Liriano needs to regain his confidence

Marlin Levison, Minneapolis Star Tribune

Francisco Liriano with pitching coach Rick Anderson

Francisco Liriano probably will be sent to the minors to regain confidence after being roughed up by the A's.

By LA VELLE E. NEAL III, Star Tribune

Last update: April 25, 2008 - 7:49 AM

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OAKLAND 11, TWINS 2

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OAKLAND, CALIF. -- Twins lefthander Francisico Liriano appeared in manager Ron Gardenhire's office after Thursday's 11-2 loss to Oakland and admitted he has lost confidence in his ability to throw strikes.

That probably will mean that Liriano, who is trying to come back after undergoing Tommy John elbow surgery in 2006, will be sent to the minors, where he can regain his confidence and take steps toward becoming the All-Star pitcher he was before the injury.

"Confidence you build by going out there and pitch,'' Gardenhire said. "He's going to do that. He's going to get plenty of pitching. We'll see where he's going to get plenty of pitching at and go from there.''

Liriano lasted only two-thirds of an inning -- the shortest outing of his career -- as Oakland roughed him up for six runs on five hits and three walks.

It was the shortest outing by a Twins starter since May 30, 2002 when Brad Radke left after a third of an inning because of an injury.

Liriano is 0-3 with an 11.32 ERA. In 10 1/3 innings this season, he has allowed 28 baserunners on 15 hits and 13 walks.

"I expect better than that from me,'' a sullen Liriano said afterward. "I don't walk that many people. Kind of frustrated. I can't understand my fastball.''

He's trying to adjust his delivery so he doesn't put too much stress on his surgically repaired elbow. He's trying to throw more changeups and rely less on his slider, but he still has to be able to hit spots with his fastball.

Liriano's first pitches were clocked at about 90 miles an hour as he tried to sacrifice velocity for control.

But he walked Kurt Suzuki to begin the inning and Mark Ellis followed with a single.

After Mike Sweeney popped out, Liriano began to throw harder, reaching 94 mph. Frank Thomas walked to load the bases, forcing Twins pitching coach Rick Anderson to go to the mound and remind Liriano of how good he looked in the bullpen.

But Emil Brown singled on the next pitch, scoring two runs. Liriano walked Bobby Crosby, gave up a run-scoring single to Chris Denorfia and a two-run single to Donnie Murphy.

"He didn't locate it, and when he did throw it over they hit it,'' Gardenhire said. "And it was a bad inning, and he didn't get through it. He just didn't have any command in the zone.''

After the light-hitting Rajai Davis singled, Gardenhire summoned righthander Brian Bass from the bullpen, ending Liriano's nightmarish start.

"When I went out there everything changed [from the bullpen]. I don't know why,'' Liriano said. "I could not hit my spots with my fastball. I don't know what it is.''

It was easily the worst of the three starts he's had since being called up from the minors on April 11. While the Twins initially wanted Liriano in the majors so they could monitor his comeback, a step back might be more important to his development now.

They might not have enough time to wait for righthander Kevin Slowey to make his two rehabilitation starts at Class AAA Rochester and could make a change before Liriano's turn comes up in the rotation next week.

"We have seen him,'' Gardenhire said. "We know where we are at with him. The comeback continues. No one said it was going to be easy. It's never an easy thing when you sit out that long.''