Everyone is making a pitch to see Liriano

BY GORDON WITTENMYER
Pioneer Press

Even Twins manager Ron Gardenhire seemed caught off guard when asked by the TV reporter after Sunday's game about the guy who didn't pitch all weekend.

Forget wild-card races and victories over division-rival Cleveland.

When can we expect to see Francisco Liriano make his major-league debut?

"Boy, there's a big Liriano watch, huh?" Gardenhire said, chuckling.

Why not? Especially after the organization thought enough of the left-hander who dazzled the International League this season to recall him from the minors for the big Cleveland series, four days ahead of the planned recalls of the rest of their September roster additions.

Liriano's debut might be the most anticipated since local hero Joe Mauer's last year. He was 9-2 with a 1.78 earned-run average in 14 Class AAA starts and has been compared to Cy Young winner Johan Santana almost from the moment the Twins got him from San Francisco in November 2003.

"That makes me feel good," Liriano said of the comparisons. "I want to be like him. I feel happy about that."

The 6-foot-2 Liriano, 21, is taller and lankier than Santana, but both throw a fastball in the 94-mph range and complement it with nasty sliders and Bugs Bunny changeups.

So, is he going to pitch today against Texas?

"I know everybody wants to see him, but it's got to be a good situation," Gardenhire said.

Even Santana's ready for Liriano's first appearance, saying: "It'd be great for the fans to see him pitch, even better if he's like another Johan Santana out there."