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Home | Sports | Twins

Family’s presence calmed Liriano during comeback

Marlin Levison, Star Tribune

Francisco Liriano is back in a major league dugout, a place he spent some time earlier this season before it became evident he needed a stint in the minor leagues.

Now more relaxed than he was earlier this year, Francisco Liriano hopes to translate that ease of mind into strong starts for the Twins' playoff drive.

By JOE CHRISTENSEN, Star Tribune

Last update: August 15, 2008 - 12:39 AM

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Francisco Liriano's baby boy is 4 months old, a little young for an MVP award, but if Liriano keeps playing a big role for the Twins down the stretch, Kevin Liriano should get some credit.

He was born during a whirlwind time for his dad, who missed all of 2007 recovering from elbow surgery.

The Twins left Liriano behind after spring training, letting him tune up in the minors. On April 4 in Miami, Johanna Liriano gave birth to Kevin, in between her husband's outings for Class A Fort Myers and Class AAA Rochester.

Then, after three ugly starts for the Twins, Liriano landed back in Rochester, N.Y. One solace, he said, was having Johanna and Kevin there with him.

"Kind of put my mind [at ease]," he said. "Didn't think about baseball when I was home."

The more Liriano has relaxed, the easier his comeback has become. He hopes to take another step tonight at the Metrodome, when he pitches opposite former Twins teammate Carlos Silva.

In two starts since returning from Rochester, Liriano is 2-0 with a 2.32 ERA.

Most signs have been encouraging. But Liriano, 24, doesn't think he has thrown as well as he did in July, when he went 5-0 with a 1.32 ERA with the Red Wings.

"In Rochester, I was throwing harder," he said. "I don't know what the deal is. My arm doesn't bother me at all."

Liriano's fastball averaged 93-95 miles per hour in Class AAA, but it has been closer to 91-93 with the Twins.

"Sometimes when you relax, you throw harder," Twins pitching coach Rick Anderson said. "Up here, it's been two starts, and he's trying to show everybody he's back. You have a tendency to overthrow a little bit. Once you do that, your velocity goes backward.

"So once he gets comfortable, like he was there, you'll see all the velocity back."

Anderson said it wasn't by design, but Liriano has a good schedule for rebuilding confidence.

After facing the Indians and Royals in his past two starts, Liriano missed the Twins' three-game series against the Yankees. He will face the Mariners and Athletics on this homestand before missing a four-game series against the Angels in Anaheim, Calif. Then he gets the Mariners and A's again.

That's six starts against four teams that are a combined 209-272.

Liriano, 24, said his goal is to finish strong, rest his arm over the winter and come back even better for 2009. Pitchers coming back from Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery often fare better the second year.

"Then you'll really be able to see if he's back -- after he gets that considerable rest," Twins catcher Mike Redmond said. "I've seen that happen. It's tough because people are like, 'He's not the same.' Well, it just takes time."

Liriano set the bar awfully high in 2006, when he went 12-3 with a 2.16 ERA and made the American League All-Star team as a rookie. Having less velocity could help him become a better pitcher.

His slider doesn't have the same zip as it did two years ago, but it still has considerable bite. Most important, Anderson said, Liriano has learned to trust his fastball and changeup.

Now that Johanna and Kevin have joined him in the Twin Cities, Liriano has continued balance away from the field.

Asked if Kevin is getting big, Liriano smiled, saying, "Yeah, like 18 or 19 pounds."

He's not the only one in the family growing fast.

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