Francisco Liriano is blowing people away in the Dominican Winter League, and on Thursday he pitched five scoreless innings (striking out 10) to clinch the playoff title for Leones del Escogido. The game was streamed live online by EPSN, and bloggers who watched (I didn't; I was working) were impressed.
Ron Gardenhire may not have been blowing smoke earlier this winter after all.
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The Yankees signed veteran outfielder Randy Winn to a contract this week, and the big buzz was about how this closes the door on Johnny Damon's return to the Bronx.
Being the parochial guy I am, I'm more interested in how this affects the NUN — New Ulm Native Jamie Hoffmann, who was, at least a few weeks ago, supposedly very much in the Yankees outfield plans.
Curtis Granderson and Nick Swisher are locks. Then there's Winn, a 35-year-old swtich hitter coming off a poor season in San Francisco; Brett Gardner, a speedy left-handed hitter who was on the Yankees roster last season; and Hoffmann.
Can the Yankees carry all three? I doubt it.
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Glen Perkins is chafing still over the Twins' decision late last season to option him to the minors. My view after reading the piece is unchanged: Pitchers with 5.89 ERAs in almost 100 innings tend to lose their jobs.
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