Seth Stohs

This is a fun 5-minute video with Billy Ripken spending time with Derek Shelton as the Twins started spring training. It's a lot of fun information and video.

http://m.startribune.com/brian-dozier-tries-fresh-start-with-washington/506610782/?fbclid=IwAR2D1C2o7u0rlvCMGLqHcbpw2OhGcDS89kLy1ho52gzWxjfe4mY277kN8Ug Phil Miller went to West Palm Beach and spoke with Brian Dozier about getting traded, playing in the playoffs and World Series, free agency and more. No quesiton that Dozier wanted to stay with the Twins but the front office had no interest.

In case you missed the article update: https://twitter.com/ParkerHageman/status/1102297598071840775

Pete Abraham from the Boston Globe wrote an article on how New Englanders Derek Falvey and Rocco Baldelli are trying to lead the Twins back to prominence. https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2019/03/02/pair-new-englanders-hope-turn-twins-around/D0tZiOO0KG8Wh8vkquxf9K/story.html

I mean, you realize that he's also touted for aa lot more than that, right? And so was Revere.

http://www.startribune.com/twins-finally-joining-in-on-push-for-power/506529222/ Phil Miller (STrib) wrote up an article about how the Twins have clearly put a focus on adding power to their lineup. The acquisitions of Nelson Cruz, CJ Cron, Jonathan Schoop and Marwin Gonzalez speak to that. Add those guys to a lineup that includes Miguel Sano, Eddie Rosario and Max Kepler who have all had 20 homers in a season.

Stats from 2 months have pretty much nothing to do with prospect rankings... Trust me, no one looked at their 2018 minor league stats and changed their opinion on Larnach over Jeffers or Keirsey or Helman or whoever.

This one might require some time and digging to make sure I don't miss a trade or a signing.

Hey y'all, I will answer a few more of these at home tonight. Thanks for the quesitons. Please also let me know about this format. Is it something to do more often? Once in awhile? Maybe on a weekend? Maybe during a game? Maybe never, ever, EVER again? Let me know what you think.

I don't see a question in here, ,but I want to respond still, down here in the comments. First... what Kirilloff did in one plate appearance, particularly his first plate appearance of spring is meaningless. He got a hit yesterday. So, that just kind of is what it is. To your bigger point, they aren't going to rush them. They want them up as quick as possible, but they also want them to be ready when they get there. Ideally they wouldnt' have to go up and down. They have an outfield in which Rosario, Buxton, ,Kepler and Cave will get the first opportunities and they've earned a lot of rope. So they don't have to rush Kirilloff. As for Lewis ,he could be ready in July. He might not be ready until early 2021. They have Polanco and Gordon ahead of him ,and that's' a positive thing. They dont' need to feel rushed into rushing him.

https://www.twincities.com/2019/02/27/mn-twins-royce-lewis-alex-kirilloff-derek-falvey-fort-myers-fla-ell-top-prospects-royce-lewis-alex-kirilloff-be-a-sponge/?utm_content=tw-PioneerPress&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com Betsy Helfand (Pioneer Press) wrote an article on how Royce Lewis and Alex Kirilloff have basically been told to be sponges this spring. They work out with the guys but the front office and coaching staff want them to learn and take in as much as they can from big league camp. This is also an interesting point from Falvey:

https://www.mlb.com/news/matt-magill-curveball-key-to-bullpen-spot Do-Hyoung Park wrote about Matt Magill and his quest for a spot in the Twins bullpen. Not only has he been hitting 96 mph with his fastball, but the Twins coaching staff (and analytic group) really like his "Unique" curveball. His key to success might be using that pitch more often. There is little doubt that Magill has the physical stuff, but he spent a lot of time this offseason working on the mental side of the game.

Today I want to try something different. This is sort of a mailbag, but also just a way to try to gauge what topics that you are interested in. So, feel free to ask me questions in the comments below. As I have time throughout the day, I will answer as many as I can in the body of the article.So as I like to say when I take questions on Twitter, #Ask Away. Questions can range from the big leagues, spring training, roster or lineup, minor leagues, prospects, the Twins Prospect Handbook, or pretty much anything (within reason). Fill up the Comments with Questions. I'll answer them, and then you can discuss my responses. Here we go: TarheelTwinsFan: "Would you trade straight up any of the current Twins' starting OF for Aaron Hicks? According to Nick, Hicks was the 15th best rated OF in the majors last year." Any of them? Probably all of them. Aaron Hicks was incredible last year. The only concern with him over the years has been staying on the field. But, he's immensely athletic. He's very good in centerfield. He has worked very hard. He has built his body and is very strong. He has a very good approach at the plate. He's got power, and playing in Yankees Stadium 81 times a year helps his HR numbers. I like all three of the Twins starting outfielders, but Aaron Hicks earned that contract, and you could argue that he took a low-ish deal to stay with the Yankees. nasu1970: "Are the Twins done with extensions this spring? I was hoping for a Berrios deal, especially with framework available from the Nola and Severino deals.Everything has been quiet though.Is Berrios just going to wait and attempt to put up more of a Nola or Severino-esque season before inking?" I don't think that the Twins are done talking to players this spring about contract extensions. But there may not be any more signings. Understandably, Berrios and Rosario would be looking for contracts larger than what Kepler or Polanco got. I think, and wrote, that that Severino and Nola deals may have given a good framework for a possible Berrios deal. But those guys took the security over the maximum earning potential. To this point, Berrios hasn't done that. Of course, we don't know what the Twins' offer, if there was one, was. Generally speaking, those talks end on Opening Day,, though we occasionally see an in-season extension. From Glanzer: "What Twins-related insight do you feel you are best equipped to provide compared to the many other bloggers, writers, insiders, and publications that provide Twins mailbags? I suspect you know a lot more about the minor leagues than the typical writer. What do you think?" I am best equipped to provide my opinions or thoughts on topics better than the others you mentioned are at providing my opinions or thoughts. I'm' just a guy. Nothing special. Just enjoy following the Twins. I do think that I can provide some differing perspective and/or opinions on the Twins minor leagues and minor leaguers. As most know, I've got some relationships with people in and around the Twins system and talk to a bunch of people. Still all just presented as my opinions, but I like to think that it is based on some different things (conversations with a variety of people and different levels, in-person evaluation of most of the players, some video review, etc.) From Mike Frasier Law: "If the Twins are in contention this summer, do you see them making a big acquisition to bolster their starting rotation?" I think so. Obviously it will depend on which pitchers are available and how many other teams are searching for the top available pitchers, but I have little doubt that Derek Falvey and Thad Levine would be open to moving prospects for elite pitching talent. And, as we know, the Twins have bolstered their minor league system in several ways (draft, international, minor league signings, trades, Rule 5, etc.) If "Falvine" has shown anything, it's that they won't be afraid to make moves. From the Mask of Zoilo: "Let's say Kirilloff lives up to his "best hitting prospect not named Vlad" status and destroys AA this season. Will the Twins bring him up this year or hold off til 2 weeks into the 2020 season for service manipulation reasons? Will it make a difference if the Twins are contending for a playoff spot?" Again, it's dependent upon several things, including if the Twins are in contention. If they aren't, there is no reason to not play the game, play the system. If they are in contention, and Kirilloff is dominating, then I believe they will be willing to bring him up in July. But even then, that's dependent upon how Rosario, Buxton and Kepler are doing, as well as the first base situation. They wouldn't (and shouldn't) call him up to sit on the bench. From Sconnie: "Huge coaching shakeup in the off season. What is the impact in spring training so far? How are the players accepting and adapting to the new techniques and points of view? How is this perceived as rippling through the minor leagues?" I haven't spent time in Ft. Myers yet this spring, so the Twins Geek might be better equipped to answer that one. However, everything we've read, and the few conversations I've had with some players, it seems like they enjoy it. Shorter, but more efficient practices and workouts. Not as much standing around. Get their work in. And, everything I've heard on the coaches has been positive so far too. Of course, at this early stage, it's not like there is a lot of controversy. From the minor league side of it, again, not being there, it's' hard for me to know for sure. But, there are a lot of minor leaguers down there. They are being coached to some degree by coaches who have been working in lock step with the big league staff. Also, I think it's neat that every game, several of the minor leaguers who arrived early get to go and play in the big league games. That's motivating too. From IMissJoeMauer: "How much do you miss Joe Mauer?" While I think that the Twins will miss Mauer defensively at first base and the quality of at bats he puts together, I will miss Joe Mauer a bit, but I'm nearly certain it won't be as much as you miss Joe Mauer. From Rather Be Golfing: "Why does our front office feel the need to bang our heads against the wall with Miguel at 3B and not just move him to 1B/DH now when that's what he's obviously going to be in 2-3 years?" When healthy and when in decent shape, Sano can play an adequate third base. Not great, but he can make most of the plays. We've seen his athleticism at times. He has an incredible arm. And, frankly, he's much, much more valuable to the team if he can play third base. By Sano being able to play third base, the Twins could go out and add a great bat like Nelson Cruz to DH. They could pick up another 30 homer guy like CJ Cron, and having Marwin Gonzalez around for depth makes a lot more sense. From Carlos Figueroa: "Thoughts on the 2020 starting rotation? Worrisome to me that they only have one starter inked for next season and no spots in the rotation this season for any of the young arms to audition." Starting with Jose Berrios is pretty good. Don't be surprised if the Twins bring back Gibson (or even Odorizzi or Pineda). Fernando Romero and Adalberto Mejia can factor into that again. And those young arms will continue to make their adjustments in Rochester. Also, the reality is that the Twins will likely need 8-12 starting pitchers in 2019, so there will be more audition opportunities. From Tyler Roepke: "Do you think Buxton has any right to be upset about how he was managed towards the end of last season? I know if I performed terribly at my job I would be fired or at least disciplined, and I don't make boatloads of money like he does. I like that he responded by worked out like crazy and working on his skills in the offseason, but I don't think that being a top pick should guarantee anything. I get that he was heating up in Rochester toward the end of the year, but come on baseball is a business. Maybe he needed this wake up call to get him motivated to work out like an animal this offseason." I absolutely think that Byron Buxton had every right to be upset about not getting a September call up. Buxton established himself as a big leaguer in 2017. After a slow start that year, he earned those MVP votes with enough bat and great defense. 2018 was an injury-filled season, so if he was truly healthy, there was no baseball reason to not call him up. Likewise, it was clearly within the Twins front office's rights to do what they did and hold him back for service time issues. Well, they couldn't say that too loudly, but it was clear that was the reason. We chuckle at it when it happens to Kris Bryant and Vlad Guerrero and Ronald Acuna at the very beginning of their career and we say it makes sense. It isn't normal with guys once they establish themselves. Most important, Buxton handled it incredibly well. I have no problem with him voicing his anger and disappointment. I can only imagine how much he wanted to be there for the Mauer stuff at the end of the season. Good for him for voicing it. But better for him for putting in the work, for using that anger as a motivation to get bigger, stronger. We'll see how it pans out, but the key with Byron is health. If he's healthy, he can be incredible. In 2018, he was just not healthy. From Mike Sixel: "When do you think we'll see Lewis playing in Minnesota, thanks!When do you think we'll see Lewis playing in Minnesota, thanks!" My assumption is he will start the season in Ft. Myers and spend half of the season in Chattanooga. That timeline would be identical to what Joe Mauer did in his second full minor league season. Mauer began that next season (2004) on the Twins Opening Day roster. So, I think that is the aggressive route, and well, 15 years later, service time is a much bigger deal to teams and Lewis would likely spend the first 3 weeks of the season in Rochester next year. I think that, like Terry Ryan, Falvey and Levine won't be afraid to rush an elite hitter prospect to the big leagues if they deem him ready. But, if you asked me for the most likely range of time when Lewis will debut, I would say July 1, 2020. And if things go incredibly for Lewis, and there is a need in the big leagues, I won't be completely shocked (though quite surprised) if he is in the big leagues by July 15th, 2019. From goulik: "Kiriloff and Lewis seemed to really connect last year. Their relationship reminded me a lot of Joe M. and Justin M coming up together but with more chemistry that affected their teams. Any chance they are both together in AA to start the season or are they going to be separated this year due to the bigger role defense plays at short? How far behind Kiriloff will Lewis be in making his debut?" There are some similarities between the Lewis/Kirilloff combo and the Mauer/Morneau combo, but there are plenty of differences too. Lewis is the most charismatic of that group of four. Kirilloff and Morneau are pretty similar. My assumption is that Lewis will start at Ft. Myers because he got there about 4-5 weeks later than Kirilloff. Also, the Twins can and should be very cautious with Lewis's oblique situation so that it doesn't linger. I think Kirilloff starts in AA. But I do expect them to spend time in Pensacola together this year. Using my previous answers on their timelines, I think that the Twins could have them debut together, if all goes well for them. I could see them both getting called up together three weeks into the 2020 season. I think that's aggressive and realistic for both. Who knows? Maybe Rooker gets called up that same day? And maybe Graterol too? From rdehring: "First, how have you been?Still juggling two jobs, TD and that window company?Also, still living up on the border?" Hey Roger... we need to go out to eat again sometime if/when I get back down there! Things are OK. Just had an appointment and have a bit of TMJ, so that isn't fun! Ha! Yup, still two jobs. Window Company and Twins Daily. And parent... Still up on the border. Good times! From DannySD: "Who is an under-the-radar guy in the system you think will make their big league debut this year?" Good question because a lot of the starting pitchers we will see in 2019 made their MLB debuts in 2018. Lewis Thorpe isn't under the radar. Jake Reed has been on the radar for so long but could he be under the radar? So, going more under the radar... How about... Cody Stashak as a long-ish relief pitcher. He had a real strong 2018 season. We've talked a ton about Tyler Wells at Twins Daily in 2018 and if he continues to take strides, we could see him. As for a hitter, we might see Zander Wiel at some point in 2019. From The Billy Goat: "Looking at the top of the national prospect lists, Lewis and Kiriloff are among a small amount of top prospects who are not expected to graduate in the first half of this year. Do you think that there is a chance that the Twins could have 2 of the top 3 or 4 prospects in all of baseball by the end of the year? Also, who do you see following Kiriloff's last year by making a big jump in prospect rankings?" Assuming things progress nicely across the board, there is a decent chant that both Lewis and Kirilloff are Top 5 prospects in baseball one year from now. As a Brusdar believer, I think if he can have success in the upper levels, stay healthy and improve those secondary pitches just a little (I know, that's a lot of IFs), he could be a Top 10 type. Guys who could jump like Kirilloff nationally? I'm a big believer in Wander Javier, and I think that if he can stay healthy, he could fit into a Top 50 or two nationally. He was 90-something in Baseball America a year ago, as was Kirilloff before 2017, so it would be a very similar story. From bobs: "Your best bets to have big/bounce back year among...bullpen, rotation, lineup?" Bullpen: I expect Hildenberger will have a strong year, but I don't think that would surprise anyone. I do believe in Matt Magill's stuff, and if he gets the opportunity, I think he'll take advantage. Rotation: I think Odorizzi will have a solid year. I think Pineda gives them a nice power arm. I actually think that Perez has the kind of stuff that could make him good. I feel like the likelihood of a bounce back is probably in that order (Odo most likely). Lineup: I think Jonathan Schoop will have a really big year again offensively. I think that Sano and Buxton will both make strides as well. If those two are healthy, I have no doubt they'll be valuable players. I don't 'think Kepler needs a bounce back as much as just to take the next step. From iowaguychris: "Tell us more about Michael Pineda - I know we signed and let him sit an entire year - is he a potential difference maker that will get us 20 wins in 2019?" Pineda was an All-Star back in 2010 with the Mariners. Then he was traded to the Yankees for Jesus Montero. He's now had two Tommy John surgeries, but in between, he had three solid, mid-rotation type seasons for the Yankees (ERAs mid-4s). He throws hard (95-97). Big guy. Strikeouts. Has a chance to be good if healthy. From iowaguychris: "Haven't heard much from Spring Training about us trying the "opener" pitching role.With the manager's first hand experience with it - do you think we'll try it at all from the beginning of the season - or just wait until the standard rotation potentially doesn't work out so well for us?" I don't think anyone WANTS to use an opener. Ideally, a rotation has five guys who can get through 6-7 innings most times out and don't have a huge slide in the third time through the rotation. I don't think they've gone into spring training hoping to use it, but obviously they wouldn't be against it. Tampa Bay used it, let's not forget, in large part becuase 2-3 of the young starters they anticipated in their rotation had Tommy John surgery (I'm remembering DeLeon and Honeywell?) so they had to be creative. The Twins used it to give more guys a look in September. But by the end of spring training, if Pineda isn't fully ready, they could do that with him. From bluechipper: "Stephen Gonsalves was sitting in the low 90's in his first spring start compared to mid 80's at this time last year. What type of impact do you think he can have with that regained velocity?" If Gonsalves is at 87-89, he has to be very fine. And in doing so, the walks can go up because of just-missing spots. If he can be 91-94, he can be a little more aggressive. Also, it will make his plus-changeup an even better pitch, as well as his other secondary pitches. It will certainly help. But he can be successful around 90 as well. From Tuba: "Whats your Twins bench look like right now? Gonzalez/Garver/?/?" For me, assuming a four-man bench, I would say Garver, Cave, and Gonzalez (though Gonzalez would start likely 135-145 games at a number of positions). The fourth spot is tough. If it was me, I think I'd keep Adrianza, but I think that Astudillo is currently the favorite for that final bench spot. From Dantes929: "Don't see much on here or the mlb site about daily game summaries for Spring Training. Is therea site to go to for that? I see Kepler's name as a possibility for 1st base in the near future.I assume that is with the idea that Kiriloff would be playing right field. Who is faster?Kepler plays a pretty good right field.Do you think it would make more sense for Kiriloff to be slated as 2020 1st base or Kepler?" Tom's Game Reports will start with the regular season. If anyone would like to start writing up Game Threads in the forum, I'm sure that would be just fine! Personally, I would have Kirilloff spend a couple of days a week playing first base and also move from RF over to LF once in awhile. Kepler is a great athlete. He's faster. He can play 1B, but he's a great defensive OF. Kirilloff can be a good outfielder. Not quite as fast. Similar arms. From EGFTShaw: "Warroad? Former EGF-er myself. Who will they draft this year?If not a player, a position and H.S versus College. I remember Keith Law being down on their selection of Berrios, I think he was a supplemental pick, but that has turned out awesome." Yes, from Warroad. Big Warroad/EGF game tonight. It's hard to know what direction the team will go in the draft, especially when they have a draft pick in the teens. They will subscribe to the Best Player Available thinking since the player won't be (likely) ready for a couple of years (more if it's a high school kid). Michael Busch from North Carolina (via Simley High School) and Matt Wallner (via Forest Lake HS) are two legit possibilities. Thank you for all of the questions. Now feel free to use the Comments to discuss. Click here to view the article

If you listen to the interview/podcast, I actually mention that, that I figured I would refer to him as Niko Goodrum at least once during the interview. I didn't. And as I wrote this, I thought about it every time.

To listen to the full interview with Niko Guardado, click here. In 1996, “Everyday” Eddie Guardado pitched in an American League-leading 83 games. Following that season, Guardado and his wife, Lisa, welcomed their first child, a son named Niko. While Eddie Guardado had struggles early in his career, he became a two-time All Star and a member of the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame. Niko, now 22, recently learned that he will have one of the lead roles in the upcoming reboot of Party of Five. Recently, I caught up with the talented young actor to discuss his memories from his dad’s career, and his transition into acting. Oh, and he frequents Twins Daily because he remains a huge Twins fan. (Full audio podcast available at the end.)Many of Niko Guardado’s earliest memories were following his dad throughout his baseball career. While many Twins fans are thrilled that the Twins have moved from Metrodome to Target Field, Guardado can’t help but maintain a soft spot in his heart for the Homer Dome. He recalls, “I miss the Dome. The Dome was amazing in my opinion. I loved it. It was my second home. I was constantly there, almost 24/7.” The Guardado family lived in northern California, and that’s where Niko was born on Christmas Eve in 1996. But Minneapolis, the Metrodome and the Twins were such an important part of his childhood. “I have really early memories. I can remember back to when I was about three or four. Me and my siblings were very blessed to go to the ballpark with my dad almost every day.” But it wasn’t all glamorous for the Guardado kids. Eddie made sure they earned the right to go into the clubhouse and on the field. “My dad taught me at a very young age that if you are going to want to come into the clubhouse, you’re going to have to work for it. We had to polish shoes. We had to do the laundry, vacuum the floor. We had to clean up the kitchen, wash the dishes. And then after the work we would play and go shag BP and play catch on the field in the Dome.” When Niko was about six, the family moved to southern California. That’s where he went to school, but his summers were spent in Minnesota. “As soon as school got out, the day after, we would fly to Minneapolis and spend the whole summer there until a week before school started.” Twins fans loved (and still love) those Twins teams from the late '90s and through the early aughts. You likely remember the ESPN Magazine cover featuring several Twins players with the title “The Team That Saved Baseball.” Those were the teams that endured a lot of losses in the late '90s, endured the threat of contraction, and brought winning back to Minnesota. Eddie Guardado was a big part of that turnaround, and he was a leader and a prankster on the roster. Niko Guardado got to know the stars from those teams. He says he has a good friendship with Torii Hunter and Jacque Jones and keeps in touch with David Ortiz at times. He has great memories of playing with Hunter’s sons, as well as Casey Radke and “Little” Joey Mays. LaTroy Hawkins has always been a fixture in the life of Niko Guardado. “I talk to LaTroy almost every day. I call LaTroy my Uncle Hawk. He’s the one guy, besides my dad, that we really became close. He’s really become a mentor to me in all aspects of life.” Eddie Guardado pitched in the 2002 and 2003 All Star games. Niko remembers attending the 2002 All Star game in Milwaukee. He was excited to meet Barry Zito (“That was the one guy I wanted to meet. I met him and my life was made.”). But as a five year old at the time, it was the mascots that really stood out to him. Following the 2003 season, Guardado signed with the Seattle Mariners. He spent time with the Reds and the Mariners, but in August of 2009, he was traded back to the Twins from the Rangers. Niko says he vividly remembers hearing the news. His mom was driving him and his siblings to dinner when she told them, “Dad’s going back to the Twins.” Niko, then 11, recalls, “We were super excited! Obviously going back to a place that was dear in our hearts, but I think the people too. The friendships that we made there and we were going back to. The kids room where all the babysitters that practically raised us, we would get to see again. The workers around the field. The fans. I think Minnesota is just really special when it comes to the fan base.” Now that he is older, Niko admits he has a bigger appreciation for the opportunities he had. “Going to the field every day, I am more and more grateful to have experienced it.” While Niko loved baseball and played sports throughout his youth, it wasn’t his passion. He chose his own path. While he found his true calling in the acting world, baseball remains a big part of his life.”I was about 10 or 11 when I stopped playing baseball and started getting into acting, but I still enjoyed it. I still loved going to the field and hanging out with the equipment managers, the clubbies and helping out. It’s still one of my favorite things to do to this day.” Click here to download the podcast/interview or set up alerts for future podcasts. ------------------------------ Niko Guardado will appear on an episode of Schooled on ABC at 7:30 Central Time on Wednesday, February 27. ------------------------------ At a very young age, Niko said he was always standing in front of the TV, rewinding the VCR. He was studying actors and characters, and his love of performing only grew from there. However, it wasn’t easy for Niko to tell his dad that he wanted to be done with baseball and focus his attention on baseball. No kid wants to disappoint their dad. “I sat down with my dad and I was just bawling when I told him I didn’t want to play baseball anymore. I was so afraid of what he might say. But he was very, very supportive and said to do what you want to do. I’m just very glad I have parents that support me in all my decisions.” Niko Guardado entered the entertainment industry at an early age. His mom got him a print agent when he was about two years old and he was in several Target ads in Minnesota. In southern California, he did some commercials. However, when his younger sister was diagnosed with autism, Niko stepped away from acting for a little bit. But when his dad retired from baseball, Niko was able to get back into it. What we have learned is that there are are a lot of similarities between Eddie Guardado and Niko Guardado. It is a good reminder that there are some similarities between the world of athletics and the entertainment industry. He had guest roles on several Nickelodeon shows. He was on an episode of Sam & Cat (the Ariana Grande vehicle). “I grew up watching Zoey 101, Drake & Josh, Victorious. When I booked it, I think my initial reaction was I get to work with Dan Schneider, which is the guy who built my childhood. He made all the Nickelodeon shows back to All That. He was in my favorite movie growing up, which was Good Burger, if you remember that one.” I do remember that one. But I also remember Dan Schneider in the excellent, late '80s sitcom Head of the Class. Getting to work with Schneider was exciting and nerve-racking, but again, he was able to lean on his dad’s playing career. “Being able to work with him was so amazing. I was definitely so nervous walking into the set that day. But I think once the cameras roll, it’s like when my dad pitches. When he warms up he gets anxious, nervous. But when he gets on the mound, as soon as the camera starts rolling, it’s automatic, I know what I’m doing, it’s like I’ve been here before. It’s almost instinct and those concerns go away. ” However, for every role that Niko got, he lost out on several roles. That can be tough, but he was able to lean on his dad and his baseball career again. “I’ve been doing this for nine, ten years now. The amount of jobs I haven’t got is ridiculous. But it all comes back to… my dad. (He’d say) ‘Failure is failure. It’s going to get you sometimes. Just wave at it. Say goodbye. Go on to the next one until success comes your way and be grateful for the ones you get.’” Niko was able to learn so much from his dad and his playing career. “From my dad, it’s just never give up. I know it’s cliche, and I wish I could give you a better answer. It’s huge. Focusing on what you want, your dreams, and sticking with it no matter what. Especially because the entertainment industry and sports kind of coincide with how competitive it is. Being able to hold your head up high when you fail and just get back up and go get them the next time. That’s probably the #1 thing I’ve been able to learn, and I’m glad I learned at a young age, to treat failure as a best friend, and be OK with it, and not let it affect you as much because your time will come if you keep at it. ” While he learned from his dad, it’s important for him to point out how important his mom was in his growth and development as well. “(She is) 100% the backbone. Growing up, with my dad in-season, my mom raised us. We didn’t have the same circumstances, of course, but it was almost like being a single mom eight months out of the year. We had to go to school. My sister was diagnosed with autism during my dad’s career, so a lot of stuff was put onto my mom. She had the courage. She was being a mom. I could not have been blessed with a better mom. The sacrifices she made, not only for us but for my dad. She truly is the backbone of the family.” Over time, Niko began getting more guest roles, but in 2016, he was cast as one of the leads in the Nickelodeon mini-series Lost in the West. In 2018, he played the role of Scroggins in the feature film A-X-L. Starting in 2016, he was case in the ABC sitcom The Goldbergs. His recurring role as Ruben Amaro, Jr. has appeared in 17 episodes. In the role, he has been fortunate to play a jock, something he is very comfortable with. Niko Guardado said, "“I’m blessed to play a jock on The Goldbergs. I mean, I know it so well. You’d be surprised how many actors can’t throw a ball. It’s fun. I’ve always wanted to do my own stunts. I want to do this, and I want to do that. Whenever stunt work comes into play, I enjoy it so much.” He also had the opportunity to meet former big league outfielder, former Phillies GM and Red Sox coach Ruben Amaro at a Red Sox game a couple of years ago. Amaro even talked about how much fun it would be to get to play Niko’s father on the show. That opportunity came in an episode last year. *ASIDE: A search of Baseball-Reference tells us that Ruben Amaro, Jr. faced Eddie Guardado one time in the big leagues. Amaro singled.* On The Goldbergs, Niko got to work with Minnesota native and the star of classics such as the Back to the Future Trilogy and Howard the Duck, Lea Thompson. She is one of the show’s directors. “Lea Thompson is amazing. She’s an actor, so she really knows how to step into the actor’s show and describe what the director and producers want from an Actor’s point of view. That helps speed things up and helps us perform at our best.” Thompson has also been involved in the sitcom Schooled. In fact, on Wednesday night (February 27 at 7:30 CT on ABC), Guardado will be on an episode of Schooled opposite the talented Tim Meadows. “They’re doing such a good job with it. It’s a spin-off of The Goldbergs. They have the same writers, same producers. It’s funny. The episode I’m in is basically a 10-year reunion episode.” Just recently, Freeform announced that they had placed an order for episodes of a reboot of Party of Five and that Niko would be one of the lead characters. As you recall, the late-90s drama was about five kids whose parents passed away unexpectedly and they were left to fend for themselves. In the upcoming Party of Five, Niko plays one of five children whose parents get deported to Mexico. Like the original, the kids are left to struggle to make it without them. “Super excited to be a part of it. It’s very timely.” Guardado continued, “Since getting the job, I started watching (the original show). While the shows are different and the characters are not identical, Niko said his character likely compares most similarly to Scott Wolf’s Bailey character. The cast filmed the show’s pilot in November and December. The show was picked up by Freeform in January. Now Guardado awaits word of when filming for the first season will begin. In the meantime, he is continuing to go to auditions. He is also working on more episodes of The Goldbergs and excited to get started on Party of Five. He also gets to several Angels games, though he does so with a grudge. “I go to a lot of Angels games whenever my friends want to go. But I never cheer for the Angels. Not even when Torii was on the team. I still have that ‘02 grudge. I’ll never get over it. It sucks. That was the year that we moved here. (The Twins) lost, and my dad came to his new house and all he saw was Rally Monkeys and Angels fans.” He also enjoys going to his younger brother’s baseball games. He is a junior on his high school team. “My little brother is the athlete. He wants to be like dad. His dream is to be a pro.” Niko also tries to bring awareness to autism whenever he gets the chance in honor of his sister who was diagnosed at age 2. “She’s just a little genius. She loves learning. She’s just a bookworm, super smart, super intelligent. She’s such a hard worker. She’s taught me work ethic more than anybody. ” Niko Guardado is happy. Clearly the decision to go into acting has worked out well for him. “The best thing is getting to go and do something I love. I’ve found something that I really enjoy. I really haven’t worked a day in my life, doing this. It’s a passion that I have being able to finally... Getting a TV show has always been a dream of mine. It’s just all so surreal. In terms of days on the set. It can vary. They can go long. They can be 13-14 hour days sometimes. You’re not complaining. You just kind of look at the clock and see we’ve been here for 12 hours.” Niko Guardado has a ton of talent. Despite his relative youth, he has already had a lot of success in his career, particularly over the last five or six years. It’s clear that his career is on an upward trajectory. It will be fun for Twins fans to follow Niko and see where his career will take him. Be sure to follow Niko on social media: @Niko_Guardado (Twitter) @nikoguardado (Instagram) Be sure to listen to the full interview with Niko Guardado on the audio player below. In it, we discuss many more topics. He tells several more stories about his dad's time in the big leagues and their relationship. We also got into much more detail on the process of auditioning for guest roles and for lead roles. We talk more about The Goldbergs and Party of Five, but also about an upcoming short field called Gigi Boy that he stars in. We talk about his favorite actors to watch and emulate. And, much more. Thank you very much to Niko Guardado for taking the time to chat with me in this 48 minute interview. Thanks to John Bonnes for his help editing the podcast, and to Riggs Bonnes for the music in it. Click here to download the podcast/interview or set up alerts for future podcasts. 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Starting a bit late, but Max Kepler led off with a homer and later LaMonte Wade doubled in Mitch Garver. Brent Rooker also got him by a pitch. Right now, Martin Perez is on the mound to face a very representative Red Sox lineup. Feel free to discuss here. You may be able to watch it here... http://www.sportsstats.me/2018/06/boston-red-sox.html?m=1 or on mlb.tv.

https://www.twincities.com/2019/02/23/twins-prospect-royce-lewis-19-displays-maturity-beyond-his-age/ Royce Lewis has always been touted for his baseball talent, his charisma and his smile. In the Pioneer Press, Betsy Helfand wrote about his maturity.

https://www.mlb.com/news/niko-goodrum-to-get-chance-to-use-many-gloves?tcid=tw_article_ With their signing of Josh Harrison to be their regular second baseman, manager Ron Gardenhire is going to have to work to get Niko Goodrum at bats, but he is expected to get at least as many as he got last year and probably even more to keep his bat in the lineup. Essentially this is the role that Marwin Gonzalez will have with the Twins, playing almost every day but at different spots. And as for the gloves, I remember 2-3 years ago at spring training, I talked to Niko about his gloves. After a minute, I asked him if he was going to get a catcher's mitt... He laughed, shook his head and say "No Way."

I'll say Jake Reed. I don't see a hitter. I do think Nick Gordon will have a strong camp.

http://www.startribune.com/the-time-is-now-for-twins-miguel-sano-byron-buxton/506277202/ It's been a topic all offseason. Often Thad Levine and Derek Falvey, media and bloggers have really emphasized how important 2019 is for Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton. Statements like "We'll go as far as Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano take us" and similar have been uttered frequently. Phil Miller from the Star-Tribune penned the article on that topic. There is a lot about the trips to Georgie and the Dominican which left both players excited and motivated:

Is it necessary to take something away from a Get to Know 'Em article?

Should be Astudillo if baseball is what's important (as opposed to keeping around a popular player). Adrianza gives them a real backup at SS. Gonzalez can play 7 positions OK. Cave can play 3. Adrianza can play 5. Astudillo has played 5, but C and 3B are really the only that he can be adequate at. And, remember the days when having a 3rd catcher was about the worst thing that Gardy could do? Ha! Also of note... We're assuming a four-man bench but at some point they're likely to go to a 13-man pitching staff which means three bench spots. Taht's when it gets really interesting.

Romero is an exciting option in th bullpen with his fastball/slider combo. He's also intriguing to me as a starter. I would have left him as a starting option... but he is exciting as a bullpen arm.