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I have to admit, I have been very surprised with our starting rotation this year. We have 4 guys pitching very well right now, and 1 guy who's pitching pretty much like he's supposed to (Hernandez).

So what I'm hoping is Hernandez lowers his ERA a little bit so we can trade him for a prospect or two near the deadline. By then, Franchise should be ready to be up in the bigs full time.

You are right that the rotation has been pitching surprisingly well. I knew Hernandez would deliver, but I never expected what we are seeing from the other guys.

klomp44 wrote:You are right that the rotation has been pitching surprisingly well. I knew Hernandez would deliver, but I never expected what we are seeing from the other guys.

I'm not the least bit surprised by Blackburn or Baker. I knew Baker would be good by how he finished last year off. That guy's got top of the rotation stuff. Blackburn does too.

I'm most surprised by Slowey because, prior to this year, he didn't have a real out pitch. I didn't doubt his control. I just didn't think he had the nasty stuff to get great hitters like Ivan Rodriguez or Manny Ramirez out.

Personally, I hope they don't rush Franchise back. Let him get his velocity back, then bring him back.

The rotation this year has been the strength of the team, no doubt. And I agree that it is time to bring Franchise up soon because he has been pitching more consistently and improving in the minors. But I dont think they will get much of anything for Livan. Maybe an average AA player. I mean, a 33 yr old with a lot of innings on that arm, whose ERA has been going in the wrong direction the last 5 years (minus the one year he was hurt) and who's K's are going down making $5 Mill isn't great. He is a good innings eater, but most teams looking to contend this time of year want good pitchers who can get guys out, not just eat some innings. That is what young teams look for before the year starts (the reason the Twins signed him).

The Star Tribune Twins' beat writer, LaVelle E. Neal III said he doesn't expect Franchise up with the club until August at the earliest or when the rosters expand.

Franchise has looked great his last 3 starts, if he continues we'll have to bring him up in August.

TheFranchise21 wrote:The Star Tribune Twins' beat writer, LaVelle E. Neal III said he doesn't expect Franchise up with the club until August at the earliest or when the rosters expand.

That makes the most sense. Who would've thunk that the rotation would be more consistent than the bullpen?

NewWulf wrote:

klomp44 wrote:You are right that the rotation has been pitching surprisingly well. I knew Hernandez would deliver, but I never expected what we are seeing from the other guys.

I'm not the least bit surprised by Blackburn or Baker. I knew Baker wouild be good by how he finished last year off. That guy's got top of the rotation stuff. Blackburn does too.

I'm most surprised by Slowey because, prior to this year, he didn't have a real out pitch. I didn't doubt his control. I just didn't think he had the nasty stuff to get great hitters like Ivan Rodriguez or Manny Ramirez out.

Personally, I hope they don't rush Franchise back. Let him get his velocity back, then bring him back.

I can't say I knew any of the starters were going to succeed but I did think we had a ton of guys who had a chance. Besides the 5 guys we already have starting we also had Liriano, Bonser, Mulvey and Humber. I figured out of that 9, it was likely that 3-4 at least would be OK.

Let's give credit to the Twins system of working fast, throwing strikes, making the other team beat you. I knew Baker would have excellent control. I also knew he had a great breaking pitch when he took a perfect game into the 9th against the Royals.

I liked what I saw from Blackburn, too, though he was inconsistent last year. I figured he had a shot at being in the rotation. I didn't know he'd be this effective, though. I thought he'd be a solid work in progress but he's surpassed that.

Think of next year's rotation: Liriano, Baker, Perkins, Blackburn, Slowey. Pencil them in for the next 3-4 years & I'll be a happy camper.

Blackburn was inconsistent last year? I don't know about that. I think he did about as well as you could expect him to all year long. He's definitly been a surprise this year, and is probably playing over his head. He can be good, but maybe not quite as good as he's been so far. Think Carlos Silva.

As far as Slowey not having an out pitch- that's one of the most frustrating things I hear. If he doesn't have an out pitch then how did he get all of those outs in the minors? Curious, now that he's pitching well in the majors, which of his pitches developed into an "out pitch"?

Blackburn was awesome in the minors last year, but terrible in his brief stint in the majors.

Which was only 10 innings. You can't call him "inconsistent" for that.