Silva's coming back

• Scott Erickson actually had a pretty good career after his elbow problems. He was never as dominant as when he came up as the season was ending in 1990 and the first half of 1991, but he was a power pitcher who used the lower half of his body. The person to compare the F-bomb to that should scare you even more is Joe Mays. He also had a funky delivery like Liriano, and you have to worry that if he wants to continue pitching in the major leagues he needs to adjust his delivery, surgery or no surgery. His slider puts way too much strain on his arm. Once he makes this adjustment, he is not going to be the same pitcher. He won't be as good as Santana, but if we are lucky, he'll be as capable as Erickson and not a flash in the pan like Mays.

• Maybe the money the Twins saved by not going after a pricier free agent can be used to help researchers find a cure for Steve Blass disease.

• You're right to be worried that Liriano won't be back next year--but you're cursing the heavens way too early when you say he's turning into Scott Erickson. Granted, comparing the F-Bomb to a dude who threw a no-no is apt, but to say he'll be mediocre following surgery (if he does indeed go through with it) is not. Chances are the surgery will be exploratory, not Tommy John, and even if it does come down to TJ, the list of pitchers who've rebounded from that operation with better stuff than their pre-Tommy years is long. It even includes your boy John Smoltz. As for Silva, sure, he might be a bargain, but his chances aren't as good as some other $4 million fifth starters on the market (Tony Armas, Jason Marquis...there are a bunch). If you really want to gamble, why not offer Kerry Wood that four mil? (OK, I'm kidding about that last one.)

• I have no problem with picking up Silva. He's had two good years and one bad year. If he has a good year, he's a steal. If he has a bad year, the Twins can just let him go. Low risk with some chance at a great reward. Same goes for Torii. One comment I'd like to throw out there though. It appears as if Liriano will not pitch next year and, frankly, he may be going down the Scott Erickson road (incredible stuff until he hurt his elbow, mediocre after that). It seems to me that the Twins could solve their rotation problems by turning Joe Nathan into a starter. I know, I know, don't mess with a good thing, but unlike a lot of great closers who probably wouldn't be a great starter, Nathan has three great pithces (fastball, curveball and slider). He's big and strong. He reminds me of John Smoltz or Rick Aguilera, two other pitchers who were both good starters and good closers. If you take Liriano out of the equation, there is no doubt that Johan and Nathan have the best stuff on the team. If that is the case, why limit Nathan to 70 innings a year (and one meaningless inning in the postseason)? As a starter, he'd pitch 200-230 innings. I know, the Twins would have a hole at the end of the bullpen, but I would rather try to find a replacement for the 40 or so key innings that Nathan pitched than for the 200-230 innings that are now missing at the top of the rotation. I truly believe Nathan could be a dominant starter capable of Johan-like numbers.

• I agree with CSE. Silva's 2006 season was indefensible, but when you look at the ridiculous salaries that starting pitchers have been getting on the free agent market in the last couple years and when you look at the numbers that Scott Baker put up (114 hits, 59 ER in 83.1 innings), which were even worse than Silva's (246 hits, 119 ER in 180.1 innings), I think it was a good move. Not a great move, but a good move. Especially if it does turn out Liriano needs surgery, for which I also echo CSE's pleas. The Twins pretty much cleaned out the cupboard for major league-ready prospective starting pitchers in their system last season and the one thing Silva does have going for him is he eats up a LOT of innings. If he pitches better in 2007, he'll earn himself consideration for another contract. If he sucks again, the Twins can let him walk and figure out which other minor league pitcher might be ready to step up at that point.

• I don't want to defend Silva's season because it was terrible. But seriously, what's the other option? Scott "I'm s**ting my pants" Baker? Unless you're willing to go with someone in their rookie contract, $4.3 mil is the going rate for a fourth or fifth starter, no? And do you really have a problem with this potential rotation? Santana Boof Liriano (please ... for the love of God, please!) Garza Silva If so, who takes Silva's place? A free agent? Not likely. If the option is having the Chief return or starting four guys who have never even made it through a full year in the bigs ... then, yes, I am happy to see Silva return.

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