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MLB Trade Rumors: Yankees Want To Bring Twins Francisco Liriano To New York

Posted by on 1 March 2011, 2:26 pm

The rumor that New York Yankees have been interested in Minnesota Twins Francisco Liriano has reappeared again over the last week, according to ESPN’s Andrew Marchand Trade Watch.

It is no secret that the Yankees are in the market for another starting pitcher, which I am not opposed too but not right now.

My understanding was GM Brian Cashman motto is ‘to be patient’ and at this point there are reasons I jumped on Cashman’s slow bandwagon. Let’s apply the power of patience to this specific situation:

  1. Liriano came to Spring Training complaining of a sore shoulder; no one heard a word from him during the off-season where he usually plays winter-ball; and gets an MRI from some doctor in Miami that nobody in the Twins organization knew about. When asked if he did his shoulder exercises in the off-season, Liriano said no, and so that is the reason for the tendentious. He is almost 28-years-old, with a not so great attitude and the Twins haven’t hidden the fact they were not happy. He has potential to be an ace as in 2010 posted a 14-10 record, with a 3.62 ERA, 201 strikeouts and throwing just shy of 192 innings. Still, this just doesn’t feel right.
  2. The Yankees will have to over pay BIG for Liriano’s hurt arm. Rumor has it not Joba Chamberlain, but touted prospect Jesus Montero or Phil Hughes plus god knows how many other prospects. It is not worth it, at least not now. If fans get robbed of seeing Montero there might be a riot, especially after Austin Jackson got traded last season to the Tigers.
  3. Even though it is not happening now or maybe at all in 2011, the Yankees should hold on to their young arms. Specifically, 22-year-old Dellin Betances, 23-year-old Andrew Brackman, and 19-year-old Manny Banuelos, this is presuming that Ivan Nova is not going to be made available, as he shouldn’t be. These kids have shown tons of potential and impressed in Spring Training. Remember the current World Champion San Francisco Giants won with their dynamo young pitchers, maybe the Yankees should take note. Continue reading ‘MLB Trade Rumors: Yankees Want To Bring Twins Francisco Liriano To New York’ »

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New York Yankees-Minnesota Twins: ALDS Series Breakdown, Part Three

Posted by on 5 October 2010, 1:57 pm

Part one and two covered statistical comparison, as well as the pros/cons for the upcoming New York Yankees-Minnesota Twins ALDS; finishing off with part three, which will be my prediction of who will win. Remember it is just three of five games in the first round of the MLB postseason and this length makes it all the more challenging.

Who Will Win the ALDS, Yankees or Twins?

Let’s start by reminding anyone reading this that I am a New York Yankees fan.

I am also a realistic writer who loves the game of baseball.

So as much as my loyalty will always be with the Yankees, I can’t change whether they’re capable of winning or losing.

For the upcoming ALDS between the Yankees and Twins, it would be idiotic to not favor New York to win in four games.

Without a doubt, when the two teams have faced each other in the past the Yankees have been favored. However this cannot be the only reason to choose one team over the other, nor can the Yankees’ wild-card history be a factor as they are a totally different team now. The only relevant stat is the 2009 postseason sweep of the Twins, as it was too recent to overlook.

The whole media smear campaign against New York is expected and the non-stop ripping of the Yankees pitching staff is not unwarranted, but exaggerated considering the opponent.

Ex-starter AJ Burnett is such a mess that he will be in the bullpen for this series.

Andy Pettitte has been injured for almost the entire second half of the regular season. Since returning, Pettitte has made two starts and neither have not brought anything but more “Oh, s*i%” instead of some needed confidence the team was aching from the southpaw. Pettitte gets the benefit of the doubt because he well deserves it considering his postseason career consists of an 18-9 record, over 250 innings, striking out 164 tough bats and 3.90 ERA.

With Pettitte moving behind Yankees ace CC Sabathia in the No. 2 spot, Game 3’s starter is Phil Hughes. Hughes has pitched 90 innings more than ever in his career this season. Hughes struggled with his command at points, but not once did he pitch less than five full innings and that is all he needs to do on Saturday.

In this series the Twins pitching is in worse shape than the Yankees.

Carl Pavano is their most solid pitcher because Francisco Liriano doesn’t throw enough strikes, and that only helps the patient Yankees at the plate.

Also, Liriano gets overly excited in big regular season games, where his emotions get the best of him. The Twins are concerned considering it’s Liriano’s first postseason start ever. Still, the reward is well worth the risk because if Liriano can stay calm, he has ability to shut down entire lineups.

Another “advantage-Yankees” is that the bats are as good as it gets.

The only big concern was Derek Jeter. This has faded out, as the captain started hitting like himself again. Jeter is also a postseason superstar who is lethal as the leadoff batter.

This is what the Yankees want to do and it would be shocking if they didn’t accomplish it in this series. For me to get overly concerned about the Yankees, it would entail heading home without a win.

What I Think Is Most Critical

Winning Game 1…as it will serve as a major boost because both teams need it more than in the past.

Finally, I want to finish by saying:

“MY SINCEREST CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH OF THE EIGHT TEAMS IN THE 2010 POSTSEASON!! GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL…xoxo lady loves pinstripes.”

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Robinson Cano, Francisco Liriano take the American League’s monthlies

Posted by on 4 May 2010, 2:41 am

PRESS RELEASE

05/03/2010 5:02 PM ET

Robinson Cano, Francisco Liriano take the American League‘s monthlies

05/03/2010 5:02 PM ET

MLB.com

New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano and Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Francisco Liriano have been named the American League Player and Pitcher of the Month, respectively, for April.

In 22 games last month, Cano hit a Major League-best .400 (34-85) with five doubles, a triple, eight home runs, 21 runs scored and 18 RBI. The 27-year-old also posted a .765 slugging percentage and a .436 on-base percentage. He is one of just four Yankees in the expansion era (since 1961) to bat .400 in April (min: 50 PA), joining Clete Boyer (1962), Willie Randolph (1976) and Paul O’Neill (1994, ’96). The native of San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic reached base successfully in 21 of his 22 games in April, which included 11 multi-hit games and four multi-RBI performances. Cano also amassed two multi-homer games in April, extending his career total to six. Robinson became just the second American Leaguer to record a .400 average and eight home runs in the month of April in the expansion era, joining Boston’s Manny Ramirez in 2001. On April 24th, the lefty-hitting slugger collected four hits and three runs scored to match career-high’s en route to a 7-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. On the strength of his 10-game season-opening hitting streak, Cano extended his April hitting streak to 27 games, dating back to last season, the longest such streak in A.L. history. This marks Robinson’s second career Player of the Month Award (previous: September 2006). Continue reading ‘Robinson Cano, Francisco Liriano take the American League’s monthlies’ »

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