The biggest question mark for the Minnesota Twins heading into the 2008 season does not involve the Johan Santana trade business, but whether Francisco Liriano will be healthy enough to rejoin the rotation.
Just over a year after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his pitching elbow, the 24-year-old lefty told fans at TwinsFest this weekend that he will be ready to rock this Spring. We're talking bullpen sessions and live batting practice complete with fastballs, changeups and that nasty slider. In 2006, Liriano earned the nickname "The Franchise"... actually bestowed by former Twins teammate Carlos Silva... due to his remarkable presence on the hill as a 22-year-old youngster throwing flames and vying for the AL Rookie of the Year award. However, after an amazing 12-3 start accompanied by a 2.16 ERA and All-Star bid, Liriano was sidelined with elbow soreness. He attempted a comeback on Sept 13, 2006 and lasted just three innings before his arm nearly fell off. And that was the end of that.
Whether the future Cy Young winner (yeah, I said it) starts the season in a Twins uni or in the minors is also yet to be determined. One thing is for sure, Liriano is ready.
"I'm ready to go the first day," he said. "I don't know if they want me to take it slow or not. But I'm ready to go whenever they say so."[MLB]
3 comments:
AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!
you know, i went to twinsfest on saturday. we got our bobbleheads. i had my bigass snowboot thing on (because dammit, that broken foot still hurts like a mofo).
also, friday the boy sent me an article about liriano getting a dui, and i panicked thinking he'd done it again, and then i realized it was from 2006, and i was all, hey, why you emailing me a two year old article?! (it turns out the article still shows up in the most viewed story on the sidebar thingy on the star tribune web site)
i'm superpumped about liriano. here's hoping he doesn't pull a weak sister move ala wood/prior.
also, email me, we need to plot out when you're going to come share a game with me on the boy's tix. we've moved from left field to first base side.
(obviously i've been drinking some three buck chuck tonight.)
Rendezvous with Deb on the bf's buck! Here we go *fistpump*
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