Twins Pitching Perspectives (2/25-3/2)
By Wally Fish
Welcome to the 1st edition of a weekly article I hope to do covering the performance of the Twins pitchers from the previous week. During the regular season I plan on this being a far more robust article each week when I can actually watch the games, so this week’s edition is largely a statistical summation of the week that was.
The Twins finished their first week with a 4-1 record, which doesn’t amount to much in the long run since it is Spring Training, but it is certainly better than starting out 1-4.
Scott Baker pitched Friday against the Yankees and got knocked around quite a bit giving up 6 hits and 3 runs, all earned, in his 2.0 innings. He didn’t walk anyone or strikeout anyone, but did give up the only home run among the starters for the week. He has been named the opening day starter, so hopefully this was just a case of getting back into the swing of things.
Francisco Liriano pitched Saturday against the Yankees and like Baker got hit pretty hard. Unlike Baker’s start, I was actually able to watch the game since MLB Network aired it. Liriano gave up 4 hits and 3 runs, 2 of them earned, in his 2.0 innings. He walked one and didn’t record a strikeout. Liriano’s start was definitely one of loosening up. While I am not a scout, and the YES Network broadcasters were clueless, he seemed to be throwing his fastball, a change up and little else. He was wild left to right, but did a fairly good job of keeping the ball down in the zone for his 1st spring start.
Kevin Slowey took the mound on Sunday against the Red Sox. He pitched 2.0 scoreless innings without surrendering a hit and striking out one batter. From the stat line, it was about as good of a start as you could have in your Spring Training debut.
Nick Blackburn pitched Thursday against the Reds. He pitched 2.0 scoreless and hitless innings without issuing a walk or striking a batter out.
Glen Perkins pitched the first game of the Twins spring schedule on Wednesday against the Red Sox split squad team. In 2.0 innings he gave up 2 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, and recorded 1 strikeout. Perkins also got into Sunday’s game following up Slowey’s two shutout innings with 3.0 shutout innings of his own. In those 3 innings, he gave up 3 hits and recorded 2 strikeouts.
For their 1st week of work the Twins rotation, held up very well putting the together a great combined statistical line. The rotation figures to be the strength of the Twins team this season, and their 1st week was better than I could have expected, but not at all surprising.
Minnesota
IP
H
R
ER
BB
SO
HR
ERA
WHIP
2/25-3/2 Starters
13.0
15
6
5
1
4
1
3.46
1.23
Below is the performance of the rest of the pitchers in camp. Boof Bonser being done for the year and Philip Humber’s early struggles would seem to have opened a door for someone to step through as the long reliever/swingman. Nathan’s sore shoulder is obviously also cause for concern.
Minnesota
IP
H
R
ER
BB
SO
HR
ERA
WHIP
Luis Ayala (R)
2.0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0.00
0.50
Craig Breslow (L)
2.0
2
1
1
1
2
0
4.50
1.50
Jesse Crain (R)
2.0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0.00
0.00
Rob Delaney (R)
1.0
1
0
0
0
1
0
0.00
1.00
R.A. Dickey (R)
2.0
1
0
0
1
3
0
0.00
1.00
Brian Duensing (L)
2.0
2
0
0
2
1
0
0.00
2.00
Armando Gabino (R)
1.0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0.00
1.00
Mike Gosling (L)
2.0
3
1
0
2
1
0
0.00
2.50
Matt Guerrier (R)
2.0
1
1
1
2
0
0
4.50
1.50
Sean Henn (L)
2.0
2
0
0
1
0
0
0.00
1.50
Philip Humber (R)
2.0
5
4
4
0
0
0
18.00
2.50
Jason Jones (R)
3.0
4
1
1
2
3
0
3.00
2.00
Ben Julianel (L)
1.0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0.00
2.00
Bobby Keppel (R)
2.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.00
0.00
Jose Mijares (L)
2.0
1
0
0
2
3
0
0.00
1.50
Kevin Mulvey (R)
2.0
2
0
0
0
1
0
0.00
1.00
Joe Nathan (R)
1.0
2
1
1
1
0
0
9.00
3.00
Anthony Swarzak (R)
1.0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0.00
0.00