Liriano's slider better, but control is off

The lefthander had a little more bite to his slider, but he couldn't find the plate and wasn't throwing very hard.

By LA VELLE E. NEAL III, Star Tribune

Last update: March 18, 2008 - 12:48 AM

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FLORIDA 5, TWINS 3

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FORT MYERS, FLA. - Lefthander Francisco Liriano on Monday threw a couple of good sliders, but other hittable ones just spun toward the plate.

Liriano tried to spot his fastball, but 26 of his 59 pitches were balls, meaning he had trouble spotting anything.

His final line during the Twins' 5-3 loss to Florida -- three-plus innings, three earned runs on five hits and two walks -- isn't one that prompts a manager to pencil his name into the rotation. But the Twins just want Liriano, who's coming back from 15 months off after Tommy John surgery, to get used to being on the mound again. They hope enough things fall into place over his remaining spring outings to justify them bringing him north.

"He is trying to come back from a lot,'' Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said, "We are not trying to put pressure on him and say, 'You've got to hurry up and get this done.' It's not about that at all. We just want to see him throw the ball and continue working and start seeing more crispness of his breaking ball.''

Liriano said he didn't hold much back Monday, but a National League scout at Monday's game had his fastball clocked at no higher than 92 miles per hour, usually at 89-91. His changeup, which the scout said was good, came in at 77-79 while the slider was at 78-81.

When asked about his slider, Liriano said: "It's good, but I won't use my slider as much this year. It's going to be my changeup and my two-seamer.''

Liriano is on schedule to make two more starts before spring training ends. While the Twins won't commit to opening the season with Liriano in the rotation, indications are that he will be with the team when the season starts.

And since Gardenhire hinted that Liriano would be moved to the back of the rotation if that happens, Liriano could pitch in a simulated game to get in more work before his turn comes up April 4.

"If he looks like he can handle it then you make a decision,'' Gardenhire said. "If it doesn't look like he's ready to handle things right away, that's not an issue either. It's going to be about where he is at by the end of spring training.''

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