Minnesota Twins Start Spring Training Games with Win Over the Golden Gophers

We TDers shouldn’t sleep on Helman.  He’s a really good ballplayer who could prove to be a valuable backup this season. If he has a good spring, that might just inspire enough confidence that others theoretically ahead of him in the OF pecking order could be moved.

E Rod with a hit, RBI and a BOB. It's only just begun.

2 hours ago, Parfigliano said:

Im getting from the article Paddack had control issues.  

38 pitches, 26 strikes

7 hours ago, sweetmusicviola16 said:

E Rod with a hit, RBI and a BOB. It's only just begun.

A BOB?  Is that a walk?

8 hours ago, RpR said:

I'm a box score junky, so thank you for that!

6 hours ago, Seth Stohs said:

I don't disagree, but who are the 'others theoretically ahead of him in the OF pecking order." 

Presumed starters: Wallner, Buxton, Kepler 
Bench options: Castro,
Others (on 40-man): Larnach, Rodriguez, Martin, Kirilloff (primarily 1B but can play OF still)
Others (not on 40-man): Helman, Keirsey, Prato. 

Helman, of course, also can play all four infield positions well too, so that's an added dimension. 

Right now, it seems as though the "battle" for the final spot is probably between Larnach, Martin and Miranda... But I think it's fair to suggest that Helman is in that conversation as well. I'd be very surprised if he makes the Opening Day roster (unless a few things happen - injury wise), but he's proving (two years ago and when healthy last year). They know what Helman can bring. He's just not going to pass by Martin or Rodriguez, but he's ahead of Keirsey because he's right-handed and certainly Prato too. 

Seth, what is your feeling on the transactions front? Is there still a chance that the Twins sign a free agent of some type, or swing another trade before opening day? Or is the current roster basically what we are getting?

10 hours ago, Seth Stohs said:

I don't disagree, but who are the 'others theoretically ahead of him in the OF pecking order." 

Presumed starters: Wallner, Buxton, Kepler 
Bench options: Castro,
Others (on 40-man): Larnach, Rodriguez, Martin, Kirilloff (primarily 1B but can play OF still)
Others (not on 40-man): Helman, Keirsey, Prato. 

Helman, of course, also can play all four infield positions well too, so that's an added dimension. 

Right now, it seems as though the "battle" for the final spot is probably between Larnach, Martin and Miranda... But I think it's fair to suggest that Helman is in that conversation as well. I'd be very surprised if he makes the Opening Day roster (unless a few things happen - injury wise), but he's proving (two years ago and when healthy last year). They know what Helman can bring. He's just not going to pass by Martin or Rodriguez, but he's ahead of Keirsey because he's right-handed and certainly Prato too. 

IDT anyone believes Helman is making the team out of spring training but it will get real interesting if he puts together 2-3 months playing at AAA like he did before getting hurt.  Can you imagine a bench of Casto, Martin, and Hellman with Hellman playing to level we have seen flashed in the minors.  As long as we are dreaming, now imagine Severino or Miranda stepping up.  Holy cow that's one heck of a 26 man roster.

4 hours ago, AlwaysinModeration said:

A BOB?  Is that a walk?

That's the shifty-looking guy that loiters around the grandstand and goes "Psst! Buddy! You looking for a good time later?" every time you walk by.

13 hours ago, RpR said:

The walks were up and the strikeouts down ...

Hope that continues ...

10 hours ago, Seth Stohs said:

The goal is usually 2 out of 3, and this is 68%, so not too bad. 

Alex Fast on twitter also pointed out that Paddack's curveball looks a bit different than it did last year - he's messing with two pitches right now. (Curveball has a slightly different shape and was clocking in ~3 mph faster than last year)

I liked the ballpark photo, John.

15 hours ago, Nashvilletwin said:

We TDers shouldn’t sleep on Helman.  He’s a really good ballplayer who could prove to be a valuable backup this season. If he has a good spring, that might just inspire enough confidence that others theoretically ahead of him in the OF pecking order could be moved.

I think Helman's short-term avenue to make the big league's isn't straight OF but utility. Therefore, it would take a Castro injury combined with Helman playing great at AAA that would get him the call. The problem, as it was in late 2022, is that he's not on the 40 man roster. He's good enough that they probably can't add him and later DFA him (as all teams love to do with the 39th and 40th guys on the 40 man) or he would get claimed (but teams don't think he's good enough (or he's too "old") to get picked in the Rule 5 draft.

7 hours ago, Karbo said:

Don't forget about Jenkins.

I think the conversation was related to sleeper 2024 options for the big club. Jenkins doesn’t figure in in that regard.

13 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

Don’t see him passing up Martin though?

I don't either. If Castro's hurt, do you still want to play Martin every day at AAA. If so, maybe Helman gets his chance. Or with another injury (Twins really sound healthy right now), both Martin and Helman with the Twins?

Helman also plays every position that Castro does, which is everything except catcher (Martin is more 2B, LF, CF). My feeling is that he plays better defense than Castro in the OF but worse in the infield, but not by much and I'm just guessing. @DocBauer and I are probably his two biggest fans. Maybe Doc or someone else can shed some light on that.