I had my reservations about this kid as a starter for the long haul, but he has been getting better in each of his past 5 starts, and just had a gem against Baltimore yesterday.

 

Start 1: 5 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO | 68 pitches, 41 strikes, 60% strikes | 13.6 pitchers per IP

 

Start 2: 5 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO | 83 pitches, 53 strikes, 64% strikes | 16.6

 

Start 3: 6 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 4 SO | 104 Pitches, 65 strikes, 63% strikes | 17.3

 

Start 4: 6 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO | 91 pitches, 59 strikes, 65% strikes | 15.1

 

Start 5: 7 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO | 98 pitches, 62 strikes, 63% strikes | 14

 

Starter Totals: 29 IP, 4 ER, 12 BB, 23 SO | 444 pitches, 280 strikes, 63% strikes

4-1, 1.24 ERA, 0.93 WHIP

 

He is staying at a good steady rate with his strike percentage and he is now throwing less pitches per inning over the past two starts. He looks to be having a starter mentality more and more every time he takes the mound.

 

Coupled with Santana, the Twins may possibly have the best 1-2 punch in the majors. With his digusting slider and impressive change, Liriano's ceilling is higher then any pitcher I've seen in a while.

 

He faces the Pirates on Friday.

There's a reason why Liriano has been in BA's Top 10 of the Top 100 prospects the last two years.

Liriano is definitely baby Johan, which is what the Twins had planned all along. They even took him down the same path, as he started out in the bullpen and made his way into the rotation.

 

Definitely looks like the real deal and a guy we will see dominating for a very long time.

Possibly the worst trade ever:

 

Giants send Joe Nathan, Francisco Liriano, and Boof Bonser to the Twins for A.J. Pierzynski. :lol

After giving up a 2-run homer to Jack Wilson in the 1st, Liriano put his foot down and shut down the Pirates.

 

Start 6: 7 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 11 SO | 101 pitches, 71 strikes, 69% | 14.4 pitches per IP

 

Bests in strikeouts and strike percentage tonight.

 

MLB.com has a video clip on the front page of all the strikeouts, absolutely filthy.