Liriano looks 'smooth and loose' - but not like what we saw in '06

FORT MYERS, FLA. - Look at it this way: If this were the first time Francisco Liriano was in spring training with the Twins, there would be reports in today's Twin Cities newspapers that the 24-year-old lefthander had emerged as a candidate to earn a spot in the starting rotation.

We would be writing that this husky Dominican showed an adequate fastball, an effective changeup and a breaking pitch that had potential. We also would have mentioned that what made the fastball impressive was that it came out of such an easy motion.

This is not the situation, of course. Twins followers -- and all baseball fans -- can't avoid comparing the Liriano pitching in March 2008 with the rookie who spent an electrifying 2 1/2 months in the rotation in 2006.

That Liriano rode along at 94 miles per hour with his fastball and then put away hitters with a slider that moved wickedly and simultaneously west to east and north to south.

Those violent sliders took such a toll on Liriano's left elbow that he was sidelined in early August and headed for surgery after one start and two innings in mid-September.

The tendon replacement surgery took place on Nov. 6, 2006. He was back Friday, facing a Boston lineup that included five regulars from its World Series-winning lineup.

The Twins wanted Liriano to throw roughly 40 pitches, and he finished right there -- leaving with two outs in the second after back-to-back singles by Sean Casey and Keith Ginter.

The Casey and Ginter at-bats took longer and concluded with hard bouncers for singles. Scott Ullger, the manager for this split-squad game, came to get Liriano, as pitching coach Rick Anderson smiled and applauded in the visitors dugout at City o' Palms Park.

The folks in the Red Sox sellout crowd had enough awareness of the Liriano saga to join in the applause.

"He was better than I anticipated," Anderson said. "He threw it over. The ball came out of his hand. And I was surprised how calm he was about it. I think I was more excited than he was."

Radar guns behind home plate registered Liriano fastballs in the 87-to-89-mph range -- with one at 90 -- in the first inning.

"He came in after the first inning and said, 'I don't throw hard anymore,' " Anderson said. "I said, 'No, you throw hard easy.' His velocity was fine, and without the violent movements we've seen in the past. He was smooth and loose."

"The changeup was a good pitch," Liriano said. "Not the slider. I wasn't letting it go at all."

Liriano had the same lament after pitching two batting practice sessions earlier this week. The slider was considered the culprit that led to the damaged elbow.

Right now, Liriano can't get the message from his brain to his left arm that it's OK to turn loose the slider -- just don't lunge and grunt when doing so.

The breaking pitch had enough loop in it to look more like a curve than a slider. He was asked if a slower breaking pitch could do the trick for him, as long as he was hitting the proper one-third of the plate with his live fastball.

He gave a "no way" glance at the questioner and said there was a curveball look "because I'm not throwing as hard."

"I thought he was a little thick," the scout said. "He wasn't finishing off his pitches. When he was down in the zone, he was very good."

Patrick Reusse can be heard weekdays on AM-1500 KSTP at 6:45 and 7:45 a.m. and 4:40 p.m. • preusse@startribune.com

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