Sherry Cerny

The Twins dominated the Giants offensively and defensively this series, a definite confidence booster from what many saw as a "must win" series! Box Score SP: Aaron Sanchez 3.2 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K (81 pitches, 50 strikes (62%)) Home Runs: Jake Cave (2) Top 3 WPA: Jake Cave (.284), Max Kepler (.166), Carlos Correa (.107) Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) Pitching Payoff Aaron Sanchez started his third game for the Twins since being traded. Sanchez has pitched only nine innings with the club. Sanchez racked up 20+ pitches before getting out of the first inning with the help of his defense. Sanchez got through almost four innings, two times through the line-up, and 81 pitches before hitting Mike Yastrzemski. The Twins challenged the hit-by-pitch and after losing the challenge, with two guys on in scoring position and two outs, Emilio Pagan came in to relieve Sanchez. Pagan walked the first two batters he faced. The second walk tied the game at three. Pagan started the fifth frame as well. Devin Smeltzer replaced Pagan with one out in the fifth inning. He allowed an inherited run to score, but got the Twins out of a jam and then pitched well for two more innings. Smeltzer has been coming in not as a starter, but as a middle reliever for the past few games and he has been holding strong in that position. While it may not be an easy transition for a pitcher to make, he certainly has made it look easy and seamless. Come Back Kings With September coming later this week, the team knows that it’s going to take a full effort from everyone to get back up to first place in the division. The starting line-up Sunday consisted of Nick Gordon playing at second base. Gordon has played second base five times throughout the season, but this was his first game starting at second base. He has become instrumental to the chemistry of this team, a true utility player. He is always up to the challenge. That mentality of “team effort” started right away in the first inning. Carlos Correa and Max Kepler got on base, but both were ultimately stranded and left the inning with no runs. Kepler, who couldn’t get a bunt down, swung at the next pitch and ended up with a short chopper towards the mound that looked how he probably wanted his bunt to. The first baseman attempted to field the ball and during that time, Kepler landed safely on first. The Giants scored first with a hit from former Twins LaMonte Wade Jr. but the Twins answered quickly. Correa, who has been on fire since returning from the series with Houston, came up to the plate and hit a double that scored Gilberto Celestino. Correa was happily disappointed, signaling to the wall, to say, “it should have been a home run”, in any other park, it may have been, but here it was just enough to tie up the game. The Twins stayed in the game offensively with hot bats, and it eventually paid off. In the top of the fourth, a two-run home run from Jake Cave off a slider gave the Twins the lead for the first time. Cave was absolutely clutch this weekend. More than once this weekend he has been in positions to give the Twins the advantage and come out with a win. All of the Twins batted in the next inning starting with Luis Arraez getting a single. He scored on a Max Kepler double. The momentum was real and the hits kept coming! Jose Miranda, Gio Urshela and Cave all followed with run-scoring doubles to help push the score up 8-3 before the inning ended. The next few innings were a little more relaxing. There is always a chance when you are in close contention of a score, that it can get stressful, but this series has been everything that this team and fanbase has needed. It’s given everyone a chance to see exactly what this team is made of, a boost of confidence and a chance to get back first place in the central. A sweep is a great place to start! What’s Next? Boston comes to Minnesota for a three game series, can they keep up the winning momentum? Pitching matchup for the next series: Monday 6:40 pm CST: Dylan Bundy(7-6, 4.56 ERA) vs. RHP Brayan Bello (0-3, 7.36 ERA) Tuesday 6:40 pm CST Chris Archer (2-7, 4.34 ERA) vs. RHP Kutter Crawford (3-5, 5.30 ERA) Wednesday 6:40 pm CST Joe Ryan (10-6, 3.65 ERA) vs. RHP Michael Wacha (9-1, 2.53 ERA) Postgame Interview Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet View full article

Over the past few weeks, there has been widespread speculation and reporting that shortstop Carlos Correa will be opting out of his three-year deal with the Minnesota Twins after this season, but there are three reasons, specifically three players that could throw a wrench into opting out. The Minnesota Twins shocked the MLB world on March 22, 2022, when they picked up the free agent after the Houston Astros did not pick him back up. Correa is undoubtedly one of the best shortstops in the league. His quick reactions to plays and acrobatic moves with put-outs and assists certainly have helped the Twins defensively this season. On the days that Correa isn't on the lineup, Twins fans become irrationally upset. Some, because they have "paid to see the all-star in the lineup" and others because "we paid him to play here" Whatever the reason that fans are clamoring to see Correa in the lineup, it's a positive thing for the club. The fans enjoy having him here, and from what Correa portrays, he also enjoys being here. During his initial game back with the Houston Astros on August 23rd, when asked if he would be coming back to the Astros, he didn't say, "we are talking about the post-season", or "I am open to anywhere", or anything else he said, again, He "Can see playing for the Twins for a long time". That doesn't sound like someone who will opt-out. In an article with Joseph Zucker from Bleacher Report, Correa told reporters that he is looking to "I want to build a championship culture in this organization," Correa said, per the Associated Press Jake Seiner. By all accounts, Correa shows, says, and promotes wanting to stay a part of the club in Minnesota. Since that statement in early March, Correa suffered initially thought to be a fractured finger after getting hit-by-pitch (twice) on May 6 against the Orioles. He spent a stint on the IL, and later that month, he would also spend time out on the COVID IL. The all-star had a rough month of May, and his return was also heavily catered as he made random appearances in the infield and took turns in the lineup as the designated hitter. When he is not in the starting lineup, Correa is in the dugout, doing his best to help lead the team, cheering on other players' home runs and clutch plays. He also spends time sharing his knowledge of the defense and weighs in on front office thoughts regarding the status of players, like Jose Miranda, with whom he has a close bond. The Twins brought him in to be a teacher, to Royce Lewis, who has spent a majority of his time on the IL, shortening his time with Correa and the ability to have that time to learn. His knowledge of the game is excellent, but right now, at least at the plate, his game is not impressive, consistent, but not impressive. In May 2022, shortly after the acquisition, Buster Olney stated that not only would Correa leave IF he were to remain healthy and finish in "an impressive fashion". Looking back over Buster's statement, Correa would likely opt out of his contract on two conditions: his health and his production, and both took a hit this season. While his health is undoubtedly resolving, his production is lacking at least at the plate. Correa's month of August has been one of the quietest we have seen out of the shortstop, even after coming back from injury and illness earlier in June. His numbers aren't showing how much he is currently struggling at the plate. His valuation is at $30.5 but he isn’t hitting that value right now. He is hitting .268/.344/.427 for the season, but in the 18 games in August thus far, he's recorded only eight runs, 16 hits, and three RBIs in 62 at-bats. His eight earned runs have come heavily from his 13 walks this month, he gets on base, but rarely from a hit. It is August, it's hot, and these are the "Dog Days of Summer." Still, for a player looking to "opt-out," with Onley's statement of "impressive finish," there are other free agents out there making more impressive finishes than who would potentially pick up before Correa. Players like Xander Bogaerts, Dansby Swanson, and Trea Turner were in the All-Star game this season and are having remarkable seasons both in numbers in the eye test. All three players' numbers exceed Correa's. Looking at Correa's season and his valuation from Fangraphs ($35.1 million), will he still be worth that to another team at the end of the season? There is a fair argument that Xander Bogaerts (.299/.370/.441) has had struggles during the season. His overall season product has him valued at $20 million, according to Fangraphs, and his offensive and defense production shows that he is worth that or possibly more. Bogaerts is undoubtedly putting on a show for the potential of getting more money once the season is over. The Braves are already in talks with Swanson after a rough breakup with Freddie Freeman; whether he stays will depend on what the Braves are willing to offer him to stay. Swanson (.292/.397/.453) is tearing up the field offensively and defensively this season and far outplays his $10mil valuation. Another one of the All-Stars this season, he comes second in stolen bases (16) behind Trea Turner, who has 20 for the season. Swanson is responsible for 68 runs batted in and an integral part of the Braves' run towards another potential World Series. The Braves may have an uphill battle with other teams willing to offer more money for Swanson. With signing Michael Harris to an eight-year contract extension worth at least $72 million, they may be willing to part with the shortstop making him one of the most sought after shortstops in the off-season. Another shortstop driving up the numbers will be Trea Turner, who has had a hit virtually every time he is at the plate. Rumors of the Dodgers locking him in early will only drive up the market for the other sought-after players. There is a rumor that Dansby may have sparked an organizational 'vision' for the Cubs to bring him on. Dansby doesn't want to sit still as his career rockets, and he considers what the future of the team he is on looks like. "You need to know how the next few years look and how that pertains to your family and your career," he added, "it's definitely a factor in picking a team." So with other shortstops being shopped and shopping around as well, while the speculation of Carlos Correa opting out has been spreading like wild fire, if my optics are correct, the market will not be demanding a Correa. They will instead be looking at a Swanson, Bogaerts, or Turner. Correa insists that he loves Minnesota, the culture, the team, and being a leader. He wants to stay and make a winning culture, so if he leaves, how would he provide that winning culture in just one season when he is producing less than the rookies this season? What motivation would another team have to pick him up if he's not producing and he has stated his loyalty to the Twins? That's why this writer thinks Carlos Correa will not opt-out. Instead, Scott Boras will fight for more money or a more extended contract with the Twins. Do you truly believe that Correa will opt out? If Royce Lewis isn't ready, or can't play who do you see coming into the shortstop position? View full article

The pandemic stopped a lot of baseball players from having a chance to accomplish their dreams of being drafted or even finishing their college baseball careers. Covid crushed many dreams, and baseball players and others realized many truths about their career paths. "But dreams change. Fate has a way of showing you paths you want more." - Abbi Glines Some knew the Major Leagues were not a reality, but not being able to finish their college baseball career was just as detrimental to those who weren't bound for "The Show." That's where Ryan Ellingson found himself. He knew he wasn't going to be a big leaguer, but it still hurt the same. Ryan attended Viterbo University, a private college in Wisconsin. Ryan was a second baseman and put up great numbers for the University. In his final season, he had 28 hits, nine RBI, and hit .295 over 45 games. Those are impressive numbers for someone who knew that he wouldn't be moving on to play professional baseball after college; He left every piece of himself on the field after the previous season was cut short due to COVID. When I asked him if it still scared him knowing he may not play anymore, he told me, "I was very scared. Baseball was everything to me. It was a huge part of my life. It was basically all I knew," he continued, "I knew that I wouldn't be going to the majors. I knew a few years earlier when I went to a few clinics and saw other guys, I internally said, 'oh yeah, I'm not that good.'" Humility is a good thing. Ryan's gentle nature and humility helped him pursue his other passion, science, in college. To Ryan, as a baseball player, science made sense. It was numbers and formulas. But sitting on the bus between games, hearing the season was over, the unknowns were insurmountable, even for his career after college. Ryan graduated on time and is now a biologist that works with the environment. But, like the past two fans I interviewed, his passion for baseball is what he gets excited about, so he created videos as an outlet. Thanks to a pandemic, his love for baseball, and boredom, he had 17 years' worth of baseball stories, funnies, and moments he could share with people. When I met Ryan, I found myself on baseball Tik Tok once again (shocker, I know!), and the video that got me to follow him was his spoof on catchers. Because I am not a baseball player, Ryan was able to give an inside look at what baseball players think during games, practices, and other relatable moments. Soon, companies took notice of Ryan and his content and offered him opportunities to do collaborations. Big businesses like Baseball Lifestyle 101, Baseballism, and eventually the Minnesota Twins are just a few of the companies Ryan represents in his videos. Ryan is an avid Twins fan. He grew up around the Twins, dugout, history, and players, so he was always wearing Twins gear when he made his videos. They reached out to Ryan and asked him to be a TikTok social media influencer for the Twins. That entailed coming to the stadium to make videos, wearing their gear, promoting the team, and continuing with the already fantastic job that he was doing with his account. He said it was like a dream come true. He couldn't believe that a few silly videos would catapult him into a new side of baseball. Now Ryan has new companies calling him all the time to do collaborations. Along with being an ambassador for the Twins, Ryan had the incredible opportunity with Baseballism. They sent him to Cooperstown to cover the Hall of Fame, where Twins fans worldwide saw two of their favorites, Tony Oliva and Jim Kaat, introduced into the Hall of Fame. I teared up listening to him talk about going to Cooperstown, the town, watching the induction, and touring the museum. You could tell that his love for baseball runs deep. He loves knowing that his videos inspire kids to keep playing, try playing or become an influencer. "Some things that make it worth it, of course, are the collaborations. They help me be able to keep doing the content that I do. But those videos inspire kids to play." He put his hands on his chest as he started to think about the messages he receives from kids all over, saying, "This made me want to stick it out.", or "I related to that video.". Ryan is passionate about being able to bring the game to people and get fans excited about the game. Where the pandemic threatened to take away so much, it has given us a lot. A new perspective, a new love for the game we almost lost, and for some of us, an opportunity to grow in sharing the game we love with millions of followers on social media. Teams are finally starting to follow suit after seeing what individuals and fans are doing for the game, and wanted to join in. Teams across MLB are finding new and inventive ways to interact with their fans, by getting players to answer silly questions from their favorite book to ice cream flavors. Next article we explore what teams are doing on social media and how it's improving fan contact and an inside look at the team. Follow Ryan on Instagram and TikTok for fun, relatable baseball content here: RyanEllingson8 View full article

She wants to know what your TT is!

This means so much to me!!!

that makes me so excited!! thanks, Melissa!

The Twins left ten men on base, especially in clutch situations. They weren't able to string hits together. The pitching has been doing well, but the offense has struggled. Box Score SP: Chris Archer: 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K (77 pitches, 45 strikes (58%)) Home Runs: None Top 3 WPA: Chris Archer (.133), Jorge Lopez (.133), Jose Miranda (.122) Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) Chris Archer started for the Twins on Saturday. The right-hander was able to complete five innings and only allowed one earned run. It was one of his best outings of the season. The bullpen really got a nice break with Devin Smeltzer taking on three innings after relieving Archer in the sixth inning. Smeltzer struggled in his first two innings but somehow gave just up one run to give the Rangers the lead. He gave up five singles, and had it not been for the defense, would have given up more runs. The southpaw came back out for the eighth inning and had a great 1-2-3 inning, but the Twins were still trailing 2-1 heading into the ninth. It’s been amazing to see how little the bullpen has been used this week with the longevity of the starting staff and the longer relievers. Even in extra innings, they looked rested, ready and in control on the mound, not indicated by the two runs given up in the tenth inning. The Twins defense was really the main character of the game. The defense has been playing well for the past few games, helping to get the “W” for the team when the score is too close for comfort. In the fourth inning, after the Rangers threatened with more runners in scoring position, Ezequiel Duran hit a slow chopper to Carlos Correa who turned the ball and threw it to Luis Arraez at first base and got the out to end the inning. Jorge Polanco may not have had any production at the plate, but in the ninth inning, he made a beautiful slide to grab a line drive from Marcus Siemen. He calmly stepped on second base and threw to Arraez for a double play to bring up the Twins to what fans hoped would be the end of the night. Rangers starter Glenn Otto did a nice job on the mound tonight, not allowing the Twins to do more to manufacture runs. Also, the Twins pattern of hitting quite poorly overall with runners in scoring position. Opportunities were given to the Twins, but few of them worked out. Otto walked Gary Sanchez which advanced Jake Cave to second base and brought up Arraez who ripped a ball just over a leaping Corey Seager's extended arm and brought Cave home to get the Twins on the board. Max Kepler, who was on base after a walk, was brought home when Jose Miranda came up clutch and tied the game at 2-2. Kepler was on first when the liner was hit to the right centerfield gap. Kepler dashed around second, and Tommy Watkins waved him home. A dropped relay throw allowed Kepler to score on Miranda's single. The Twins got a runner on base in the bottom of the ninth but were unable to score, sending the game to extra frames. The Rangers started out the extra innings with two runs, but The Twins refused to go silently into the night, battling with every single pitch. They were gifted a run with two outs when the pitcher misplayed a soft grounder, allowing Arraez to score and cut the score to 4-3. However, the game ended when Miranda, who has been instrumental in so many late-rally games, hit a fly-out to left field giving the Rangers the win for the night. What’s Next? The Twins still have two more games to finish off with the Rangers before traveling to Houston to face the Astros who are first place in the AL West and have gone 7-for-11. Pitching matchup for the rest of the series: Sunday 1:10pm CST: Joe Ryan (9-5, 3.92 ERA) vs RHP Kohei Arihara (0-1, 4.76 ERA) Monday 6:10pm CST: Sonny Gray(7-3, 3.11 ERA) vs. LHP Cole Ragans (0-2, 5.02 ERA) Postgame Interview Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet View full article

Dreams are all about manifestation. Whether or not we are aware of it, we are always manifesting our paths in life. Our attitudes about our goals and how we position ourselves to achieve those goals all play into the big picture. When baseball was put on hold in 2020 while the world sorted out the pandemic and how we would move forward, fans took to social media in the form of TikTok to talk about their favorite teams, players and drama unfolding. It was a way to stay connected to the game we all love and see things in "real-time." Yes, I am an avid Twins fan, but really, I am a baseball fan. When baseball almost disappeared in 2020 and threatened to not happen this season, I wanted to focus on the positive things about baseball and that's what I found in fan bases of all teams on Tik Tok. Social media creates connections, business relationships, and friendships that we need during a dark time in life, work, and sports. Content creators took advantage of the opportunity to teach us parts of the game, involve us in their lives, and show their "fandom" and why their team is "the best," in some cases, even when the team is terrible, fans stay loyal. That's precisely what Julie is, loyal. As a Red fan her whole life, her loyalty can't be questioned. She is a fan of almost all Ohio sports, but baseball is her lifeline and bread and butter of her content. Her content is a massive hit on Reds baseball social media. She's traveled three-plus hours to see her teams, and in snow storms to watch playoff games. To say she is die-hard is an understatement. Her claim to fame is the sign she brought to the Cincinnati Reds v. Cleveland Guardians (though under their previous name) game on August 9, 2021: "I just hope both teams have fun." She affectionately became known as "Sign Girl" at her college. Her dedication to her craft and content gained her followers and people who would tune in for her Reds post-game recaps, which most are of her frowning, crying, or being overly dramatic about the loss, but no one cheers louder for her 45-and-70 team than Julie. More and more people took notice of her passion and loyalty to the Reds fan base and the organization. Because of her dedication to the team, people who work for the Reds organization eventually followed her goofy antics, loud cheers, and videos about her Outfits of the Day that she would wear to each game. Her dry sense of humor and passion for her team not only brought people laughter but made them follow the Reds so that they could see what "Jules would do" next. Julie created friendships with people at Great American Ballpark, and when they had extra tickets, they would give them to her so she could come and experience the game in person. When she didn't receive tickets from Reds workers, the social media manager and creator would use her hard-working dollar for a media company she works with to buy tickets. Her constant presence on the field set her apart from many other fans. She films every game she is at and acts like each game is a playoff game, no matter how unfortunate the outcome. And yes, she was at the game when the Reds lost on a no-hitter to the Pirates. Jules is just the kind of fan that every MLB team needs. That one person goes out and brings the heat and the energy to every game. Her energy is what landed her on the Reds mound on July 30th. A worker at Great American reached out to her on social media and said, "hey, I get to pick the first pitch Saturday, and I want it to be you." Because everything can change at the drop of a hat with first pitches, Julie spent 72 hours praying that no celebrity or local well-known would get the offer, and her manifestation paid off. Julie stepped onto the field right before the game and got to throw the baseball to anyone she wanted, and she chose her dad. "My dad and I bonded over baseball," Julie says, "I couldn't imagine throwing to anyone but him. He has always been there for me, got me interested in baseball, got me passionate about the game, and I have him to thank for my obsession." She said it was the best day of her life, this far anyway. "I would never have been able to do it if it weren't for Tik Tok," she says, "Tik Tok has done so much for me." She also went to school for graphic design and social media marketing, so using that certainly has helped. I asked her if she had goals in working in sports, and she told me she did. "I have social media experience, and it's what I went to college for." She works a full-time job in the marketing department right now, but when she is not there, she attends Reds games and knows how to work with a crowd, the team, and the players. She has tons of TikToks holding a sign asking former Timberwolves All Star Kevin Love of the Cleveland Cavaliers to wave at her, and this past 2021 season, he saw the sign and waved to her during a game as he headed down the tunnel and in real-time as someone filmed, she melted. Getting attention is easy for her. She is a real fan, stacked with personality, a gorgeous smile, knowledge of the game, and the Reds of anyone I've ever met. She also is followed by Richard Jefferson and Myles Straw. Authenticity and being true to who you are is the name of the game in social media. She's as genuine as Joey Votto and as down-to-earth as Ken Griffey Jr. Her friends that don't always like baseball, or get it, go to the game with her to be in her presence because she makes baseball fun. Jules is to Tik Tok as Joey Votto is to Reds baseball (but also to TikTok now too!). They both make the team exciting and relevant, and it doesn't matter their record because they both want to have fun enjoying the game they grew up in. Baseball is a timeless game, a family tradition, and the dreams change when players find out they have to hang up their bats. Few are lucky enough to continue working in baseball, let alone make it a career, but that's what happened to Ryan Ellingson. Find out in the following article how Ryan's career in baseball took a different path after hanging up his bat, and now is a Twins TikTok Social media influencer. Follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Tik Tok at NotSoCoolJules to follow all her baseball adventures View full article

Changes are among the most challenging things about sports, mainly the sport we love so much. Not minor changes that make things run more smoothly, but the more extensive, swooping, chaotic changes bring about fear, frustration, and concern for the "state of the game." There was nothing worse for baseball than the pandemic until…it wasn't. "It's evolve or die, really, you have to evolve, you have to move on otherwise it just becomes stagnant" ~ Craig Charles. In 2020, the world stopped. It simply stopped. A global virus was spreading like wildfire, stopping jobs, schools, and sports. Stuck inside for months and a shortened baseball season brought on the phenomenon of a social media app called "TikTok." TikTok was full of funny dances, lip syncs, and good feelings to keep the world "together." Videos spread quicker than the virus, and eventually, we saw people's lives in 60 seconds. Baseball fans were no different. Sharing funny stories about their teams and making skits, all while awaiting the decision on when baseball would start again. In a shortened season, there was not much content to be made, but that didn't slow down any creators. Baseball fans found new and inventive ways to share their passion for the game without being let into the stadiums. In 2021, baseball let fans back into the stadiums, and along with the fans went their phones, and more content was being made daily by thousands of fans. TikTok was a way to show people the other side of baseball that some fans have forgotten about, and that's what keeps the game going—reaching out to the masses and creating a new generation of fans and people interested in the game. Those who can't go to games have a fun way to interact with their teams and see highlights and inside information. In late summer 2021, they created the "Content Creator Class." MLB paid these creators to make content specific to baseball. MLB's Marketing Department was looking to add innovative content creators to the ballparks around the league. Candidates needed a strong understanding of baseball and how to best show off the experience at a game from behind a lens for display on league and club social media channels. One of those fans was Caitlin Hendricks, a Chicago native, and raging Cubs fan. Her hilarious content and trolling of other teams made her a great creator to be followed on TikTok. She is one of the original content creators for MLB. The only girl with four brothers, Caitlin's family lived and breathed Cubs baseball. Initially, when the pandemic started, she was making "relatable content" before making baseball content. Some of her funniest stuff was dating advice and what it was like living in a Covid dating world. "I was making content about dating and relatable stuff to what we were going through in the pandemic." Caitlin stated, "I wanted to change my niche.' I have always loved baseball and started by just making funny little videos, and it blew up." Her personality radiates through her 30-second stints. Pretty soon, she was making content about MLB dating advice for dating people from other fan bases and where MLB teams would take you on your first date based on their brand personality. One of the best things about Caitlin as a content creator is her quirkiness and relatability. She isn't afraid to be herself and invites followers into her frustration, humor, and sadness as a baseball fan. Caitlin has always dreamed of working in sports and often jokes with her brothers about being the one who works in sports. She has goals, and being a content creator for MLB has opened those for her. But what it's done for her more than anything is sharing her passion for baseball and the Cubs. She is still humbled when people get excited to get a response from her, she doesn't feel famous, but she loves that people relate her to baseball and that she engages with them. I asked Caitlin how one becomes a content creator for MLB. "The process was straightforward," says Caitlin, "I submitted a video, they messaged me, and then I had a legit interview." From there, her entire world got bigger. She was invited to Wrigley to hang out with other content creators to make videos, where she met some players, ate some excellent food, and hung out with Clark. She also has made tons of brand deals and has met Zach Brown from the Zach Brown band. Her newest venture, a personal favorite of mine, is her baseball filters. Caitlin continues to grow in her content. She is terrific at making filters and has created filters for mascots, Which MLB Team are you?, and a fan favorite Backyard baseball character from the computer game created in 1997. She has made a filter for every team, and people will scroll through the teams by tapping on their screen during recording and try and guess the teams. The best ones are the ones who are not baseball fans guessing the teams, and in social media terms, they "blow up," and MLB teams around the league will comment on their videos. Many people who aren't baseball fans are engaging with baseball more frequently and becoming more interested in the games, the outcomes, the drama, the comedy, and the beauty of what baseball is. MLB has been trying for years to engage fans but hasn't been successful at retaining them. Many of the older fans have gotten frustrated with the rules, time, and base size changes, but to continue baseball and grow the fan base, MLB needed to get creative. Since 2020, the MLB TikTok account following (5.3 million) is now comparable to NBA and NFL, all major-league teams are using it, and even minor league and independent teams are using the video platform to engage with their fans. Now when fans go to games, they feel connected to the game, the players, and the culture because of creators like Caitlin. Caitlin went to the Field of Dreams game in Iowa with fellow creator Trevor Fahnstrom to watch the Cubs play the Reds, all because of TikTok. TikTok is for everyone, for all fans, and even those who aren't MLB content creators have a vast presence in team loyalty and are showing that hard work, networking, and manifestation can make dreams come true. Stay tuned to hear about Jule's journey with social media and how it helped her accomplish her biggest dream with the Cincinnati Reds. Go follow Caitlin: Twitter: CaitlinHendrix TikTok and Instagram: Caitlin_Hendricks View full article

The Twins lack of insurance runs ended up being their demise. The Angels picked at the pitching until it fell apart and what was a shutout into the eighth inning for the Twins, ended in disaster. Box Score SP: Dylan Bundy: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K (65 pitches, 4 strikes (70%)) Home Runs: Carlos Correa (13) Top 3 WPA: Dylan Bundy (.293), Emilio Pagan (.115), Caleb Thielbar (.110) Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) The Twins continue to lag early games, unable to manufacture more than a few runs, and struggled when players are on base. Luis Arraez and Gary Sanchez got things going in the top of the second and the third innings, only to be left stranded when batters couldn’t drive them home, which caught up with the Twins in the latter part of the game. Carlos Correa, who has not been hot through July and August certainly made up for a slow month driving in two of the three runs, against the Angels. After Reid Detmers had struck out lead-off Byron Buxton, Correa came up to bat and hit a home run to center field to get the Twins their first run of the game. In the fifth inning, Max Kepler, who didn’t get a hit in the game, was walked in the fifth, but thanks to a sac-fly from Correa, Kepler was the second run of the game. The Twins managed to get one more run on the board in the eighth, when Jorge Polanco, Luis Arraez and Gio Urshela joined forces to manufacture three singles, each one moving Polanco closer to home for the third run. Dylan Bundy faced his former team tonight and had a beautiful game. Remaining scoreless through five innings, he threw one of the best games we have seen from him all season. No drama, no mess, just a very well-pitched game before handing the game over to Caleb Thielbar only for the purpose of the lefty-lefty matchup with Shohei Ohtani. Thielbar and the bullpen did a great job keeping Ohtani and the Angels off the board, until the end of the eighth inning when Ohtani homered off of Jhoan Duran to give the Angels their first run. Buxton started in center field. It was his first back-to-back games in center field since June 8th and 9th. The management, much to the annoyance of Twins fans, have structured his game appearances to allow him to recover, a tactic that clearly is working and his defense is a prime example of why those days off are working. In the blink of an eye, the Angels came alive and rallied back in the ninth inning. Jorge Lopez had the Angels on the ropes as the inning came to a close with a 2-1 count on Magneuris Sierra. With two on base, Sierra swung at the 94 mph sinker and hit a triple, just out of the dive of Nick Gordon, scoring Jo Adell and Andrew Valesquez to tie the game. Sierra was waved around towards home as Gordon threw the ball to cut-off man Correa who got it home to Gary Sanchez just in time for the out, moving the game to the tenth inning. The Twins lacked the ability to get any runs in the tenth inning, leaving the game wide open to the Angels. With runners on first and third, Luis Rengifo hit a sinking line drive into center field. Byron Buxton charged hard, dove and made the fantastic catch. He got up and threw out Ohtani at first base to end the inning. The Angels continued to chip away at the Twins pitching before getting a walk-off homerun from Taylor Ward in the bottom of the 11th inning to win the game. A tough loss for the Twins who looked to complete a second straight shutout as late as the eighth inning. What’s Next? The Twins finish out their west coast series with the Angels tomorrow and heading back home to face the Kansas City Royals and hope to see former teammate Brent Rooker. Pitching matchup tomorrow: Sunday 1:07 pm CST: Chris Archer (2-5, 4.02 ERA) vs RHP Davidson (1-3, 7.91 ERA) Postgame Interview Coming soon. Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet View full article

Strong pitching, lots of hits, and big runs. This is what summer nights are supposed to be and what the Twins have continued to bring us over the past three games. The Twins held off the Blue Jays and took game three giving them a 2-1 lead in a big series. Box Score SP: Dylan Bundy: 4 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 K (65 pitches, 45 strikes (69%)) Home Runs: Jose Miranda (11) Top 3 WPA: Jorge Polanco (.204), Luis Arraez (.177), Jose Miranda (.163) Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) Dylan Bundy started the game for the Twins on Saturday. He was able to hold off the Blue Jays through the first three innings, but the second time through the lineup, the Jays had seen enough of Bundy to capitalize on his pitches. Teoscar Hernandez doubled on a sharp line drive earlier and was brought home on a two-run homer from Bo Bichette tying up the game at 2-2 in the fourth inning. Bundy let two runs in but got out of the inning with no further issues. He had six strikeouts in his four innings, his best game since the Fourth of July against the White Sox. On the Blue Jays side, Mitch White started out and did a decent job of trying to keep the Twins off the board. In the third inning Sandy Leon was walked, which got the momentum started. Luis Arraez ripped a ball down the first base line for a double. Both Leon and Arraez were brought home on sacrifice flies from Byron Buxton and Jorge Polanco to get the Twins on the board first. The Twins were seeing doubles. Throughout the game, the team accumulated five doubles. In the fifth inning, Luis Arraez doubled and later scored on a Jorge Polanco double. The Twins led 3-2 through five innings. The momentum of the hits was exciting, giving it almost a playoff feel. Jose Miranda got his 11th home run, Nick Gordon stole a base and scored on a squeeze bunt from Sandy Leon, and Arraez had three hits and stole a base. Jake Cave, who has been on a tear since coming up from Triple-A St. Paul hit a stand up triple giving the Twins a 7-3 lead. The Twins lineups and bullpen in this series have been fun to watch. There is no longer a doom and gloom hanging over the team. The hitters are putting balls into play, the bullpen is controlling the momentum of the other team. The bullpen came in and owned one of the better teams in the league for the second night in a row. Between solid arms and great game management by Rocco Baldelli, the bullpen moved quickly and swiftly through each inning. Trevor Megill was first out of the 'pen and the only reliever to struggle was Griffin Jax, who let two on base with no outs. Baldelli called Jhoan Duran to the mound. The Twins bullpen gave up just one run. Jorge Lopez came in to end the game with the Twins taking game three of the four-game series. What’s Next? The Twins finish out their four game series with the Blue Jays tomorrow, hoping to get a series win against one of the hardest teams in the league. Pitching matchup tomorrow: Sunday 12:10 pm CST: Chris Archer (2-5, 4.05 ERA) vs RHP Kevin Gausmann (8-8, 3.06 ERA) Postgame Interviews Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet View full article

As the trade deadline expired, game time for the Twins approached. The Twins had several roster changes including welcoming back outfielder Jake Cave. The Twins were still on a walk-off high coming into the game and ready to continue the momentum. Box Score SP: Chris Archer 4.1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 8 K (49 pitches, 77 strikes (64%)) Home Runs: Mark Contreras (1) Bottom 3 WPA: Gio Urshela (-.180), Jose Miranda (-.086), Luis Arraez (-.068) Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) The game started out slow. Both pitchers went scoreless through the first two innings and in just his eighth MLB start, Mark Contreras came up to bat in the third and ripped his first MLB home run 407 feet to center field, putting the Twins ahead for the first time of the night. The bases quickly loaded the bases. With Luis Arraez, Carlos Correa and Jose Miranda on base and one out, Nick Gordon came to the plate. He hit what the fans, Twins and Gordon himself thought was a grand slam, but alas, after review, the call of Foul Ball was upheld. Gordon did hit a sacrifice fly that brought Arraez home, giving the Twins a 2-0 lead. Akil Baddoo ended the inning with a diving catch off of Gio Urshela’s high fly ball. Carlos Correa scored another run for the club on another Gordon sacrifice fly, but the Tigers pitching staff managed to keep the Twins from scoring a fourth run. Chris Archer started in his third game tonight since returning from the IL. He threw 77 pitches, had a season-high, eight strikeouts. He gave up two earned runs in the top of the fifth before being relieved by Jovani Moran. Archer has not been able to get past the fifth inning, or over 80 pitches (minus one game) throughout the season. Baldelli has spoken previously about Archer and his confidence in the pitcher, noting that he just needs to continue working on stretching out and he sees him improving. Emilio Pagan showed well, striking out two and moving swiftly through the sixth inning with no damage. The trouble came for the Twins in the seventh inning when Griffin Jax gave up three more earned runs which gave the Tigers the lead for the first time in the game and the series. Trevor Megill, Tyler Duffey and Joe Smith all had outstanding outings, allowing no runs. Minus the three runs from Jax, the bullpen did a phenomenal job, a welcome sight for sure. The Twins 40-man roster has experienced a lot of change and injury lately. Most recently, Miguel Sano returned to the 60-day IL with right knee inflammation and Alex Kirilloff was played on the Injured List with right-wrist inflammation. Jake Cave was finally recalled from St. Paul for the first time this season. Cave has been working hard and playing great with the Saints, logging a triple-slash line of .273/.370/.509 with 14 home runs this season. The last time he broke double digits in home runs was in 2018 before his back problems started. He went 2-for-3 for the club with an impressive double. Do you see the Twins pushing forward to be competitive and hanging onto first place in the division? What’s Next? The Twins have a day game to finish out the series with Detroit before a four-game set with Toronto when the Blue Jays come to town. Pitching matchup tomorrow: Wednesday 12:10 pm CST: Joe Ryan (7-4, 3.78 ERA) vs RHP Tyler Alexander (2-4, 4-10 ERA) Postgame Interview View full article

Okay. But I didn’t know that and I was going based on a timeline I have to follow.

The trade deadline really heated up for the Twins, and it was exciting to say the least. The front office did not hold back getting pitching that the team so desperately needed. All season fans have been clamoring and hoping that Tyler Mahle would be available and on Tuesday that’s exactly what he was, giving the Twins an opportunity to make a trade. Jon Heyman was the first to report that the Twins had acquired RHP Tyler Mahle from Cincinnati for three top prospects, infielders Spencer Steer and Christian Encarnacion-Strand, and starting pitching prospect Steve Hajjar. The 6’3 210 pound right-handed pitcher has been a solid starter with the Cincinnati Reds. In his most-recent game, three days ago, he recorded his fifth win of the season. He pitched six innings and had seven strikeouts, just two days after coming off the IL. While he had to go on the IL due to shoulder issues right before the All-Star break. He made two starts before the deadline and his medicals must have been to the Twins' liking. Mahle is 27 years old and is under team control through the 2023 season. In 2022, he's 5-7 with a 4.40 ERA, 3.60 FIP, 1.25 WHIP and 114 strikeouts in 104 1/3 innings. He was 13-6 with a 3.75 ERA and 210 strikeouts in 180 innings last season and has resembled a mid-rotation workhorse for the last three seasons or so. Mahle was the lone starting pitcher added by the Twins at the deadline. They also added two, late-inning relievers at the deadline. What did the Twins give up? The Twins gave up three top-20 prospects to make the trade happen. Spencer Steer, a St. Paul favorite, will be a great asset to the Reds and is likely to be called up sooner than he would if he stayed with the Twins. He hit .269/.361/.528 with 20 home runs and just a 17.0 K% in 388 plate appearances between Double-A and Triple-A. He is a very nice prospect, but as a third baseman. he is currently blocked by the likes of Jose Miranda, Gio Urshela and others. Steer has seen time at third base, second base, and even shortstop this season. Christian Encarnacion-Strand is a huge bat on the Wichita team. He was named the Midwest League's Hitter of the Month in two of the three months he was with Cedar Rapids. Overall, he hit .302/.374/.612 with 25 home runs and a 33.1 percent hard-hit rate in 390 plate appearances between High-A and Double-A. He is only 22-years-old and has seen time at third base, first base and designated hitter this season. The 2021 fifth-round draft pick's best position defensively is DH. Steven Hajjar is the only pitcher sent in the package to Cincinnati. Hajjar is a young left-handed pitcher. He was the Twins second-round draft pick in 2021 out of Michigan. He has spent this season with the Ft. Myers Mighty Mussels where he has posted some outstanding numbers. Through 12 starts, he has logged a 2.47 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 71:22 K:BB in 43 2/3 innings. He has been limited by a couple of stints in the Injured List this year. His potential to move up in the Reds system looks good and could potentially start at High-A. The Twins front office has been making stealthy deadline-day moves and keeping fans on their toes. Do you think the Twins have made the right moves? What do you think of giving up three top-25 prospects for Mahle? View full article