Pitching Perspectives (3/10-3/16)
By Wally Fish
Twins Pitching Perspectives (3/10-3/16)
The Twins finished the week with a 2-4 record.
Scott Baker pitched on Thursday against Pittsburg. He threw 4.0 innings allowing 5 hits, 4 runs, 1 walk and 3 strike outs. Of the 5 hits Baker gave up, 4 of them were home runs.
Francisco Liriano pitched on Friday against Cincinnati. He threw 3.1 innings allowing 3 hits, 1 run, 1 walk and struck out 5. In his last 10.1 innings over his last three starts, Liriano has given up 5 hits, 1 run and 1 walk while striking out 12.
Kevin Slowey pitched on Saturday against Florida. In his 4.0 innings of work, he allowed 2 hits, no runs, 1 walk and struck out 5. Like Liriano, his last 3 starts have been first rate. In the last 10.1 innings he has given up 6 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk and has struck out 11.
Nick Blackburn followed Glen Perkins in two games this week as the Twins continue to ease him back from his off-season knee surgery. He pitched 1.0 inning on Wednesday against Baltimore and gave up 1 hit, no runs and no walks. On Sunday he pitched 2.0 innings against the Yankees and again gave up 1 hit, no runs and no walks while recording 1 strike out.
Glen Perkins pitched Wednesday against Baltimore and Sunday against the Yankees. On Wednesday he threw 3.0 innings allowing 5 hits, 2 runs and 2 walks while striking our 1. Sunday he threw 3.0 innings giving up 5 hits and 3 runs but did not issue a walk.
The Twins followed up an excellent 1st week in which they posted a 3.46 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP with an even more impressive 2nd week. Week 2 they posted a 1.11 ERA and 0.78 WHIP in 24.1 innings of work. Slowey, Liriano, and Blackburn were excellent in week 3, but Baker and Perkins both struggled. As a whole the rotation had their worst week of spring training.
Minnesota
IP
H
R
ER
BB
SO
HR
ERA
WHIP
3/10-3/16 Starters
20.1
22
10
10
5
15
5
4.43
1.33
Below is the performance of the rest of the pitchers in camp:
Minnesota
IP
H
R
ER
BB
SO
HR
ERA
WHIP
Craig Breslow (L)
2.0
1
0
0
1
3
0
0.00
1.00
Jesse Crain (R)
2.2
1
0
0
0
1
0
0.00
0.37
Rob Delaney (R)
1.0
2
0
0
0
1
0
0.00
2.00
R.A. Dickey (R)
2.2
5
2
2
1
4
0
6.74
2.25
Brian Duensing (L)
1.0
2
3
0
1
1
0
0.00
3.00
Armando Gabino (R)
1.0
2
1
1
0
0
1
9.00
2.00
Mike Gosling (L)
2.0
3
0
0
1
2
0
0.00
2.00
Matt Guerrier (R)
2.0
2
0
0
0
1
0
0.00
1.00
Sean Henn (L)
2.0
1
1
1
1
2
1
4.50
1.00
Philip Humber (R)
3.0
1
0
0
0
2
0
0.00
0.33
Jason Jones (R)
3.0
4
1
1
0
0
0
3.00
1.33
Ben Julianel (L)
2.0
1
0
0
0
2
0
0.00
0.50
Bobby Keppel (R)
2.0
3
2
2
1
1
0
9.00
2.00
Jose Mijares (L)
0.1
3
4
4
2
1
0
109.00
15.15
Kevin Mulvey (R)
2.0
2
2
2
1
1
1
9.00
1.50
Joe Nathan (R)
2.0
2
1
1
0
2
0
4.50
1.00
Anthony Swarzak (R)
1.0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0.00
2.00
The Bad: Jose Mijares
The Good: Craig Breslow, Philip Humber, Jesse Crain, & Matt Guerrier
He was likely going to make the roster anyway, but Craig Breslow has had an excellent spring and should have a spot in the pen locked up, being a lefty certainly helps.
Humber also did a lot to help his cause this week, pitching 2 perfect innings yesterday in his spot start and another clean inning allowing only 1 hit on Friday. With Humber being out of options and Boof Bonser being done for the season I would be shocked if Humber doesn’t make the team.
Jason Jones has also had a very good spring, and being a Rule 5 pick from the Yankees he likely will head north to start the season.
If the Twins carry 12 pitchers, they will have 7 bullpen spots to fill. If I were the GM deciding today, I’d fill my bullpen with:
Closer: Nathan
Swingman/Spot Starter: Humber
8th Inning: Crain
Lefties: Breslow & Henn
Righties: Guerrier & Jones
I really like Mijares and was hoping he follow-up on his excellent 10 innings of work last season, but he is struggling with his control (7 BB in 4.1 IP). The Twins can’t take the risk of having him on their ML roster if he doesn’t convincingly turn it around in the last few weeks of camp.