Results tagged ‘ Liam Hendriks ’
Hendriks will be a better pitcher coming back in the future.
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
by Brian Wille
Prior to Saturday’s game against the New York Mets, the Minnesota Twins announced they had optioned starting pitcher Liam Hendriks to Triple-A in order to make room for left-hander Scott Diamond who is coming off the disabled list. The team also announced that Wilkin Ramirez would be placed on the paternity list, beginning on Sunday, which allows Ramirez to be away from the team for three days to be with his wife after the birth of their child. Ramirez, who is hitting .200 with two hits and one RBI in five games this season, is heading to New York to attend the birth of his second child.
The Twins decided to wait until Sunday to announce the corresponding roster move to replace Ramirez because Sunday’s game has been postponed because of weather and now the Twins will be able to use the maximum three days to their full potential.
In the case of Hendriks, there was a decision the Twins had to make on who to keep around on the roster, who to demote to the minors and who was going to the bullpen. The decision had come down to Hendriks or left-hander Pedro Hernandez. Hernandez pitched well in relief on Friday against the Mets, before leaving the game due to a minor ankle injury, allowing one earned run and four hits for 4.1 innings of relief.
Hendriks’ last start on Wednesday in Kansas City wasn’t his worst start of his career, but he didn’t pass the eye test of a pitcher who deserved to stay at the majors. In that start, Hendriks allowed one earned run, four hits and struck out four in five innings of work.
It is unfortunate that Hendriks had to be sent down after his best start of the season, but his inability to come out of the bullpen, at the time of his demotion, allowed for Hernandez to stay on the roster with Diamond coming off the disabled list. It wouldn’t help Hendriks’ development to sit on the bench and only pitch every few days anyway, as he is a young pitcher who needs to continue to pitch and hone his skills so he can earn a return to the rotation someday.
Progress has been seen with Hendriks and by no means have the Twins given up on the talented right-hander; but if the decision ever will come down to Hendriks or Diamond, it isn’t much of a decision at all as Diamond is the clear winner. Diamond simply has had enough proven success at the majors compared to Hendriks and he is likely the team’s best starting pitcher. Again, it is unfortunate for Hendriks to be sent down to Triple-A; but as long as he continues to learn from these demotions, Hendriks will be a better pitcher coming back in the future.
Minnesota Twins demote Liam Hendriks
Liam Hendriks delivers to the Baltimore Orioles in the first inning of a spring training baseball game in Fort Myers, Fla., Tuesday, March 26, 2013. (AP Photo: Elise Amendola)
By Mike Berardino/Twincities.com
Liam Hendriks has lost the game of musical chairs in the Twins starting rotation — for now.
The Australian right-hander was optioned back to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday morning, April 13 in order to make room for lefty Scott Diamond, who was set to make his 2013 debut against the New York Mets.
Left-hander Pedro Hernandez, who left Friday’s outing, April 12, with a left calf issue will stay on the big-league roster and is tentatively in line to start Wednesday, April 17 in the series finale against the Los Angeles Angels.
Hernandez worked 4 1/3 innings of one-run relief in Friday’s 16-5 loss before leaving with what Twins manager Ron Gardenhire on Saturday called a possible cramp or slight strain.
“It’s not bad,” Gardenhire said. “All the belief is he’s going to be fine. He’s thrown the ball very well. That made our decision.”
Hendriks went 0-1 with a 4.66 ERA in two starts this season, dropping him to 1-11 with a 5.63 ERA in 22 career big-league starts.
“This was kind of a rough situation for him,” Gardenhire said.
Twins officials have said he doesn’t have much left to prove at Triple-A, where he has gone a combined 13-7 with a 2.95 ERA in 25 starts the past two seasons, but he needs to work on mixing his pitches better and improving his efficiency.
“He’s dominated down there,” Gardenhire said. “Now it’s all about getting deep into games and using all your pitches. The good thing for us is I can watch right on this computer and see how he’s doing. He knows it. He knows what he has to do.”
Did Liam Hendriks do enough to stay?
By Phil Miller/Star Tribune
There is one Twin who won’t be running out this weekend, but his identity won’t be known until Saturday, when lefthander Scott Diamond rejoins the Twins rotation. His return means a current member of the rotation is headed to Class AAA Rochester — and Liam Hendriks did his best to strengthen his case to stay.
Perhaps pitching for his stay-out-of-Triple-A life, the 24-year-old Australian held the Royals to just one run over five innings in cold, windy, miserable Kauffman Stadium, though the one mistake was enough to drop him to 1-11 on his career. That’s because the Twins loaded the bases in the first two innings without scoring, then stranded another half-dozen runners on the night, going 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
“I definitely didn’t hurt my chances, though throwing 94 pitches didn’t help,” said Hendriks, who allowed a Billy Butler solo home run in the first inning, escaped a bases-loaded jam in the second, then finished with three strong innings. “I limited the damage.”
General Manager Terry Ryan hasn’t said how he will make room for Diamond, but Hendriks and lefthander Pedro Hernandez — who staked his case on a three-run, five-inning start on Sunday in Baltimore — are almost certainly the pitchers at risk.
“It’s going to be a nervous couple of days because of the weather,” not his job status, Hendriks joked. “I’ll just sit back and wait. You don’t want it in your head, ruining your off day. I’ll go out like I’m going to be here.”
Hendriks shows improvement – but is it too little too late?
By Brian Wille/rantsports.com
It wasn’t the most picturesque evening in Kansas City on Wednesday night to take in a ballgame, but the Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals played through a cold and rainy evening that saw the Royals complete the sweep of the Twins by a final score of 3-0. The loss extends the Twins losing streak to three games and raises questions as to whether or not this team has the talent necessary to compete with, what appears to be, a vastly superior Royals ballclub.
The bright spot for the Twins on Wednesday was the emergence of Liam Hendriks against the young and talented Royals’ lineup. Hendriks has struggled mightily throughout his career at the majors and has succumbed to many big innings and homeruns that ruin and characterize his starts with the Twins. On Wednesday night, Hendriks went five innings allowing one run, a homerun, with four hits allowed and four strikeouts. Those numbers are a vast improvement from Hendriks’ first start of the season that saw him give up four earned runs in 4.2 innings of work.
The problem with Hendriks’ start on Wednesday was that he received no help from his teammates and yet again, another solid start by the Twins’ pitching staff was wasted. Hendriks displayed the ability to work out of trouble on a few occasions tonight by getting a few key strikeouts with runners in scoring position. By in large, however, Hendriks made his living—as he always does—by pitching to contact and allowing his defense to make the plays behind him. Yet when a Twins’ lineup can scratch out seven hits and not muster up a single run, it can be deflating for a young pitcher who is trying to solidify himself in the team’s rotation.
The Twins’ lineup seems to have hit a snag and a lot of that can be directly related to the ineffectiveness at the top of the lineup with Aaron Hicks. It is easy to point the blame at Hicks for his terrible start to the season, but we need to give the kid a break. He simply is overmatched and lacking confidence at this point and needs to reset himself and get back to the things that made him so successful this spring.
If the leadoff hitter doesn’t get on, the Twins must rely even more on Joe Mauer being a table setter for the lineup and that shouldn’t be his role. Mauer is talented enough to allow Hicks to see improved pitches because opposing pitchers do not want to face Mauer with runners on base; but if Hicks doesn’t get on base, pitchers are able to approach Mauer differently and thus limiting his value as a number two hitter in my opinion. Could the Twins try Hicks lower in the lineup and try someone else as the leadoff hitter? Sure they could, but that wouldn’t solve the long-term problem for the team who plans on Hicks becoming their leadoff hitter for the future.
For now, the team must go through the growing pains with Hicks and show patience that he will develop into a talented leadoff hitter. The team must allow Hicks to work his way through his struggles now, so they can reap the benefits of his improvement later when the team is projected to compete and will be in need of his production even more.
It is unfortunate that Hendriks must be at the mercy of such inconsistent performances by his lineup and it unfortunately might cost him his spot in the rotation once Scott Diamond returns from the disabled list this weekend. All in all, Hendriks showed tonight that he is learning how to make adjustments and pitch at the big league level. That, in itself, can be considered a victory during a night and a series that can only be characterized by moral ones.
Make or break outing for Liam Hendriks
With pitcher Scott Diamond about to come off the DL and the Twins needing to send someone down to make room for him Liam needs a good outing against the Royals to make sure it is not him who gets sent to AAA.
If you have access to MLBTv then switch it on now as Liam takes the mound. He has already given up a 2 out home run in the 1st inning.
Twins remain high on Wednesday starter Hendriks
By Robert Falkoff / Special to MLB.com
KANSAS CITY — After a rough opening performance in Baltimore, the Twins will be looking for an improved outing from right-hander Liam Hendriks when he starts Wednesday against the Royals .
Hendriks lasted just 4 2/3 innings against the Orioles, allowing eight hits and four runs.
“We expect him to give us a good opportunity to win the game,” general manager Terry Ryan said. “The last outing was sketchy, but I don’t think I should put any pressure on him. He’s capable of giving us good outings.”
Hendriks went 9-3 with a 2.20 earned run average at Triple-A Rochester last year, but was 1-8 with a 5.59 ERA in 16 starts for the Twins.
Liam Hendriks starting tomorrow against Royals
Liam is 0-0, 7.71 ERA, 1 SO after his first outing when he struggled against the Orioles on Friday, as he gave up four runs on eight hits and one walk over 4 2/3 innings.
He struggled to put away hitters, evidenced by his one strikeout.
Game starts at 10:00 am AEST on Thursday 11 April.
Liam Hendriks blows lead in season debut
In an outing which will once again raise issues regarding Liam Hendriks’ longevity with the Twins he gave up 4 runs on 8 hits and a walk in 4.2 innings against the Orioles today.
His first two innings were effective and encouraging but then as we have seen so often with Liam it all fell apart for him as he blew a 4-1 lead with some help from poor defensive work behind him.
The Twins suffered at the hands of Chris Davis’ hot streak. An eighth-inning grand slam by Davis lead the Orioles to a 9-5 win.
Liam Hendriks ready for Baltimore after close call
Liam Hendriks sits on the infield after his pitching hand was hit by a batted ball by Baltimore’s Brian Roberts in a spring training game in Fort Myers, Fla., Tuesday, March 26, 2013. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
By Mike Berardino/twincities.com
Liam Hendriks knows he is fortunate to be making his first start of the season Friday, April 5, at Baltimore.
Taking a line drive off his pitching hand in his final spring start on March 26 could have put him out for weeks, if not months, after the right-hander threw up his hands in self-defense.
“It either would have got me straight in the nose or it would have hit there,” at the base of his right pinky finger, he said.
The finger was “puffy” initially, but there was never any pain. He was flexing the affected area immediately without restriction.
He was able to throw his regular bullpen, then get another 76 pitches under his belt on Sunday (56 in a minor league game, 20 more in the bullpen).
So, did anyone tell the Aussie he would have been better off –professionally, at least — letting that ball smack him in the nose instead of the hand?
“Couple people, actually,” he said. “My fiancee (Kristi Anweiler) was one of them. She said, ‘Well, you need some new teeth. You should have just taken it.’ She’s a sweetheart.”
The comedic couple has set Nov. 23 as a wedding date.
Follow Mike Berardino at twitter.com/MikeBerardino.
Hendriks to pitch in Orioles series this weekend
By Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com
MINNEAPOLIS — The Twins announced their rotation for their upcoming three-game series against the Orioles. Right-hander Liam Hendriks will start on Friday (Sat-Aust) and will be followed by fellow right-handers Vance Worley on Saturday and Cole De Vries on Sunday.
Worley, who took the mound against the Tigers on Opening Day on Monday, will be starting on normal rest because of Tuesday’s off-day, while De Vries is getting pushed back a day because he left his final Spring Training start on Friday with forearm soreness.
De Vries, who had an impressive Spring Training with a 0.53 ERA in 17 innings, threw a bullpen session on Wednesday, but it didn’t go as well as he hoped, according to Twins manager Ron Gardenhire.
“He threw a ‘pen today, and it just went OK,” Gardenhire said. “It wasn’t great. He’ll throw another one on Friday, and if anything happens, we’ll have to do something.”
