Comments on: F-Bomb 2.0: How close is Francisco Liriano to 2006?

By: SBG

SBG — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 17:09:29 +0000

Q: How close is Liriano 2.0 to Liriano 1.0?

A (shorter Gleeman): Close enough.

By: frank

frank — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 01:10:45 +0000

the chipper jones compliment was nice but he couldn’t see ground balls hit right at him either.

By: ben

ben — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 23:15:41 +0000

By far he threw his best change up of the season friday. If he gets more disparity between it and the fastball he will be elite again, despite a little mph loss from 06.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 21:07:37 +0000

Aaron,
How about some time doing an analysis of the Twins record by days of the week under Gardy? This year the Twins are 4-6 on Sundays, which seems to be the day each week he is bound and determined to play the “B” or “C” squad. These have been virtually all day games, as well as the last game of a series.
Conversely, they are 8-1 on Fridays, which is usually the “A” squad, as well as a night game and the first game of a series.
it really is irritating turning on the tv on Sundays to watch them, and then have their worst lineup on the field!

By: Tom W.

Tom W. — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 19:57:00 +0000

I love the F Bomb. I think the Twins should use the F Bomb as much as possible.

By: dreb

dreb — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 19:15:43 +0000

I think you are missing one key stat from your analysis: The “who the heck is he factor”

in 2005 Liriano had about 23 innings pitched in relief and 4 starts. It wasnt until 2006 that Liriano was rolled out into primetime starting mode. In other words, noone in the AL had faced him or those devistating combination of pitches. The batters, scouts, and coaches had no real idea how to hit him or what to wait on.

2008-2009 were years plagued by a healing arm, bad teams he got to face in 2008, and 2009 teams knew what to expect (avoid anything with spin outside the zone and wait for the heater or changeup down the middle). He was still getting used to throwing stuff with spin (hence the wildness)

2010 he is now going up against teams, coaches, and scouts who know how he pitches and operates. I think his improved fastball and slider numbers reflect that he is MUCH more of a smarter pitcher than he was in 2006. Liriano now has to not only outduel the batters from a mental standpoint, but he has to throw effective pitches.

It isnt uncommon to see this happen with great rookies when them come up or international players (think Irabu for the Yankees, Okajima for the Sox, Kim Diamondbacks, etc). They often throw lights out until they make their way back through the league (it will be interesting to see how Strassburg does)

By: jimbo92107

jimbo92107 — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 18:02:22 +0000

Liriano’s changeup is evolving. He’s starting to get better command with it, and he’s starting to get it to bend to the left, almost like a screwball. With his fastball going about 93mph and his change coming in at about 83mph, a ten mph difference is good.

Oh, and I noticed something else: Liriano throws his change and his slider at the same spot outside to right handed batters. The slider bends right and down, winding up half a foot off the ground when Mauer catches it. His change, thrown towards the same spot, bends left and slightly down, winding up just outside and about a foot off the dirt when Mauer catches it. The difference in location of those two pitches, initially thrown at the same spot yet ending two feet apart, must be very difficult for a batter to predict. To me, that means Liriano should throw his change and his slider about the same number of times, in a random sequence.

By: James M.

James M. — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 17:18:14 +0000

One thing you forgot to mention. In 2006 he gave up 9 HR’s in 121 IP, 0.67 per 9. That’s not bad at all, but it’s not great either.

This year: only 2 HR’s in 80 2/3, 0.22 per 9. Both of those came in his only really bad start, May 20 in Boston, when he lasted only 4 2/3. Every other start has been 6+ IP.

By: Dave T

Dave T — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 15:39:23 +0000

I am in awe of Liriano’s performance against the Braves last Friday. Liriano 1.0 may be gone, but Liriano 2.0 is one of the best pitchers in the A.L.

By: DavidRF

DavidRF — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 14:26:09 +0000

Liriano-2006 was a grand total of 14 starts from mid-May through the end of July. Just less than half a season. Left to pitch for a full season without injury, the chances are he would have regressed a bit from that anyways.