Valencia to Triple-A, Liriano to Bullpen

Twins third baseman Danny Valencia

It’s official, the Minnesota Twins are the laughing-stock of Major League Baseball.  The Twins, who have lost 13 of their last 16 games, hold a Major League-worst 8-22 record.  After being no hit a week ago by Jered Weaver and nearly no hit again a few days later by Felix Hernandez, it appears the Twins have hit rock bottom.

Following Wednesday’s 6-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Twins GM Terry Ryan and Manager Ron Gardenhire decided to shake the roster up.  Third baseman Danny Valencia was optioned to Triple-A Rochester,  reliever Matt Maloney was designated for assignment, and starter Francisco Liriano will be moved to the bullpen.  Valencia, in the midst of an 0-21 slump, is batting .198/.212/.302 (batting average/on-base/slugging) with one home run and 10 RBI in 99 plate appearances this season.  Twins beat writer John Shipley (@Shipleykid) of the St. Paul Pioneer Press tweeted Valencia’s response on being sent down to the minors.

“It’s hard not to say I didn’t see it coming because I haven’t been hitting very well.”

On Liriano, Gardenhire says the plan is to get him some confidence in the bullpen and ultimately moving him back into the starting rotation.  Francisco Liriano is 0-5 with 9.45 ERA, 2.10 WHIP and 21/19 K/BB ratio in 26.2 innings pitched this season. John Shipley also tweeted Gardy’s response on moving Liriano to the bullpen.

“We’ve just got to get him right.”

With Valencia and Maloney being taken off the 25 man roster, corresponding moves were made to fill their roster spots.  Twins call up OF/2B Darin Mastroianni and starting pitcher P.J. Walters from Triple-A Rochester.  Mastroianni is batting .365/.405/.446 with no home runs, 10 stolen bases and 11 RBI in 80 plate appearances at Rochester.  Walters does have some big league experience .   While pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals and Toronto Blue Jays, Walters in 20 appearances is 2-0 with a whopping 7.24 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 40/22 K/BB ratio in 51 innings pitched at the major league level, as Bert Blyleven would put it.  While at Rochester, Walters posted 3-1 record with a 2.70 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 25/6 K/BB ratio in 33.1 innings pitched.  Walters will take Liriano’s spot in the rotation and will start Saturday against the Blue Jays.  Associated Press sports writer Jon Krawczynki (@APkrawczynski) tweeted Ron Gardenhire on Liriano’s move to the bullpen and his thoughts on the two other roster moves.

“We need to make some changes. We need some hits. We need some new life in here, the whole package.”

The Twins hold a league worst 5.48 ERA as a pitching staff and have a team batting average of .238 that ranks near the bottom in Major League Baseball.