In 2012, ex-Twin R.A. Dickey used his knuckleball to compile a 20-6 record for the New York Mets and win the National League Cy Young award.
Can history repeat itself?
Not for Dickey (now with Toronto), but for an ex-Twin hurler?
Maybe.
In 2013, ex-Twin Francisco Liriano is 11-4 for the Pittsburgh Pirates, with a 2.16 ERA in 15 starts.
Last night, he held high-powered St. Louis to one run on four hits through seven innings in a 9-2 Pirates win.
The difference between this year and last year (when he was a combined 6-12 with the Twins and White Sox)?
According to the Star Tribune, it’s all about his arsenal of pitches. Liriano dumped a rising fastball and replaced it with a sinking fastball.
As for the Pirates, they haven’t had a season over .500 since 1992. Right now, they’re 20 games over .500 … and steaming toward the National League playoffs.
