Studying Livan’s first Twins effort
Posted on March 2nd, 2008 – 3:52 PMBy Joe Christensen
FORT MYERS — Livan Hernandez faced eight hitters from a pretty tough Boston lineup today and retired six. It took him 42 pitches to get through two innings, but you could see a veteran pitcher, using all of his guile and cunning.
If you watch the highlights, you’ll be disturbed to see the velocity on the 3-2 pitch Mike Lowell crushed for his home run: 83-mph. That came in the second inning, one inning after David Ortiz had lined a double into the right-center gap.
A 13-year veteran, Hernandez said he has only had two or three good spring trainings, results wise. He uses the time to work on things, and this spring he’s working on his sinker. As for his velocity, he said, “I think it’s going to be better than last year. Like I told you, maybe three more games. I’ll let you know then.”
Listening to Manager Ron Gardenhire, you can tell the staff liked what it saw today. No one expected a lights-out performance.
“He’s fun to watch,” Gardenhire said. “Moves the ball around, changes speeds. We can all see that. He has a nice feel for the game. He knows what he’s doing; that’s kind of pleasant to see.
“There wasn’t much of a strain out there. Just flipping it out there, not afraid to throw any pitch at any time, and that’s kind of why we signed him. So that was kind of a refreshing day for a starter. Looked like he fit right in. That was good stuff.”
11 Responses to "Studying Livan’s first Twins effort"
I heart Gardy.
I hate Ronald.
what I like seeing at least in those 2 early boston games is that the Santana trade targets (Bucholz, Lester, Ellsbury) are struggling mightily whereas Gomez and Mulvey are doing alright…
While its a little early to start making those comparisons thrylos98, nothing would please me more than Santana pitching lights out with Boston and NYY missing the playoffs because of starting pitching issues. Toronto, Detroit, Angels, and Seattle all making the playoffs. Would be funny to watch Hanky blow a gasket. LOL. Now before there is a barrage of comments, let a guy entertain himself with an amusing hypothetical situation.
How about Cleveland instead of Detroit in your playoff scenario? Detroit just bugs me.
“It took him 42 pitches to get through two innings, but you could see a veteran pitcher, using all of his guile and cunning.”
Ten bucks says that quote makes it into Gleeman’s blog tomorrow.
I could agree with all that except that Boston will get in over Toronto, but while were fantacy land, Twins win the AL Central, beat the Angels in game 5 on an inside the park homerun where a diving Tori Hunter comes up short, then in the ALCS Silva comes in relief and one of our big boppers hits a walk off on a sinker that doesn’t sink. Then we crush Johan, Pedro and Lohse in the World Series that would be something!
The MN Twins will amaze Major League baseball and win the division, pennant, and World Series for 2008. It will occur due to absolutely outstanding pitching from Liriano, Baker, Hernandez, Slowey, and Bonser.
Wallyworld! Yeah!
Now for reality. twins win 75 games, Gomez bats .236 in a half season and only slightly better at AAA becuase the reality is he cannot hit. He does steal 20 bases, one for every hit he gets.
BH you must have been the cheerleader in High School - Gomez was the key player in the Santana deal - Everything points to him becoming a real good ballplayer.
