Liriano, an All-Star during his rookie year of 2006, is 7-0 with a 2.73 ERA over his past nine games. But he missed all of 2007 after undergoing Tommy John surgery and began the year in the big leagues by going 0-3 with a piss-poor 11.32 ERA, so its understandable why the team is being cautious.
Not to mention the fact that they don't need him. The team is currently 1.5 games behind the first place White Sox, in large part due to its rotation. Scott Baker, Glen Perkins, Nick Blackburn, and Kevin Slowey have anchored a rotation that also includes veteren Livan Hernandez. Of that group, Hernandez is the only one close to losing his spot, but he is an innings eater and has won nine games.
If and when the Twins decide to recall Liriano, he may be headed to the bullpen, according to ESPN.com.
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Doctor X -- the 'Baseball Medic' -- is an anonymous U.S. government trauma specialist with a Duke University sports medicine background and more than 20 years experience in emergency medicine. From time to time he considers MLB rumors, events and news reports as they pertain to baseball players' injuries, illnesses and various other disabilities, both on the field and off.
MLB Rumors editor Greg Fieg is a former sports news editor and award-winning writer whose bylines have appeared on the wires of the Associated Press and in numerous publications, including San Antonio Express-News, San Antonio Light, Houston Chronicle and Philadelphia Bulletin. He formerly was posted in various positions on the U.S.-Mexican border with Freedom Newspapers, and was a regular, independent contributor to United Press International.