Twins general manager Bill Smith had the following to say about a certain rehabbing left-handed flamethrower: “He is healthy and he is strong. He has been given the go-ahead to prepare for spring training as he normally would.”

Francisco Liriano has thrown several bullpen sessions and has looked good enough for the Twins to put him on a regular schedule for next spring training (he’s even throwing sliders).

He certainly has a couple hurdles to get over, but the fact he could be warming up with the rest of squad in mid-February is encouraging to the club - Smith didn’t hesitate when I asked him about Franchise contributing next season. 

For more details and other Twins notes, check out my notebook in Saturday’s paper (or wait a hour or so for it to be posted on the web)…

(photo courtesy of SportsIllustrated)

I click on this blog and the drool pours out of my monitor as I read all these cries for information. I understand that Twins Nation is hungry for news, but there’s nothing earth-shattering going on right now. But there are a few tidbits….

Indications are that the Twins have been in contact with the agents for both Torii Hunter and Carlos Silva. Based on discussions I’ve had with various people on both sides of these issues, the Twins haven’t formally made an offer to Hunter since he rejected a three-year, $45 million extension late in the the season. The Twins have told Silva’s agent that they definitely want to take a shot at keeping the sinkerballer.

But it will take a lot for the Twins to sign these guys at this point. At this time of the year, a player wants to see what’s out there on the free agent market. If you get to the beach, you at least want to stick a toe in the water, and the vibes I’m getting are that Hunter and Silva will both do that. That means these cases will play out over several weeks. I expect to see Hunter pimped out at the winter meetings in Nashville in December, strutting his stuff for potential employers.

That puts the Twins in a position where they will have to compete with other teams, not a good spot to be in for an organization that historically plods along in their contract negotiations.

There appears to be no major news on the Johan Santana front, other than rumblings about possible suitors if he does go on the trading block. Twins officials have told me that if they feel they can contend next year, they want to hold on to Santana. I generally agree, but I’m also fascinated with the potential package of players the Twins could get for Santana. Take a step back in 2008 to get after it in 2009? As the young pitching staff develops? As Francisco Liriano regains his groove after Tommy John surgery? With the M&M men still around?

The PP reports that Joe Mauer will have hernia surgery, which I’m trying to get on record. The thing is, I contacted Mauer on Monday and he indicated that it would be several days before he knew for sure if he needed surgery. So I don’t know how several days turned into one day. We’ll let you know as soon as it’s confirmed.

I’ll have some tidbits from offseason league over the next few weeks. Actually, the Twins’ instructional league wraps up this week. Matt Moses, I’ve been told, has split time between second and third base as the club wonders if he can make a permanent move to second. I’ll have some stuff from Arizona Fall League sometime next week because a slew of Twins officials are headed out there as soon as organizational meetings end this week.

I’ll blog at you soon….

The Twins baseball department currently is down in Fort Myers, Fla. for their annual organizational meetings. Sometimes, many departments head down for the event. But this is one of those years in which the Twins will have what is referred to as, `mini-orgs.’

This will be Bill Smith’s first major function as the new General Manager. They discuss many aspects of the club, like scouting, the minors, the major league team, etc. But this will also be the time for everyone to get on the same page as to how the club will proceed during this crucial offseason.

They probably already know what they are willing to offer free agents Torii Hunter and Carlos Silva. They will look at the farm system to determine who’s ready, and may plot an offseason course to find a real third baseman or a bat to DH.

They could also discuss how to handle Johan Santana, who’s entering the final season of his contract.]

I’m sure that everyone down there will check out lefthander Francisco Liriano, who’s still on schedule to pitch batting practice next month as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery nearly a year ago.

Several Twins players are in Arizona Fall League action. Check here over the next few weeks for occasional updates. Looking outside the office window right now, I wish I was there.

First, I picked Philly and the Yankees to reach the World Series. After that blew up, I picked the Rockies and Red Sox. Colorado has come through, sweeping the D-Backs last night and earning an eight-day break. Now my Red Sox pick is looking shaky, but I still think they have a shot if Wakefield can baffle them in Game Four.

I have to admit that Cleveland’s bullpen is operating at full force right now.

Some people want Josh Beckett to start Game Four on three days rest. The stats say that’s not a wise move. However, the Boston Globe looked at those numbers and arrived at a different conclusion.

One thing that irritates me about radio sometimes is that people will throw out stats without checking and end up embellishing on the truth. The newspaper reporter in me calls for an incessant pursuit of accuracy (at least that’s what we strive for).

But there I was Tuesday with KFAN’s Paul Allen and Jeff Dubay, throwing out an inaccurate stat about postseason pitchers working on three days rest.

I said that those pitchers are, “something like 5-17,” in recent years. I was trying to remember some information passed on to me by Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune last year, but I was way off.

I’ve spent the year holding Terry Ryan and Torii Hunter accountable for the things they’ve said on KFAN, so I must hold myself accountable for passing along bad information. I apologize for not being prepared to go on the show with the proper information.

I don’t have PA’s style or Puffy’s….whatever. But what I do bring is quality baseball knowledge. That didn’t happen today and I’m kicking myself for it.

My man Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer has the correct information about pitchers going on three days rest in the postseason. Check it out while I try to get it right the next time… 

 

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