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Agent: Twins phenom Liriano frustrated over status
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Genske contacted the players' association about pursuing a grievance, and the union agreed to investigate whether the Twins are violating the collective-bargaining agreement by keeping him at Class AAA Rochester, the agent said.
Liriano, demonstrating that he is fully recovered from elbow-ligament transplant surgery, is 7-0 with a 2.73 ERA in his last nine starts at Rochester, averaging 9.6 strikeouts and 1.8 walks per nine innings. His fastball is consistently in the mid-90s and touching 97 mph, scouts say.
"He's now dominating," Genske told FOXSports.com. "The team agrees he's dominating. (The union) has determined that there is reasonable cause to open an investigation to see whether the Twins, by leaving him in the minors, are violating his rights in the Basic Agreement."
If Liriano filed a grievance, he could seek either a restoration of major-league service time, financial compensation or both. His loss of major-league time already will prevent him from qualifying for salary arbitration with three years of service and almost certainly will prevent him from qualifying as a "Super Two" player as well.
The Twins, winners of 21 of their past 28 games, say they currently do not have room for Liriano in their starting rotation, which consists of right-handers Scott Baker, Kevin Slowey, Nick Blackburn and Livan Hernandez along with lefty Glen Perkins.
The most vulnerable member of that group is Hernandez, who has a 7.28 ERA in the past 10 starts. Hernandez, 33, is owed the balance of his $5 million salary. The Twins could trade him, but his recent performance has not helped his value.
"(Liriano) is doing very well," Twins general manager Bill Smith said. "We're really pleased with the progress that he has made throughout the first half, the last three games in particular. He's really throwing well.
"Fortunately for our club, we've got a run going. Our starters are all doing the job. Certainly Francisco Liriano will be an important part of this ballclub going forward in the second half. I'm confident he will be a huge part of our club."
Smith said finances have played no role in the decision to keep Liriano in the minors. Liriano opened the season with the Twins, but clearly was not ready to contribute. He made only three starts, going 0-3 with an 11.32 ERA and 28 baserunners allowed in 10 1/3 innings.
"If that (financial motivation) was even a factor, you tell me why we brought him up in April," Smith said. "It was never a factor. When guys are ready, we bring 'em up. With many small-market clubs, it's just the opposite — we get players up here so quickly. They all reach their (service) levels sooner rather than later."
Liriano, when healthy, is a difference-maker, a pitcher the Twins consider the heir to left-hander Johan Santana, whom they traded to the New York Mets last offseason. He went 12-2 with a 1.96 ERA in his first 26 major-league games, including 14 starts, during the '06 season.
His stunning rise was interrupted that August, when Liriano suffered an elbow injury that led to surgery and forced him to miss the entire '07 season.
Member Comments
the twins should dump bonser and hernandez and bring up lirano
crabbybear7/24/2008 20:58:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Dudes dont worry bout it. Im a Twins fan. They will call him up eventually. He shouldnt be complaining. Even in the minors hes getting payed to play baseball, stop whining your getting payed to do what you love. Anyways, the Twins will go to a 6 man rotation a month before they go into the play offs he will be called up when they go to 6.
tough_guy227/18/2008 15:53:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Liriano should just SHUT his whiny piehole and play baseball!!!!!<br />There are hundreds of good players in the minors who don't get to play in the majors and his crying like a baby isn't a respected response EVER from a minor leaguer who can't EARN a spot in the rotation.<br />I hope the retarded baby does sue because then HE will be further buried on the minor league roster and rightly so....since when does ANY player demand playing time in the bigs.....NEVER.....they don't have ANY authority to make personnel decisions and never will.<br />I'm sure if it were up to Liriano he would be the highest paid player, starting all the games, starting the all-star game, pitching all 7 games of the world series and receiving all the profits!<br /><br />Someone needs to remind this child of the shack he called home before baseball made him some money and some fame.<br />SHUT UP AND PLAY!
TRUTTHH7/18/2008 13:05:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Trade Liriano to the Rangers. He would start there.
jeffkalista7/18/2008 12:53:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
send him to baltimore if you dont want him...we gotta make our annual playoff push over here
bren53907/18/2008 11:59:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
the braves will gladly take him. there is no reason for this dude to be in the minor leagues.
mmoore199717/18/2008 11:19:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
I saw Franchise pitch in May, he did not have it at all. He has been pitching great as of late, but so have the Twins...3.00 ERA over the last month. Livian is the weakest link, but he is the only veteran in the rotation. Franchise will be up here soon, why do you non Twins fans care anyway?
Cantey77ND7/18/2008 11:11:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
What are the Twins doing,he,s one of the best cats in baseball.
whodat54007/18/2008 10:30:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Crazy_SumBeech<br />7/18/2008<br />8:11 AM (report inappropriate content)<br /><br />Just another example of Pro Sports trying to keep The Dominican down..... Its all racisim<br /> since HERNANDEZ would be the most likely to go,,,,I guess your empty thread makes you the R WORD....HE HE HE HE HE<br /><br />when under pressure,,,,Francisco has a tendency to /overthrow HENCE, everyone is perry annoyed on or about his return to the DL
detroiXjaytee7/18/2008 10:22:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
btown69 while I agree with many of your comments especially the one regarding turning down the volume, I don't believe these people should just shutup!! I agree they don't know as much as each general manager does as it relates to their particular team. But these guys are reporting on the entire league, not just one team. They are trying to inform the general public. If you believe they are complete losers then fine take it for what it worth in your opinion and move on. But some people that are not as informed as you are may find their reporting more helpful than you do.<br /><br />Finally, I am sick of fans and the media saying things like "agents and players" are greedy; and management isn't? When I go to a doctor I am looking for medical advice, when I go to lawyer I probably need legal advice, an represents players, he/she is doing their damn job.
MR1DFUL7/18/2008 8:41:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Gardy made some awesome comments regarding these tools and fools trying to dictate how the Twins run their club. These media queens and greedy agents need to shut their mouths. They don't know anything about the Twins, or any other baseball team for that matter. If Barbie Rosenthal and Bunny Olney know so much, why aren't they managing in the majors? The idiot Genske is giving Liriano a bad name by making him out to be a whiner. Sure, he's looking to get his 10% or whatever and he's just doing his job, but he has no interest in the Twins' operations. This whole thing is stupid, and although the media, Rosenthal in particular in this case, are looking for their drama, they should just shut up. And we as fans need to ignore these idiots. Watch the games with the volume off, especially when it's on ESPN or Fox, since those morons don't know anything about the teams they're covering, outside of the starting lineups and recent box scores. Liriano rocks, and this junk is blown out of proportion.
btown697/18/2008 8:31:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Newport it relates to a player filing for either abitration or free agency. I don't pretend to be an expert on baseball contracts or this specific player's situation. My point is if the agent is behind the reporting of this story, that is his/her job.<br /><br />I don't know who is right or wrong, I am saying the agent is doing the job they were hired to do.
MR1DFUL7/18/2008 8:17:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
DNIC you claim you were a .300 hitter that never made it to the big leauges. Okay, on what level did you hit .300 (high school, A, AA, AAA, ect...) was it semi-pro ball. Did you have an agent? Dnic, your story is probably true and incomplete. How was your defense, what position did you play, was there a "hall-fame" type player playing the same position in the same organization? Were you a good team-mate? So on and so on...
MR1DFUL7/18/2008 8:12:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
The twins should be ashamed of themsleves and their fans should revolt!!!
vpribs7/18/2008 8:10:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
I don't get the whole "cheapskates" and "getting paid" bit. When a player with a Major League contract gets assigned to the minors, his contract doesn't change. He still makes his Major League paycheck. Dropping him would not drop his pay. With respect to arbitration, it would be in the Twins best interest that it went to arbitration. He isn't going to get the Santana type money anyway. I am hoping the Yanks can work a deal for him. Liriano is the man.
Newport_Newbizzles7/18/2008 8:10:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
SWILL72 are you really as dumb as your comment would suggest? First, Liriano doesn't need to speak English to understand the process, secondly even if I believe you know what you are talking about isn't his agent's job to help his client achieve the most favorable outcome?<br /><br />Will you people please STOP being stupid?
MR1DFUL7/18/2008 7:59:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Absolutely ridiculous!<br />The Twins better wake up and bring him up. Cheapskates.
Dscooter7/18/2008 7:36:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
This makes no sense...he would be there best starting pitcher, he is 8-0 in 10 starts in triple A, so maybe he can only give 5 or 6 innings now he is still the best option they have....Twins are just giving the division to the White Sox
akagb47/18/2008 7:34:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
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