Report From The Fort: Gophers Day, Opening Day, and ... Shiny Belt Day?

[John Bonnes]

Image courtesy of © Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

FORT MYERS—There are spring training games that invite a little extra, lineup-driven pageantry, and the first Grapefruit League game on Saturday afternoon is one of them. It’s not uncommon to see most of the likely Opening Day roster, in front of an amped-up ballpark and a Twins.TV audience. So, it should come as no surprise that we learned Joe Ryan will take the mound that day.

Ryan was one of the few steady pillars of the Twins’ 2025 season, earning an All-Star nod and finishing with a 13-10 record, a 3.42 ERA, 171 innings, and 194 strikeouts (with a 1.04 WHIP), while also being the subject of trade rumors even into the offseason. For a 2026 club that will rely on its rotation, he’s the clear remaining ace-like pitcher on the roster. 

Go Gophers! Go Zebby!

Saturday is the first Grapefruit League game, but the Twins’ first game of the year comes Friday against the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers, and it’s also on Twins.TV. It’s scheduled as a seven-inning exhibition, so tune in early (5:05 p.m. CT)

You’ll see Zebby Matthews on the mound. He was the talk of spring training last year at this time, thanks to some newfound velocity. But his 2025 results (5.56 ERA) didn’t live up to the excitement.

When manager Rocco Baldelli was asked about Matthews’s struggles last year, he kept coming back to the same word: consistency. In camp yesterday, Matthews talked about that, too — while also acknowledging he still has only about a year of big-league experience, and that the success can come with time.

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[AceWrigley]

I know it's early, but we are tied for first place.  😀

[stringer bell]

Cool story about the belts. I remember sitting in Busch Stadium #3 and seeing the Twins' belts gleam on an overcast day. I was wondering what the deal was and almost a year later, I know.

Matthews story last year illustrated the difference between throwing strikes and having command. Too many pitches over the heart of the plate equals too many hard hit balls. 

[Parfigliano]

49 minutes ago, AceWrigley said:

I know it's early, but we are tied for first place.  😀

That's a commanding insurmountable lead.

[terrydactyls]

 

Question for those much more familiar with 21st century technology.  Is Twins.tv available beyond the land of sky-blue waters?  (Maine specifically.)

[Bodie]

15 hours ago, AceWrigley said:

I know it's early, but we are tied for first place.  😀

Hope springs eternal during Spring Training!!!  

Let's hope that they can make it through today's 7 innings with a little of that remaining.   PLAY BALL!!

[Bodie]

1 hour ago, terrydactyls said:

 

Question for those much more familiar with 21st century technology.  Is Twins.tv available beyond the land of sky-blue waters?  (Maine specifically.)

Yes, unless I'm terribly mistaken.  Iowa is good, but I am still in Twins territory as far as tv broadcasts are concerned (i.e. the blackout rules).

If the fine print is the same as last year, AppleTv (whatever it's actual name is) ESPN & Fox national broadcasts are not available on twinstv, but since this is the Twins, those games are few and far between. Otherwise, you should get about 5 and half games (+) per week for your hundred dollar bill.  Not sure if a more expensive MLB.TV package would get you some or all of those blackout games.

Hope this helps...

[Western SD Fan]

2 hours ago, terrydactyls said:

 

Question for those much more familiar with 21st century technology.  Is Twins.tv available beyond the land of sky-blue waters?  (Maine specifically.)

Twins.TV was great for my location in Western SD.  I believe I was still considered in the Twins market for 2025, but I'm not sure for 2026 as they reworked the local markets and I may be considered in the Rockies local market now (Yay me!).  If I remember correctly, the $100 Twins.TV package also gives you Twins minor league games as well.  I upgraded for the $200 MLB package so I could watch the other teams, except the Rockies since I had to choose my team market between the Twins and the Rockies.  Living in Maine, you won't have that problem.  Of course, as stated before, this won't include any nationally televised games.

[terrydactyls]

6 minutes ago, Western SD Fan said:

Twins.TV was great for my location in Western SD.  I believe I was still considered in the Twins market for 2025, but I'm not sure for 2026 as they reworked the local markets and I may be considered in the Rockies local market now (Yay me!).  If I remember correctly, the $100 Twins.TV package also gives you Twins minor league games as well.  I upgraded for the $200 MLB package so I could watch the other teams, except the Rockies since I had to choose my team market between the Twins and the Rockies.  Living in Maine, you won't have that problem.  Of course, as stated before, this won't include any nationally televised games.

I'll probably lose Red Sox games (I'm only 90 miles from Fenway) but NESN carries all the Red Sox games.

[Parfigliano]

5 hours ago, terrydactyls said:

 

Question for those much more familiar with 21st century technology.  Is Twins.tv available beyond the land of sky-blue waters?  (Maine specifically.)

Yes.  I'm in NewMex and have watched for 30 or so years via DirecTV.  I'm sure other avenues are also available. 

[Parfigliano]

3 hours ago, Western SD Fan said:

Twins.TV was great for my location in Western SD.  I believe I was still considered in the Twins market for 2025, but I'm not sure for 2026 as they reworked the local markets and I may be considered in the Rockies local market now (Yay me!).  If I remember correctly, the $100 Twins.TV package also gives you Twins minor league games as well.  I upgraded for the $200 MLB package so I could watch the other teams, except the Rockies since I had to choose my team market between the Twins and the Rockies.  Living in Maine, you won't have that problem.  Of course, as stated before, this won't include any nationally televised games.

SD ends at the Missouri River.😃

[Craig Arko]

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Gopher day?

I though ground hog day was like, 2 and a half weeks ago...

 

What does this one portend? And preferred mode of address?

 

Do they make baseball versions of top hats?