There are a lot of people who felt the Twins should have made a move before yesterday's deadline, myself being one of them, but instead the Twins decided to stand pat with what they have. It's a move that may hurt them now that they've lost second baseman and team spark plug Alexi Casilla could miss the rest of the season.Still, sometimes it's not the trades that you make as much as it is the players you get back from the disabled list. Of course, Francisco Liriano has been off the disabled list for a while and blowing hitters away in Triple-A, but the team has just now decided to call him up. Though that does mean they have to make room for him, and that's why the team designated both Livan Hernandez and Craig Monroe for assignment.
Hernandez is 10-8 with a 5.48 ERA in 23 starts and has allowed 199 hits in 139 2/3 innings. He pitched poorly in his last start against Chicago on Wednesday and gave up five runs in the first two innings of his previous start against Cleveland.
Left-handed pitcher Francisco Liriano, a sensation in 2006 before an arm injury knocked him out of action for more than a year, will take his spot in the rotation. Randy Ruiz, a 30-year-old career minor-leaguer, can play first base and right field. But he will likely be used as a right-handed designated and pinch hitter.
The Livan Hernandez move is not surprising in the least, as he's been a huge disappointment this season after being brought over to be the ace of the staff. Unfortunately, Livan found out that the American League is a lot different than the National League, and he's paid the price for it.
Craig Monroe was another player the Twins brought in this offseason, and he's sucked pretty hard in 2008. I mean, you kind of have to play horrible if you're going to get replaced by a 30-year old career minor leaguer. In 168 at bats, Monroe was hitting .202/.274/.405 with 8 homers, 29 RBI, and 48 strikeouts.
Though the power numbers are decent given his limited playing time, those 48 strikeouts in 168 at bats is not exactly Twins baseball, and if you don't play Twins baseball you won't be a Twin for very long.
I'm sure both will find jobs somewhere else before too long, though.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
hernandez can bite me he had nothing left.... about f time boys.... monroe will be back someplace he does have something to give..
The Twinkies have worse problems than Hernandez. The pitchers who should have gone are Reyes and Crain--long before Hernandez.