stringer bell

It looked the second homer was on a pretty good pitch. Not so much, the first one.

I’m as big a Pablo fan as you will find. I think he would tell you he wasn’t on top of his game. I thought his second outing was much better, efficient but still not dominant.

Pablo gave up four runs in 5 innings. The runs were ruled unearned because of his own error. He only finished five innings and threw a lot of pitches. For a #1 starter that isn’t a good outing. I believe he allowed eight hit as well.

The first twelve games last year the Twins were 4-8 and nobody was hitting. So far, pretty much the same thing. I'm sure they'll regress to the mean, but Miranda has clearly reinforced where his deficiencies lie. I'd like to see a more athletic and powerful team and Miranda really isn't either of those things.

Two views above. Put me more with the OP. Miranda has moments, but there's a lot of inconsistency. Add in that he is a slow runner with limited power and not a gifted defender and you have a guy that has to really hit well and we haven't seen enough of that. His career hasn't justified middle-of-the-order placement and he needs to be a middle-of-the-order hitter to overcome his deficiencies.

Depends on who you want to compare HB to. He's one HR short of Manuel Margot's production for the entire season (more than 350 PAs) and he's already got 8 RBI (in 6 games). I still don't expect great offense from him, but he looks like a definite step up from Margot.

Every pitcher in McCaughan's position is happy to get the major league service time and eventually he'll get a chance to audition for 30 big league teams for a more permanent role. Dobnak's position is slightly different because of his contract. He will accept DFA after DFA and remain in the Twins organization unless another club wants to take on his contract.

It might be Miranda. He's not swung the bat well, but Rocco doesn't bury his players.

Niko Goodrum signed a minor league deal with the Mets. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/04/mets-sign-jon-singleton-niko-goodrum-to-minor-league-deals.html

All the teams in the Central have only played six games. It is way early to make final judgments. That said, there's plenty to be concerned about. The Twins played a middle-of-the-road team and a bad team in six games and only won two, and they were beaten pretty soundly in all four losses. The starting pitching had three bad starts, one meh, one pretty good and one better than good start. That isn't enough good pitching. The bullpen let one game get away and allowed opponents to add on a couple times, so not very good. The hitting has been abysmal, but the worst offenders are guys with records of being good hitters. Finally, the defense doesn't look any better in the infield. On the plus side, newcomers Bader and France have been outstanding and satisfactory respectively. Byron Buxton has started six straight games in center field and the Twins haven't dug a hole despite a cold start.

The Twins finished their first road trip of the year with a flourish, winning twice in cold wet Chicago and coming home with a 2-4 record, meaning all five AL Central teams are tied at 2-4. They face Houston in their Home Opener tomorrow with a forecast of 43 degrees and mostly cloudy skies. We all know that Baldelli doesn't stick with one lineup and that for two years he has strictly alternated his catchers. Given that information, I have tried to figure out what tomorrow's starting lineup will be. Here is what I have come up with: First of all, since it's the Home Opener, I doubt that any player will be given a rest day, including Byron Buxton, who has started all six games so far this year. Secondly, it's early, but Harrison Bader is swinging the bat as well or better than any player on the team, so I think he gets a start at a corner outfield spot. Thirdly, Edouard Julien has a couple hits and survived playing second base without any real issues. He is swinging the bat better than Jose Miranda and Mickey Gasper. I think he gets the nod at second base, with Willi Castro at third and Miranda riding the pine. So here is my best estimate of a starting lineup: Wallner RF, Correa SS, Buxton CF, Larnach DH, Jeffers C, Castro 3B, France 1B, Julien 2B, Bader LF, and Joe Ryan pitching. Does anyone else have different ideas? Go Twins!

It’s not a sure thing the Twins will win with two innings to go, especially in weird elements. The Twins put together a five-run inning with two outs yesterday just by putting the ball in play and getting a couple of free passes.

Five in the books. The mighty AL Central moves closer to having a five-way tie for first (through last).

Do they suspend games at this point, or could they wash out the whole thing. Correa could still be hitless.

Like they did for Buxton? Now BB is talking about playing his entire career with the Twins. “Purposely manipulate” means one thing to a player and agent and another to the team. I’ll put it this way—if Durán is bad enough to be removed from the closer role, the team would certainly consider demotion as a reset and the service time component would absolutely figure in.

I think it is fine to rest either against lefties unless and until they show they can hit lefty relievers. I’m glad both got the chance to hit against LH relievers today.

Not optimum with the Opener tomorrow in Minnesota. This team is still licking their wounds from four straight losses to start the season. I don't know why they'd want to play the White Sox today as opposed to later in the season.

I saw today that David Bednar of the Pirates had been optioned after a tough start to his season. Bednar had put together three very good seasons with the Pirates and had 39 saves in 2023 before slumping badly last year. He lost two of the Buccos first three games (both walkoffs) and was optioned. Bednar was also pretty bad in Spring Training this year and even the Twins roughed him up. This is a roundabout prelude to discuss Twins' closer Jhoan Durán. It's very early, but results and metrics are pointing to a guy who isn't elite and might actually be a weak spot in the bullpen as a closer. In 2023, Durán was the hardest thrower in MLB with a majority of the highest velo fastballs recorded that year coming from his right arm. Now, he's averaging a noticeable 4-5 mph slower fastball without elite movement. He still has a very good curve ball and split finger pitch with the splittie among the hardest "off speed" pitches in baseball. Results have been okay, but not great. Durán's ERA and WHIP have increased each of his three years with the Twins and his strikeout percentage has fallen. It would appear that his fastball isn't elite unless he has elite velocity and 100 mph fastballs have become more and more common. Which brings me to Durán's future. If he still has high value, would the Twins consider moving him? He's still pretty young (27) and under team control for two additional seasons beyond this year. Also, if he struggles ala Bednar, would the Twins consider sending him to the minors? I think there is a sneaky good percentage chance that this will occur because Durán had exactly three years of service prior to the start of the season. If he were to spend two week on option, the Twins or a team that would acquire him would get another full year of service from him. The Twins current front office has been hesitant to pay large dollars for their bullpen. Durán is now in arbitration years and will get more and more money even if his results don't improve. They also have a guy Griffin Jax, who by most measures has passed Durán by as the most effective bullpen arm. I don't think Durán will be a Twin by 2026 unless he regains elite status as a pitcher. I wouldn't be surprised if he is traded, or if he struggles, that he is sent to the minors.

Any update on today's game? It looks like the weather in Chicago will be wet and dreary and I imagine there aren't many tickets sold.

The Twins DFA's Randy Dobnak after he saved the bullpen in their latest loss in St. Louis. Given the rules in place, the move makes sense, despite Dobnak's contribution to the Twins. Dobnak's replacement is another guy who hasn't had much major league success but who is capable of throwing several innings if the call to the bullpen comes early. Welcome to the Twins Darren McCaughan. I hope your stay is short and uneventful unless there is more quality in your arm than you've demonstrated over the years.

Tarp is still on the field. Very light drizzle. Brightening skies.

I’m in St. Loo for the game today. Quite a number of Twins fans around the Arch.

Now for the question I’ve had for two years, why don’t they Twins have a commercial patch on their uniforms? It seems every other team does.

Nice hand for Bader.

Stubby Clapp? Really!!