Minnesota Twins Starting Pitching Analysis

The key to Blackburn succeeding is to attack the strike zone against the heavy hitting Sox. He needs to get in the first pitch strikes and change speeds to keep the hitters off balance. He needs to stay ahead of these hitters so he doesn’t have to succumb to hitters count fastballs. He also tends to overthrow when in the stretch, elevating his fastball, and flattening/ straightening out his 2-seam. Pitch selection is going to be crucial as well. His pitch speeds tend to be too constant while living in the low 90’s. He needs to mix things up. The difference between a flat 93 fastball and a tailing 91 can be a two-run shot, or a routine 6-4-3 double play.

Glen Perkins was the Twins’ pleasant surprise this season, pitching very well during the middle of the season. He was 8-1 in 10 starts during the months of July and August pitching 6 plus innings in each start, highlighted by 8 shutout innings in each of the starts against New York and Los Angeles. Fatigue seems to have set in, however, as Glen went winless in August posting a 7.45 ERA for the month.

Perkins is not like most of the lefty starters that the Twins have possessed over the years. The rotation has been spoiled by hard throwing southpaws like Eric Milton, Johan Santana, and Francisco Liriano. Like the rest of the guys, Perkins lives in the high 80’s and low 90’s and changes speeds very well. He mixes up his pitches well, and when he is on, you never see consecutive speeds.

With his struggles of late, he has been relegated to the bullpen, but depending on Kevin Slowey’s progress, might take the starting spot on the playoff roster. It is questionable whether Perkins would even start in the postseason however, with the short series in the first round, short rest starts a big possibility. Glen was great down the stretch, but control problems will definitely hurt his chances of starting again this season.

Francisco Liriano the “Franchise” has done for the Twins since his recall, what CC Sabathia did for the Brewers. He was roughed up against Kansas City and Cleveland, but he pitched well enough in the rest of the starts to post a 6-1 record since the recall. Actually, he pitched well enough to deserve a 9-1 record in that stretch.

I am sure everybody by now knows the Liriano story, so I won’t dwell on it again, but he should be a strong candidate for the Comeback Player of the Year. He has done what he’s been asked to do: clutch performances, keep the team in the game, be the slump stopper, skid stopper, etc. Sure his strikeout numbers are not off the charts like they were in ’06, but he is on his way as his confidence just gets higher and higher.

Control is still a big issue for Liriano, allowing 32 free passes in a half season. This is also a big reason why he was unable to pitch deep into the ballgames in early August. Too many pitches early, and trying to strikeout everybody. He finally learned to pitch for contact, and actually struck out more batters attacking the strike zone. If he continues to do what he’s doing, he will follow in the same path as Johan Santana, and take the torch as the staff ace.

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