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Stu’s talker: Liriano up, Perkins to the 8th

Posted on July 23rd, 2008 – 11:39 AM
By Michael Rand

hat.jpgWe had been looking for an introduction to a new item we’d like to roll out on a daily basis: Commenter Talkers. Do you have a thought that’s so brilliant it needs its own space in a main post? E-mail it to us by 2 p.m. every day, and we’ll spotlight your opinions. Stu read our minds (as usual) and provided the first example. Stu?

(Applying tinfoil rube hat)

Francisco Liriano is lights out right now. The Twins need someone, anyone to pitch the 8th inning. Call Liriano up, slide him into the rotation, and put Glen Perkins in the set-up role, as he actually has done that before.

(/Removing tinfoil rube hat)

I don’t have any better ideas, unless they can trade Hernandez for a middle reliever, which just isn’t going to happen.

Love it? Hate it? Have a better idea? Let’s hear it.

17 Responses to "Stu’s talker: Liriano up, Perkins to the 8th"

jama says:

July 23rd, 2008 at 11:45 am

Love it!

Stu for Tinfoil Rube Hat wearing President!

Once president, I expect Stu to remind Gardy that Mauer can play a day game after a night game when the Twins have the next day off anyway.

Any office hijinx during today’s game?

Dave MN says:

July 23rd, 2008 at 11:47 am

If Mike Redmond hits a double down the line, naked walk through the office.

Michael Rand says:

July 23rd, 2008 at 11:50 am

Forgot it was a day game! For sure, hijinx will ensue.

lattewarrior says:

July 23rd, 2008 at 11:54 am

I don’t like it, but mostly because I’m frustrated with the front office’s unwillingness to make a deal. They could have gotten beast Jon Rauch for next to nothing (Arizona gave up an overrated 2B prospect) to solve the 8th inning issues.
Short-term, moving Perkins to the pen and recalling F-Bomb would serve Liriano’s agent a steaming cup of shut the heck up.

Jon says:

July 23rd, 2008 at 11:55 am

Perkins will NOT be happy moving back to the bullpen, especially with how well he’s pitched as a starter. I don’t know if we’re talking the full Kyle Lohse here, but I’m guessing something like that.

jama says:

July 23rd, 2008 at 11:57 am

Dave

Done and Done!

Another option is to go to the 6 man rotation. Before you laugh, Gardy has already said this is a possibility. If I were the GM I would trade Livan for whatever you can get, a la Castillo last year. Then you have 2 Lefties in the rotation with a pretty good 1-2 punch of Baker and Liriano.

Clarence Swamptown says:

July 23rd, 2008 at 12:04 pm

I’ll guess that they will wait until July 31 to hedge against any injuries, and then trade one current starting pitcher. By August 1st there will be a new starting third baseman (I’m guessing Casey Blake), a new bullpen arm (no idea), Liriano will be in the starting rotation, and one of the current starting pitchers will be gone.

jama says:

July 23rd, 2008 at 12:14 pm

Every time Jeter is refered to as “The Captain” you must stand on your desk and do a Captain Morgan pose while repeating, “Gold Gloves mean you are the best fielding Short Stop. Gold Gloves….”

Brandon says:

July 23rd, 2008 at 12:16 pm

I say we package Livan, Mike Lamb, Adam Everett and Brian Bass for Papelbon. See if they’ll throw in Lowell, too. Solves all our issues.

-Sansavere/most Strib blog commenters

jama says:

July 23rd, 2008 at 12:18 pm

Looking at the Twins lineup I am praying for a rain out. It looks like Gardy is trying to make sure Perkins gets the loss to justify sending him to the pen in Stu’s scenario. All you can do when Lamb, Punto and Naked Guy are all in the lineup is pray for rain.

Merx says:

July 23rd, 2008 at 12:19 pm

I think this is a great idea, a move like this would protect against any injuries to a starter. Then they can send Bass down.

Stu says:

July 23rd, 2008 at 12:24 pm

For what it’s worth, Michael’s colleague agrees with me, but replaces Perkins with Slowey/Blackburn.

Stu says:

July 23rd, 2008 at 12:25 pm

And +1 to Brandon.

Joker says:

July 23rd, 2008 at 12:29 pm

How about we play a round of “If they mated”? I’ll start:

If Punto and Redman mated, we’d have a naked head first slide into first base.

lattewarrior says:

July 23rd, 2008 at 12:41 pm

We’d also have a nasty raspberry in an unfortunate area.

newbie says:

July 23rd, 2008 at 12:49 pm

I’m pretty sure “if they mated” Joe Mauer and Brad Radke would produce Nick Blackburn.

Also, why no Baker against the yanks? Doesn’t he own them? They could have easily set that up?

MR says:

July 23rd, 2008 at 2:33 pm

I’m not convinced. More than anything, the Twins need their starters to eat innings, and Perkins has shown that he’s able to do that.