He was assuming that the natural ability he had two years ago would never fade. Let’s see if he can learn how to work hard, pay atention to coaches, and get close to the level he was at.

I think the problem was (and probably still is) that the lines of communication between Liriano and the Twins are broken in some fundamental way. If Gardy had known the truth about Liriano’s progress, I don’t think he’d have been so cavalier about throwing him onto the mound.

Through all of this, I think the most disheartening statement is that Liriano may have NEEDED to get blown off the mound in the majors just to show him that he does indeed need time in the minors. It worries me that he’d be so unwilling to do what the organization tells him — namely, get your command back in the minors before we risk REAL games in the majors.

I feel like this should be a learning experience for Gardy as well. That angle was not mentioned in the story and from Gardy’s quotes, I doubt he’s learned anything.

Am I reaching on this? Am I making any sense?

Another fun game is trying to avoid getting killed on the way out of the stadium after the White Sox just lost and all the drunken Chicagoans are out for blood.

“He was getting the ball over the heart of the plate and up,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “His change-up was up. He’d get two strikes on guys and throw a fastball over the heart of the plate. He was throwing well. He just wasn’t locating well.”

It’s not that the catcher was calling high changeups. And it wouldn’t have helped if the catcher had lowered his glove a few inches. The pitcher just couldn’t locate his pitches properly, and as a result he got shelled.

The catcher calls the pitch and gives a spot. He has no control over whether the pitcher actually hits that spot. (Other than going out to talk to him and say something along the lines of “Hit the spot.”)