Pittsburgh Topic Page

The season has technically started, but I think it's still early enough to fairly submit my predictions. Feel free to add yours to the comments.

...and that will be decided with Francisco Liriano's start today against Pittsburgh. If he looks sharp he'll likely get the final spot in the rotation. If not, he'll start the season in AAA getting in a little more preparation after returning from Tommy John surgery and getting a late start to the spring with visa issues.

The Twins will return to the Metrodome after a rough 2-4 road trip to the west coast. They're probably a bit relieved (I know I am) to be getting back into interleague play. The National league has treated them quite well recently. In 2006 the Twins were 16-2 in interleague play and so far this year they've got the 2-1 series victory against Milwaukee.

Last week the Atlanta Braves released Craig Wilson. This afternoon KFAN 1130 reported a rumor that Wilson's agent is talking with the Twins.

The Twins extended their season long win streak to 10 games with a Sunday victory over the Brewers. The win also completed the Twins third straight sweep. Francisco Liriano got off to a less than perfect start. He hit Rickie Weeks with a pitch and gave up a single to Jeff Cirillo. While pitching to Corey Hart, he caught a spike in the mound and tripped before delivering a pitch. The balk moved runners to second and third with no outs. Two strikeouts and a groundout got him out of the jam with no runs given up. Liriano was near perfect for the rest of the game—giving up just 3 hits and a walk through 8 shutout innings. Liriano also recorded a career high 12 strikeouts.

Week 11 was a good week for the Twins. They got good pitching from their starters and bullpen and the offense came up with big hits when they needed them. The week started off with a sweep of a pretty good Boston ballclub and ended with the sweep of a not so good Pittsburgh team. The biggest positive from the weekend series was the Twins ability to win 3 straight on the road where they have struggled mightily this year.

The Twins won their 6th straight game on Saturday night in Pittsburgh. Most impressively they did it with Boof Bonser, Kyle Lohse and Jesse Crain pitching 8 of the innings for the Twins. Those pitchers each have been among the worst for the Twins this season.

Francisco Liriano's only troubles came in the 2nd inning when he walked Ian Snell, the Pittsburgh pitcher, and then gave up a 2-run homer to Jack Wilson. Liriano was brilliant through 7 innings as he struck out a career hight 11 batters and became the first Twins pitcher that isn't Johan Sanana to strike out double digits since Eric Milton in 2002.

Nobody could've guessed that the Twins would sweep the Red Sox, but they pulled it off Thursday night as they continue to play their best baseball of the season. The sweep was a crushing blow to the Sox who came into the series neck-and-neck with the Yankees. This week has by far been the biggest week of the season for the Twins. They have not only won 4 straight and 6 of their last 7, but they've also ridded themselves of Tony Batista and Juan Castro. Juan Castro was traded Thursday to the Cincinatti Reds for a low-end prospect. Also, young players like Jason Kubel, Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau have shined and Jason Bartlett is now getting his chance.

Spring training is, for the most part, wrapped up and just about every position on the team has been decided. That means it's time to introduce the 2006 Twins, at least as they will be on Tuesday, April 4th.