Liriano

[Joe]

11 strike outs for this kid. Is he the real deal? .....woohooo....go Twins!

[Outdoors Junkie]

He looked great again!  The whole team has been playing well.  They might have time to salvage the season!  They are 32-34.  Almost to .500!

[Joe]

This kid pulled off another great game last night. I can't believe he's only 22 years old. Hopefully the Twins will fork out the dough to keep this kid.

[Outdoors Junkie]

Good News!!!

The report is Liriano's shoulder and elbow look good!  The strength is back, the swelling is gone.  He will begin long tossing this week and be re-examined when the Twins come back from their current road trip on the 29th.

[A-Rod]

Good thing he's young.  And even though Bonser pitched a decent game against the Sox, we have a pretty questionable rotation as of now.

[Joe]

 You might see him if the Twins actually make a run in the playoffs, but  I still think he's done for the year.

[A-Rod]

You might see him if the Twins actually make a run in the playoffs, but I still think he's done for the year.

Id say uour probably correct.  There are soem great prospects that need a little work and will prorbably be given some more chances.  Its good tht Liriano is improving but when the trainer won't even let him toss a ball before a game shows that he's probably not even 50%.

[Outdoors Junkie]

So call me a dreamer...

I believe the Twinkies will make the post season.  They might even catch Detroit!  Wouldn't that be great!!  The Twins have been playing so well the past 2 1/2 months.  They are showing no signs of slowing down.  It's incredible, a guy goes down and they pull up a minor leaguer to take their place, and that player does great too.  There is a lot of positive in that club house.  That's why they will make the post season. 

I also think Liriano will pitch again by mid Sept.  He will be watched closely.  But he will pitch again before the end of the season.

 

[Outdoors Junkie]

Liriano has thrown the past two days before each game.  So far, no pain or problems reported.  They are trying to build up his arm strength.  The Twins might bring him back in a relief role.

[Outdoors Junkie]

From the Twins website:  

Progress continues: Francisco Liriano continued his throwing program on Friday, making 50 hard throws from 90 feet with no pain.

Liriano is expected to take another step on Saturday, when he progresses to throwing 25 pitches at 120 feet while throwing another 25 from 90 feet.

A timetable for Liriano's return is still out of the question, but Gardenhire said that if all progresses well, Liriano could possibly see time throwing off a mound by the end of next week. At the very least, it seems that Liriano might throw a tennis shoe session, which would involve throwing from in front of the mound to a catcher behind home plate.

Though it still seems too early to decide whether Liriano can return, the best news for Gardenhire is that there still have been no setbacks for the left-hander so far.

"It's a good feeling, knowing that he isn't feeling anything," Gardenhire said. "But we're still guarded on everything we do with him."

[Outdoors Junkie]

He is back and pitches today!

[JohnWester]

limited to 60 pitches... wonder who they'll bring out of the bullpen after all they used last night.  is there anyone left?

[ScottPugh]

Garza will follow Liriano.?

Liriano - Innings 1 - 5 (hopefully)
Garza - Innings 6 - 7
Neshak - 8th inning
Nathan - 9th

Twins win 5-2

[Ryan]

This really sucks.  If he would have been able to pitch the rest of the year and the post season, I would have liked our chances to actually win the world series.  Now that he is done for the year, I don't know what kind of chance we will have in the playoffs.  Hopefully he gets better over the winter and will be back to normal next year.  I have to wonder if he will cut back on the slider a lot next year.  That pitch is probably the hardest on your arm and as hard as he throws it you have to expect some problems.

[ScottPugh]

I see Tommy Jon surgery in his near future.  When we said he heard a pop, that might have not been a bad thing.  That ulner legament might have finally went so he will have the Tommy Jom replacement surgery.  If that thing didn't pop he might have had arm issues that you can't solve for the rest of his life. 

Unfortunatly we might see him next in 2008!!!

[Joe]

2008 might be pushing it. :'(
He said his arm felt good, otherwise I doubt they would have let him pitch. That's too bad. Hopefully everything goes well for him. It's going to be a long 2 years.