 comments

More photos » Charles Rex Arbogast - AP

Rick Anderson: "Don't worry, Frankie. We got nobody else." (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

No Twin has struggled more mightily, or been more disappointing, than Francisco Liriano. His 5.47 ERA is one of the worst in the major leagues, at least among pitchers who've continued to get starts. Fans are frustrated with the man who once earned the nickname "Franchise," and one would think that Liriano's frustrated as well.

So what does Liriano think is going wrong? I combed back through the Star Tribune archives and pulled some of his quotes from game stories. Here now, in his own words:

Prior to Opening Day: "I don't want to get too excited out there. I don't want to do too much and just try to do the best I can."
Apr 6 (L, SEA): "I think that was a good pitch. He just put a good swing on it."
Apr 11 (L, CHW): "I got frustrated a little bit. But I was trying to make some good pitches and get ahead in the count."
Apr 22 (L, BOS): "Yeah it bothers me, but I've gotta think positive. There's still a long way to go."
May 20 (L, CHW): "I think I was getting too excited. We've got the lead, I'm trying to go back out and trying to do too much. I couldn't hit my spots at all. I was just missing."
May 30 (L, TBR): "I think I was making better pitches but things didn't turn out my way. I don't know, just ... I don't know, just ... I don't know what to think anymore."
June 17 (L, PIT): "I'm real frustrated because every time I miss one pitch, it just changes the whole game. I don't know what to do anymore. I think I've got to go out there and just pitch. That's all I can do."
June 28 (W, STL): "I don't miss that many pitches like before."
July 9 (L, NYY): "I think I get too excited to face the Yankees."

Well then.

All of this has given me an idea for a new product: the Francisco Liriano Excuse Generator! Take this handy-dandy little helper wherever you might run into trouble.

Cop pulls you over for speeding? "I'm sorry, officer; I think I get too excited to drive on 394." The big sale at work fell through? "I think I was making better sales, but things just didn't turn out my way." Forget your kid's soccer game? "I'm real frustrated because every time I miss one game, it just changes everything, and my kid won't talk to me."

Truly, this product may change your life. (Patent pending.)

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That's actually interesting...

…reading those quotes. You always read those after the game and go “well, yeah, okay…”, but reading them all back-to-back-to-back puts them in a different context.

We just need him to get it together.

by Jesse on Jul 10, 2009 2:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What happened?

Last year he stormed back to the majors after a strong season in AAA. Then he started to falter at the end of the year and it obviously carried over to this year. So what happened? Where’s the world beater that battled back from Tommy John’s?

I think once Slowey comes off the DL, we may have to move Liriano to the bullpen for a while. He seems ok to pitch for an inning or two and he’s still striking guys out. He can strengthen our pen and maybe get some confidence back in his pitches (which judging by those quotes, he seems to have lost).

by Cobra312004 on Jul 10, 2009 2:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

well

the trouble with that is that Swarzak’s not capable right now of giving us anything better than what Frankie might give for the rest of the season.

by ajmargarine on Jul 10, 2009 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It is very interesting

agreed. I do read those quotes after a lot of his starts. I also read a lot of coaches quotes after starts. Things like, “He needs to stay within himself, not get ahead of himself, not get too excited.” Reading it all together is very frustrating. We know he has nasty stuff, even after his TJS, which leaves the conclusion to be that he-to this point-has not been able to handle the mental pressure. This is also very frustrating.

I think what gets me going the most is the possibility that, after a long and very poor season, we may move him in a trade only to see him ‘figure it out’ and be the ace we know he can be.

This whole thing makes me want to start smoking again.

Baseball is the soundtrack to my summer.

by FoulJack on Jul 10, 2009 2:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

You guys...come on.

Starts since the beginning of June:

6 innings, 1 Run
6 innings, 3 runs
7 innings, 4 runs
5 innings, 3 runs
7 innings, 2 runs
7 innings, 3 runs
5,1 innings, 6 runs (3 earned)

7 starts, 43.1 innings, 22 runs (19 earned), 3.95 ERA, 43 Ks, 18 walks.

That includes the Yankee game. I know the whole season counts, and the first two months weren’t good, but this doesn’t seem to me to be the time to start complaining about him. He hasn’t been as efficient as we’d like, and the control hasn’t quite been there, but the results aren’t bad. He had a tough outing against a very patient team that’s been on a roll, and he got hurt early by an error.

If you asked me to bet on who would be the Twins most effective starter from now until the end of the season, I think Liriano would be my choice.

by Eric in Madison on Jul 10, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice perspective

by .mnqwerd on Jul 10, 2009 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

Frankly, I’d take a ERA/FIP in the high 4’s from Liriano from here on out. Overall for the season, his numbers do not look good. But the question is, how well is he pitching right now? If he reverts back to his April-May form in the second half, he deserves all the criticism we can throw at him. Since he has turned it around in the last month and a half, I give him the benefit of the doubt…for now.

Looking forward, I see our starters being effective in this order:
1. Baker
2. Liriano
3. Blackburn – some regression, but I’m thinking toward league average
4. Slowey – I’m concerned he keeps battling nagging injuries much of the rest of the year
5. Swarzak
6. Perkins

by Adam Peterson on Jul 11, 2009 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That is good perspective

I agree. It is helpful to see it. I NEEDED to see that. I guess my main frustration is the PR spin that we hear from both he and Fankie and his coaches whenever he does poorly.

However, I guess I could probably say that Slowey, Baker and Blackie have said similar things too, after bad starts.
I don’t know. 2006 was SO good, maybe that’s my problem.

Baseball is the soundtrack to my summer.

by FoulJack on Jul 10, 2009 5:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

For me, it's a combination of things

2006 being so good is definitely a part of it. But most of it is the lack of control. Walks drive me crazy, which is why it’s a good thing I’m a Twins fan. Liriano has to get his walk rate under control:

Year SO/9 BB/9
2005: 12.55 2.66
2006: 10.71 2.38
2008: 7.93 3.79
2009: 8.21 4.06

I can understand the SO/9 going down. He’s not throwing a slider in low 90’s anymore. The jump in walks is a bit more disturbing. At first, I thought it was Liriano being rusty after TJ surgery. Now, I’m thinking he’s simply going to be a guy who walks around 4 batters per 9 IP. He can still be effective if he strikes out around 8, but his ceiling is no longer going to be top 10 until he reduces the walks.

by Adam Peterson on Jul 11, 2009 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs