Agent wants players' union to investigate Twins' roster snub

[PurpleMustReign]

MINNEAPOLIS -- The agent for Minnesota pitcher Francisco Liriano is asking the players' union to investigate why the Twins have yet to call him up from Triple-A Rochester.

Greg Genske says his client is frustrated because he has pitched well in the minors for more than a month but remains stuck in Rochester.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3494330

Not much to the article other than what I posted here. The reason I am posting it is that this is one of the rare cases that I am on the player's side. Liriano is kicking a$$ over in Rochester, and though our starting pitchers are doing quite well, there isn't a good reason to keep him down there. They could put one of the current starters in the bullpen since they are shorthanded there. I don't know. To me, Liriano should be up in the bigs right now.

[Demi]

Heard talk about this earlier. And questions about how to make room. Talk included trading someone to bring in a bat. Gee, ya think? Too bad that's not the way the team works. Too cheap. Unless there's some young bat out there they can hold onto for a few years cheap, no way we get anyone.

[PurpleMustReign]

Heard talk about this earlier. And questions about how to make room. Talk included trading someone to bring in a bat. Gee, ya think? Too bad that's not the way the team works. Too cheap. Unless there's some young bat out there they can hold onto for a few years cheap, no way we get anyone.

I will be curious to see how the new GM handles this kind of stuff. Terry Ryan was so afraid to pull the trigger sometimes (well, always). I would like to see maybe trade Boof and Mike Lamb and maybe one of our starters to Seattle for Adrian Beltre. Or, have one of our current starters take Boof's place in the bullpen.

[PurpleMustReign]

I'm just curious... why is everyone so down on Livan? He's like 9-6 or something. Certainly not Cy Young, but it seems that if a guy s 9-6 he must be doiing something right.

[PurpleMustReign]

To continue the thrilling conversation with myself:

Liriano, 24, has since rebounded. In his past four starts, he is 4-0 with a 0.32 ERA, three walks and 32 strikeouts. He went eight innings Thursday, holding Norfolk to one run on seven hits, with no walks and eight strikeouts.

They need to bring him up, even if it's in the bull pen. 0.32 ERA? That's insane. 3 walks and 32 K's? Hw is this guy not in thr bigs tight now?

[Demi]

I'm just curious... why is everyone so down on Livan? He's like 9-6 or something. Certainly not Cy Young, but it seems that if a guy s 9-6 he must be doiing something right.

Doesn't he have an ERA of like 7? And a lot of that success was early on. He's definately not improving. He's gotten a lot of support from the offense is my bet.

But they won't do anything with him because he's the only wily veteran on the pitching staff.

[PurpleMustReign]

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Francisco Liriano might not be happy he's still in the minor leagues, but he is continuing to do whatever he can with his arm to state his case for a return to the Twins.

The lefthander had perhaps his best start of the season, winning his ninth consecutive decision Tuesday as Class AAA Rochester beat Toledo 13-0.

"I'm ready," Liriano said.

Liriano gave up only two hits and two walks in seven innings while striking out 10. He threw 99 pitches, 62 for strikes, in improving to 9-2 with a 3.13 ERA at Rochester.

In his past five starts, he has a 0.26 ERA, with one earned run in 35 innings. In that time, he has struck out 42.

Liriano's agent has asked the players' union to investigate why his client is still in the minors. The Twins have said there is no room for him in the major league rotation.

Seriously, get him the heck up here. I think Perkins or Slowey could go to the bullpen to make room for him. Neither one of them have been lights out lately, although Perkins has had a couple good starts in a row now. Or trade one of them in a package for Adrian Beltre.
One earned run in 35 innings? He's kicking #### down there. There is no reason to keep him down there.

[DanAS1]

Well, who needs Liriano when the tag team of Hernandez and Bonzer are blanketing the White Sox.

Who is responsible for this decision to ignore Liriano, anyway?

[Skoobs78]

Ugh can we please call him up now? Hernandez has been nothing but pitiful in his last few games. Call him up and ship Livan somewhere before the deadline, there seems to be a demand for pitching, no matter how crappy this year.

[PurpleMustReign]

Ugh can we please call him up now? Hernandez has been nothing but pitiful in his last few games. Call him up and ship Livan somewhere before the deadline, there seems to be a demand for pitching, no matter how crappy this year.

Up until a couple weeks ago I was against getting rid of Hernandez, but now he needs to go. Along with Lamb and Bonser. Send Lamb, Hernandez, Bonser and a prospect to Seattle for Adrian Beltre and Arthur Rhodes, and call up Liriano. This is enough already. We have a chance to get to the post season and do some damage, but Hernandez is making me sick lately. His veteran presence is over rated. Plus, Rhodes could add the veteran leadership we "need". With Redmond and Mauer, along with Rick Anderson, I'm not sure that a veteran presence is all that vital for us anyway.
AND with Casilla possibly done for the season, we need another infielder whose name isn't Adam Everett. Busher could back up 3rd and 1st, Punto could play second, and Harris could play SS, with Everett backing them both up.
Morneau, Punto, Harris, Beltre, with Buscher and Everett on the bench sounds pretty damn good to me.
Then a rotation of Liriano, Blackburn, Perkins, Slowey, and Baker sonds really good too.
Young, Gomez, Span, and Monroe in the OF is really good too, plus Cuddyer may come back soon, and Kubel is a good DH.

[PurpleMustReign]

What a bunch of pussies the Twins are. They beat up on the teams who won't make the playoffs, but then get killed by NY and BOS, as well as struggle to beat Chicago. They need a 3B. They need to make room for Liriano. Hernandez is doing nothing for us. Release Hernandez, trade Bonser, Lamb, and a top prospect for Adrian Beltre.
ESPN says the Twins are looking at Rich Aurielia. OOOOHH, the White Sox are shaking in their shoes!!! Detroit is giving the white flag after that move!!! World Series here we come!!!
Rich Aurielia. That's who we trade for. He's batting .258 with 6 HRs. May as well keep Lamb if that's all the Twins will do.

[glg]

Detroit is giving the white flag after that move!!!

Well, they did just give Pudge to the Yanks.

[Demi]

What a bunch of pussies the Twins are. They beat up on the teams who won't make the playoffs, but then get killed by NY and BOS, as well as struggle to beat Chicago. They need a 3B. They need to make room for Liriano. Hernandez is doing nothing for us. Release Hernandez, trade Bonser, Lamb, and a top prospect for Adrian Beltre.
ESPN says the Twins are looking at Rich Aurielia. OOOOHH, the White Sox are shaking in their shoes!!! Detroit is giving the white flag after that move!!! World Series here we come!!!
Rich Aurielia. That's who we trade for. He's batting .258 with 6 HRs. May as well keep Lamb if that's all the Twins will do.

It is pretty ridiculous. Although from what I've heard they'll bring Liriano up, they just have to wait until after today so this year doesn't count towards arbitration eligibility or some crap like that. Same old cheap Twins, guess I can't blame them in this case.

White Sox in a close fight with Twins, Twins still can't pass them and take first place in division, White Sox add a future hall of famer who should still have something left in the tank, as well as from all indications a solid locker room guy....Twins add *nothing*. Because they don't care. They're happy with their current situation, just like the fans are! Oh, we're fighting for the division, yippy! We should be happy, we weren't suppose to be in this position anyway!

Most cities have the guts to ask for more out of their teams, like actually trying to get rings...instead we're content with competing for our division. Disgusting.

[PurpleMustReign]

Twins recall Liriano from Triple-A

MINNEAPOLIS -- Twins fans have been clamoring for the return of left-handed starting pitcher Francisco Liriano via the jettison of veteran right-hander Livan Hernandez for the better part of two months.

On Friday, they got their wish.

The Twins recalled Liriano from Triple-A Rochester, and also selected the contract of first baseman Randy Ruiz. To make room for the pair, the club designated Hernandez and outfielder Craig Monroe for assignment, giving the team 10 days to trade or release them.

There is a God!!! Why it took them this long is beyond me, and I love the fact that they shipped Hernandez out. I am surprised Monroe was cut, but he certainly wasn't doing much to save his job lately.

[Demi]

There is a God!!! Why it took them this long is beyond me, and I love the fact that they shipped Hernandez out. I am surprised Monroe was cut, but he certainly wasn't doing much to save his job lately.

I told you in the previous post! This way, from what I read, they get an extra year where he isn't arbitration eligible, or doesn't qualify as a year played. It was based solely on salary ramifications. Like most Twins decisions do.

Monroe was only brought in because he was friends with Hunter, and trained during the offseason with him. Beyond that they were paying him, so they played him.

It's getting ridiculous though...how many years now do they sign these bums and then release them half way through the season? Use the money on fewer players...who are worth signing. Do something. But it's run to make money first, and win second.