Notebook: Now They Count

Final: Twins 1, Pirates 1 (F/7)

Box Score | Savant

Not much to take away from here on getaway day as batters clearly were attempting to put the ball in play early and often. Minnesota hitters fanned just six times and drew two walks. Following a Ke’Bryan Hayes laser in the top of the first inning, Max Kepler knotted things up with a sacrifice fly to score Luis Arraez. Neither team pushed another across, and a tie seems like a fitting end to the slate of games in which results do not count.

Opening Day Lineup Tease

https://twitter.com/Twins/status/1376921845606322179

Yesterday the Minnesota Twins made the Opening Day 26-man roster official. There has been plenty of speculation in regards to how Rocco Baldelli may assemble his group to start the year, and an interleague matchup with no designated hitter makes that all the more puzzling. Tuesday may have given us a glimpse, and despite Luis Arraez playing sparingly in left field this spring, it could be a way to insert his bat from day one.

Saints Hosting the Opener

https://twitter.com/StPaulSaints/status/1376965836565544965

Although the Triple-A season isn’t schedule to begin until May, Minnesota’s newly aligned affiliate wants Twins fans in the ballpark sooner. The St. Paul Saints announced today that they would host a watch part on April 8 at CHS Field. Twins “Stars of Tomorrow” will take batting practice on the field prior to the game, and then fans will have the opportunity to watch the big-league club take on Seattle while it’s broadcast on the video board. Given Bally Sports North has yet to come up with streaming options for many fans, the $10 ticket may be the cheapest way to view the action live.

Twins Crushing Content

https://twitter.com/Twins/status/1376926516970459139

Minnesota’s social team has been spot on all spring, but they may have saved the best for last. A few days ago, Nelson Cruz got the mic’ed up treatment and delivered as you’d expect. Today was Kenta Maeda’s turn, and it was awesome to see a different perspective and experience given the language barrier presented to Asian ballplayers. Kenta has been the Twins ace since joining the organization, and it’s very clear that he keeps his routine light when off the mound.

Around the League

Reported yesterday and now official, the Chicago White Sox have signed Jake Lamb to a Major League deal. There’s a Twins twist here as former reliever Nik Turley was DFA’d to make room.

https://twitter.com/BNightengale/status/1376945295544606724

The Marlins are naming their ballpark. Jeets has gotten rid of the Sculpture and fish tanks, now the yard will be called loanDepot Park.

https://twitter.com/AndySlater/status/1376975620358483979

Toronto is going to be interesting this year. The team on the field is pretty good, but they’re also homeless into the month of May. With Canada not yet allowing the Blue Jays to play home games in Toronto, they’ll spend their third homestand in Dunedin at the new Spring Training facility.

https://twitter.com/thehazelmae/status/1376942869320241156

Alanna Rizzo is rejoining MLB Network. She’ll team up with Chris “Mad Dog” Russo on High Heat.

https://twitter.com/MLBNetworkPR/status/1376991416950345732

MLB The Show is just under three weeks from launch, and this year they’ll get the best players involved with the action by handing them personalized plaques for making #TheShowDiamondClub.

https://twitter.com/MLBGaming/status/1376983970076893186

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