Is FranKKKKie back?

[Boom Boom]

Is Frankie back? If by "back" you mean ready to be a consistent contributor, I'm going to say no.

 

I was at the game. Liriano was falling behind in the count frequently, 2-0 and 3-0. He can get away with that against the feeble A's, but the good teams are going to punish him for that.

 

One thing I did notice was that it looked like he threw his changeup more often than I'm used to seeing, which is a good sign. It's a good pitch and he's been hesitant to use it in the past.

[Gernzy]

We'll see how he does on his next start and go from there. I think we all can agree we hope this is a sign of things to come.

[twinsnorth49]

I'm telling you, watch him on his pitches and when he is effective and not. It is ALL about repeatable mechanics with him. Full stop.

 

He was more consistent today than at any point earlier in the season as a starter.

I just watched the replay (again) and this is bang on, his delivery today was, with exception of some spots in the 3rd inning, very repeatable and consistent. He rarely lost his fastball up and away, most of his misses were down, his fastball had velocity and pretty good location all game, his two seamer was moving like a bastard and when he went to the slider it was lights out. Because he was reliable with his fastballs he didn't have to overuse his slider, which he has had to do in the past with no effect, it was great to see. His change up was pretty bloody good as well and that was definitely helped by 94 mph fastballs across the plate, 94 must seem like 100 after you've been fed an 86 mph change up. He kept his head about him with runner's on, which might have been the best part of his performance.

 

I know Oakland isn't exactly Murderer's row but as I think Chief pointed out, they are a major league team, as we've witnessed from the Twins a team hitting poorly can break out at any time, especially if the pitcher is showing some vulnerability. Liriano didn't show them that and he didn't give them much to work with, he has the best stuff on the team and yesterday he used it to great effect, good on him, I'm happy for him.

[twinsnorth49]

Is Frankie back? If by "back" you mean ready to be a consistent contributor, I'm going to say no.

 

I was at the game. Liriano was falling behind in the count frequently, 2-0 and 3-0. He can get away with that against the feeble A's, but the good teams are going to punish him for that.

 

One thing I did notice was that it looked like he threw his changeup more often than I'm used to seeing, which is a good sign. It's a good pitch and he's been hesitant to use it in the past.

Maybe not but as far as falling behind 2-0, 3-0 it depends what you call frequently. He only fell behind in those counts 6 times and none back to back, that is very un-Frankie like. One of those was Crisp in the 5th when he followed up 3 balls with 3 clean strikes to a lifetime .273 hitter, not bad.

 

I think him falling behind in those counts was different yesterday because he had such good command of his fastball and he mixed his pitches well. Better hitters might have jumped on him but I don't think it would have been his un-doing. 3 of those counts went to Reddick once and Gomes twice, as bad as the A's are hitting, those guys are no chumps, if someone on that team is going to make the pitcher pay you figure it would have been them.

[Boom Boom]

Maybe not but as far as falling behind 2-0, 3-0 it depends what you call frequently. He only fell behind in those counts 6 times and none back to back, that is very un-Frankie like.

Frequently meaning too many times for any pitcher to get away with against a strong lineup. I agree it was actually a step in the right direction in Liriano's case that he only did it six times, but that's still too many times.

[twinsnorth49]

Frequently meaning too many times for any pitcher to get away with against a strong lineup. I agree it was actually a step in the right direction in Liriano's case that he only did it six times, but that's still too many times.

Fair enough.

[Curt]

Oak: 28th in Runs, 29th in OPS (.674)

Pitt: 30th in Runs, 30th in OPS (.618)

 

It's really just apples and oranges, but I agree that I'm wrong.

Oakland does get to hit for the pitcher.

[DAM DC Twins Fans]

Good pitchers have to dominate a bad lineup, and Frankie did that today.

My thoughts exactly. Lets see what FranKKKie does against a better lineup--which is the vast majority of major league teams. Thats what 29 GMs are saying right now.