Minnesota Twins: How Did the Pitching Get So Bad?

Sep 22, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Francisco Liriano (47) pitches in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

Liriano Goes Under the Knife

The tricky thing about fairy tales and Greek Tragedies is that they often start in the same place. Someone who is previously unknown comes out of the woodwork and becomes a “hero”. Where they diverge is what comes next. In fairy tales, the hero lives happily ever after. In the Tragedies, well, you know, they end tragically.

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Nothing that happens results-wise in sports can be considered tragic. Wars, pestilence and famine are tragic. Not winning the World Series simply sucks. Still, what happened to Liriano and the Twins has always seemed cruel. Liriano started experiencing elbow soreness and ended up needing the dreaded Tommy John Surgery. Outside of the 2010 season, Liriano mostly struggled in the rest of his time with the Twins. He was supposed to be the Twins’ long-term ace. Instead he was gone by August of 2012. He has since resurrected his career in Pittsburgh with the Pirates, but his tenure with the Twins did not go the way the team or pitcher had hoped. Losing such a dynamic force set the Twins rotation back in a major way and was the first stumbling block of many for the Twins pitching staff.

Next: Santana Leaves