MMMordabito

When did the Pirates AAA affiliate decide to assume the same name as the Cleveland MLB team? Pathetic misinformation.

Varland officially recalled, while Sands officially optioned. https://www.mlb.com/twins/roster/transactions

https://www.mlb.com/twins/roster/transactions

Not sure this was even worth writing about, but, no.

at least Cleveland lost.

I don't know if the Nationals are much tougher, but, yeah, that's going to be a doozy of a stretch and real litmus test.

Rocco handled the pitching staff perfectly, imo. If the 5th wouldn't have been so turbulent, Lopez would have finished the 6th. Thielbar was hot, so Rocco gave Lopez the vote of confidence sending him back out for the 6th and then went with the lefty-lefty matchup when it presented. Bravo! The defense was flawless. Not much for web gems, but every play was executed. That's great to see on Opening Day.

Cole Sands is quite popular here at Twins Daily lately. Did Getty Images have a BOGO on his likeness or something?

If you need something to redirect your Opening Day jitters, the Wild have a huge game at Colorado late this evening. It might keep you up past your bedtime, but it looms large for playoff seeding. Go Twins! Go Wild!

I don't know if there is precedent for that on a mid-season expiring contract without it being an extension, but that's a good idea. Someone has to trailblaze, I guess.

Regarding Maeda: First off, I'm a Maeda fan, and I hope he competes for Cy Young again this year. Not holding my breath. However ... The Dodgers signed Maeda to that incentive-laden, starts-based contract when he came across the pond. Even though the Twins traded for him and knew what the contract was, does it really hurt them in future negotiations with FAs, if they relegate him to the bullpen? I think the circumstances are a bit of an outlier [TJ, better-performing/higher-upside option, wanting to (cough,cough) WIN (cough, cough)] If he isn't effective in April, Ober should get the spot and Maeda should go to the pen and be the long guy until he, hopefully, gets back into form. If an agent comes along and says "look what you did to Maeda" when answering a call about their clients, they're just being obtuse. If the Twins were the Pittsburgh Pirates, I could see this in a different light.

Moran will make us forget about Coulombe before the snow finishes melting here in the metro.

I'd put Zunino and Vasquez ahead of Grandal at this point, but that's why these lists are fun.

50 innings without giving up a dinger to start a career is pretty good. That will be something fun to follow this year.

81 wins for me. I think they are better, but the schedule is harder. The silver linings will be a boost to the farm system at the deadline and a year of growth for the up-and-coming nucleus. I'll look forward to being proven wrong.

I knew I couldn't be the only one who has World Series Game 7 daydream simulations where the entire team is made up of homegrown prospects who all still have 3+ years of control left.

These are all really good takes, but I think they show why Kepler has been such a polarizing player this off-season. The statistics available allow for infinite perspectives based on how each person values different skills.

I'm expecting to see Polanco sit and DH against lefties often at the start of the season. I know Buxton will get some of those DH slots, but, if he can go in center, you really only have to field one of Kepler, Gallo, Gordon or Kirilloff/Larnach against said lefties. I also hope the Twins are just being cautious, and Polanco has a healthy season as a key cog on the team. Hopefully, he can make that option look very attractive to Falvine when the season is over. All-Stars C4, Chulo and Buck leading this team from the middle of the field and top of the order sounds good to me.

Was Max Kepler still in a Twins uniform on October 1?

FWIW ... McKenzie isn't exactly an ace against the Twins. When they hit it, it goes. I Split W L W-L% ERA G GS GF CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR BB IBB SO HBP BK WP BF WHIP SO9 SO/W Minnesota Twins 2 5 .286 5.65 9 9 0 0 0 0 51.0 44 32 32 12 14 0 54 2 0 3 208 1.137 9.5 3.86 I Split G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR SB CS BB SO SO/W BA OBP SLG OPS TB GDP HBP SH SF IBB ROE BAbip tOPS+ Minnesota Twins 9 208 191 32 44 13 1 12 2 0 14 54 3.86 .230 .289 .497 .786 95 2 2 0 1 0 0 .254 143

Has Max Kepler been mentioned enough in trade scenarios to pass Brian Duensing as the default sweetener to any hypothetical our-side-wins deal from now on?

I don't see why they would trade for Farmer or Gordon, when Iglesias would only cost them money (and they have plenty of that).

Kirilloff and Polanco not so healthy?