You all care about this site. The next step is caring for it. We’re asking you to caretake this site so it can remain the premier Twins community on the internet.
The Twins lost a tough game against the Red Sox 9-2. Hector Santiago only lasted through 2 innings due to a rain delay, Eddie Escobar hit a long bomb off former Twin Fernando Abad, and Eddie Rosario went 3-4 at the dish. There’s “The Cycle” for today. Let’s get into more pressing issues: pitching. Before the season started, Dan and I both said that the key to the Twins winning more often than losing was by getting quality starts from their starting rotation. In the month of April and parts of
The balloting for MLB All-Star teams ends this Thursday at 11:59 p.m. Eastern, and fans can vote up to five times every 24 hours — up to a total of 35 ballots. The results will be announced on a television special on ESPN at 7 p.m. on Sunday, July 2, and the game will be played at Marlins Park on July 11. So, who do we think should be on the rosters for each side? We’ve cut through all the red tape for the final balloting and just made sure we had each team represented by at least one player
When the Major League Baseball draft commenced in early June, the only certainty was that the Minnesota Twins would make the first selection. There were a handful of names being thrown around as possibilities for the first overall pick, but only those inside the Twins war room knew for certainty whose name would be called. As the dust settled and prep phenom Royce Lewis was the pick, Minnesota immediately had a new name atop their prospect rankings. Lewis, a star shortstop and outfielder, is r
The Minnesota Twins started a catcher in left field on Saturday in Cleveland and walked out of the ballpark with a win and a chance to sweep the Indians. That catcher, Chris Gimenez, would later move to first base defensively and hit a mammoth home run in the ninth inning to pad the Twins' one-run lead by one more. This was originally published at FoulPlaybyPlay.com, a community for foul-mouthed, sports broadcasters providing commercial-free, uncensored play-by-play and color commentary during
Another Jose Berrios start, another dazzling performance. The former top pitching prospect for the Minnesota Twins has looked every bit the top tier starter he was billed to be. After an ugly start to his big league career a year ago, 2017 couldn't be more of a drastic turnaround for the Puerto Rican native. No matter where you look, the numbers jump off the board. Surface numbers weren't kind to Berrios in his MLB debut during 2016. He made 14 starts and compiled an 8.02 ERA. He won just thre
Fans will get to see if the Minnesota Twins truly can hang over their next nine games. Starting Thursday, the Twins will see starting pitchers Jose Quintana (8.7 K/9, 2.47 K/B), Trevor Bauer (7 IP, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 K in last start against Twins), Corey Kluber (11 K/9, 4.71 K/BB), Josh Tomlin (9.33 K/BB), Chris Sale (12.2 K/9), Drew Pomeranz (10.4 K/9), Rick Porcello (4.72 K/BB), David Price (BOS 3-1 in his four June starts) and Jason Vargas (200 ERA+). All those games are on the road. This was or
Way back in 2015, I wrote about Ervin Santana and what he was bringing to the Twins after signing as a free agent. The crux of the piece was that he needed to show an ability to be more than his surrounding parts. He's been a great pitcher when paired with great defenses. That has been the case in 2017 for the Twins, but in June, his defense hasn't been able to be a factor. As doom and gloom sets in of late, it's first worthwhile to offer some perspective. Santana has made 15 starts for the Tw
Way back in October 2016, I ranked the Twins Top 15 prospects (found here). While there wasn't a number one prospect in all of baseball like Byron Buxton, there's still a lot to like in the organization from top to bottom. Now with the 2017 Major League Baseball draft behind us, and the minor league slate half over, it's time to reassess the group as a whole. Going from 15 to 1, the group has seen some movement, and there's been some really strong performances thus far in 2017. We could see a
The Cleveland Indians came into Target Field and punched the Minnesota Twins right in the mouth. Not only were the Twins swept, but their lead in the AL Central is all but gone. What's worse is that what took place over the weekend (especially Saturday) may happen more often than not. The unfortunate reality is that the Twins just don't have starting options. For game one of a double-header against arguably the division's best team, the Twins sent out a sacrificial lamb in the form of Adam Wil
Mahtomedi’s senior left fielder Lincoln Rock came just shy of a home run in batting practice on Friday, which would have been a first of his high school career. Now he can spend the rest of his life telling stories about how Jack Schwietz and Weston Shelander hit the ball farther than he did, proving that pitchers rake. Another note from Mahtomedi: During legion ball, pinch runner Brandon Anderson was ejected for playing the game too hard. Farmington nearly came back to win what had been a 12-
Three days and 41 selections later, the Minnesota Twins have concluded their 2017 Major League Baseball draft. Owning the first pick, and being the first team to do so while leading their division since they were in the same spot in 2001, the Twins found themselves in a good spot. Now with the war room disassembled and the picks made, it's hard not to be excited about what Derek Falvey and Thad Levine did in their first crack from the director's chair. Starting off with the first overall pick,
In a prior blog post I called Jose Berrios the ace of the Minnesota Twins pitching staff. Not because I think six starts proves anything, and not because I don't believe in Ervin Santana. I do. Santana gets by on pitching prowess like Greg Maddux. But Berrios can flat out miss bats, regardless of who's swinging them, and that's what makes an ace. We'll get a good indication of Berrios's development on Thursday at noon against a hot Mariners lineup that roughed up Ervin Santana, Wednesday. This
I use "Eddie Rosario, Glory Hog" as if it's a bad thing. Far from it. Consider me your friendly, neighborhood baseball barber, if they still exist. I coat and lather you with Baseball Ref homer and hit charts until your head spins (if anyone cares, I'm going into the 12-step process for souls imbibing on the play index search). Classic Minnesota Twins will get back to posting vintage Twins photos like there's nobody's business again soon, dispense with all this new-fangled hullaballoo.
The Minnesota Twins are running out of options when it comes to pitching, but the consummate professional Ervin Santana is back on the mound to right the ship once again. It's even dollar dog night on Wednesday against the Seattle Mariners at 7 p.m. CST, and F@*k Dick and Bert will be at Target Field and better than ever. We've got new gear that will allow us to be more mobile with the broadcast and include more fans. Ervin was his usual, fantastic self in his last start, tossing a complete game
Ervin Santana tossed his third complete game shutout of the season Friday night. That's one more than the rest of the league combined despite it coming against a San Francisco Giants team with the lowest team OPS in baseball (.651). But the "Maddux" Santana pitched Friday night in San Francisco is so important given the recent stress on the Twins bullpen and the struggles it has experienced all year. This was originally published at FoulPlaybyPlay.com, a community for foul-mouthed, sports broa
For a lot of people (just under 95 percent according to an MLB Trade Rumors poll), the Minnesota Twins' selection of California shortstop Royce Lewis with the first pick in the 2017 MLB Draft was a surprise. It shouldn't have been. Most knew there was no consensus number one pick in this draft. There were five potential number ones. The Twins took one of the five. This was originally published at FoulPlaybyPlay.com, a community for foul-mouthed, sports broadcasters providing uncensored, commer
With their second pick in the 2017 Major League Baseball draft, the Minnesota Twins selected Brent Rooker from Mississippi State. He's one of the most exciting hitters in the country, and he's a guy the Twins targeted in 2016 as well. I had the opportunity to catch up with him, and get a little more insight into the process and his game. Rooker was absolutely incredible for the Bulldogs this season. He batted a robust .387/.495/.810 along with 30 doubles, three triples, 23 homers, 82 RBI, and
http://www.the3rdmanin.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/2017-MLB-Draft.png #1 Minnesota Twins – Brendan McKay – lhp – Louisville I have a suspicion that the Twins still prefer Wright, but if they take him I will be wrong with everybody else. #2 Cincinnati Reds – Hunter Greene – rhp – California High School The Reds will take McKay if he is available here. #3 San Diego Padres – MacKenzie Gore – lhp – North Carolina High School #4 Tampa Bay Rays – Royce Lewis – of – California High School
In a word, TALENT, no he may never make it, but the Twins will rue the day, they passed on him if he does. Falvey et al will have no problem justifying the pick but if Wright or The Louisville Slugger...falter, the Twins FO will n never hear the end of it. The more I read about McKay or Wright, they seem relatively pedestrian compared to the Electric Greene. You rarely have the opportunity to pick #1, The Twins got a hall of famer last time they were in this position, go for anothe
Way back in November, I wrote that the Twins number one priority before the 2017 season should be to sign a legitimate catcher. With Kurt Suzuki on his way out, they needed someone that could command the game behind the plate. Jason Castro brought that, and has helped in being an answer to the Twins pitching woes. The other part of the equation is the defensive mastery Minnesota has shown, and it continues to be the narrative in 2017. Right now, we are through just 59 games in the 2017 season,
Next year the monstrosity of Joe Mauers contract comes to an end. This may leave the Twins with another dilemma. Lets assume for the moment that Joe is back, he is hitting albeit a mid 30s age player hitting, but lets say he finishes similar to where he is now and next year duplicates, do you extend him, and if so, for how much?
http://www.the3rdmanin.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/2017-MLB-Draft.png #1 Kyle Wright – rhp – Vanderbilt #2 J.B. Bukauskas – rhp – North Carolina #3 MacKenzie Gore – lhp – North Carolina High School #4 Pavin Smith – 1b – Virginia #5 Austin Beck – of – North Carolina High School #6 Brendan McKay – lhp – Louisville #7 Hunter Greene – rhp – California High School #8 Sam Carlson – rhp – Minnesota High School #9 Jake Burger – 1b – Missouri State #10 Alex Faedo – rhp – Florida #11 Royce Lewis – of –
On Saturday, Tait went 2-for-4 with a walk and his 17th double. The 19-year-old is hitting .219 with 17 doubles and 15 home runs at High-A Cedar Rapids.
The Twins Daily Caretaker Fund
