Just stop it!
With the potential loss of Joe Nathan this 2010 season there has been a lot of crazy talk.
It is coming from people who are knowledgeable about baseball and the Minnesota Twins.
What is the crazy talk? The talk of moving Francisco Liriano to the closer position to replace Nathan this year.
Liriano
The Twins have been very high on Liriano’s progress this off season and one would have to believe that if the season started tomorrow that Liriano is the number five guy in the rotation. So why on earth would you want to stifle what has been a productive off season by moving Liriano to the closer position?
Moving Liriano into Nathan’s role causes a solid pitching rotation to suffer. Although Brian Duensing has been pitching well in the grapefruit league, the 27 year-old still has some time to mature more as a pitcher in the major leagues. Another option for that fifth spot in the rotation would be Glen Perkins, but he has struggled this preseason and will very likely be optioned to Triple A Rochester before the season starts.
Some people are pointing out that Jarrod Washburn is still without a team and although the Twins might be able to get him at a discount, he is still a gamble. What Washburn will show up? The Washburn that threw in Seattle and posted a 2.64 ERA or the Washburn that struggled in Detroit with a 7.33 ERA. Washburn has been a roller coaster ride his entire career and the idea that he is coming off a knee injury has to scare most clubs.
Another reason Liriano is not a good choice for Nathan role is his mental toughness. Lets face it, the kid gets rattled easily. Last year he was like a broken record. The first time through the opposing line up, he was incredible. The second time through the line up, he would struggle. And once the opposing team would start to get a few hits, he would seem to implode right in front of our eyes.
A closer needs to have an attitude of invincibility and although there is no doubt that Liriano has the skill set to be an incredible closer, his confidence is suspect.
Internally the Twins should take a hard look at moving Big Jon Rauch into the role. He has the confidence, experience and talent to fill the role and deserves a fair shot at the position. Rauch could be given a few months to fill in and if he is struggling the Twins could start to look at some players from outside of the organization.
If the Twins are sure that Rauch is not their closer, then externally Jason Frasor of the Toronto Blue Jays would be a good choice. Frasor is seasoned veteran that has experience with the role of closer. More importantly he comes with a relatively small price tag.
So going forward, let us not speak of this harebrained notion of moving your best option for a late rotation starter to the closer position and start looking at some realistic candidates for the role.
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