Minnesota Sports

All right, we can deal with Scott/Boof blowing up in big league starts, and earning quick demotions to AAA.  Not the end of the world for the Twins.

But then something happened last night that was the worst-case scenario...Liriano went down, and he's going to the DL.

Garza has been called up from AAA Rochester to replace Liriano, and is being put in a less-than-ideal situation, to say the least.  In a perfect world, Garza would have been a September call-up, and get used in middle relief for the rest of the year.  Instead, he's going to make a start this weekend vs. the Blue Jays.

That makes the rotation Santana/Radke/Silva/Garza/...and then who?

Mike Smith was called up to replace Boof...who had replaced Baker.  He only lasted three innings in his first start, which is a bad sign for the Twins, who have obviously had a mess in the fifth rotation spot.  I think you've got to give Smith one more start, though, before considering another change in the rotation.

If his next start doesn't go well, you've got to make a change.  At that point, look to the bullpen...try putting Guerrier in that fifth spot.  Farm-system options are totally used up, I'm guessing, so putting a reliever in the rotation would be the route to go.

Regarding Guerrier...just by process of elimination, he'd likely be the guy the Twins would put in the rotation.  Neshek's name would probably be mentioned, but would his style work in the rotation?  He's a great "change of pace" pitcher...but would he be as effective over five or six innings?

Things are getting really, really interesting.  A hyped pitching prospect has been called up, as another goes down due to injury.  The Twins are virtually tied for the Wild Card.  There's a ton of mystery surrounding the rotation.  It looks like things are falling into place for an unbelievable finish.

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